Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light as to what a "Daytona Special" is? The car I'm asking about is a 1957 Corvette that belongs to a long time friend of my Father in Law who has owned this car since '65, his father gave it to him.The lore is that there were only 50 built and includes options such as heavy duty suspension and brakes, air duct openings inside the rear wheel wells, 283 with dual quads and a thinner fiberglass body. I'm not a Corvette historian but I do have an interest in factory cars that were built outside of the norm so I did some searching to find some info about this '57. What I've come up with is that 51 cars in that model year were built with RPO 684, the H/D suspension and brakes which also included wider wheels (RPO276) and 43 of those cars were "Airbox" cars (RPO579E) but I have yet to see anything regarding the thinner body shell or even the name "Daytona Special". Anybody know?

 

 

Anyone?

 

Would you consider taking this post over to the Corvette Forum C1&C2 General Discussion and I and others will be glad to comment.
Regards

 

It is in the C1-C2 section.

 

If its a HD suspension+brake car its special and rare. If its a real airbox car, its worth big $$, but it should be a fuelie if its an airbox car. I think the thinner fiberglass option is wrong. Never heard of that.

 

First question would be what month was the car built in.This would enable one to reflect on what the possibility might be for that time frame.The statistic that 51 cars with RPO684 is probably incorrect
I believe there were more than 51 cars built with RPO 684. I dont know if RPO276 was mandatory with RPO684.
Regards

 

51 RPO684s is right.

 

I believe that Jim Gessners and Ken Kaysers research over the next year will clearly indicate that the number that you quote is not correct.

 

It's the 270 horse 283 with two fours. As I mentioned before 43 of the 51 cars with the 684 option were Airbox/Fuelie equipped. I do not know about the other 8 cars. This car shares a backyard garage in a non complete state with a mid-year that's being rebuilt.

 

This issue is still a partially unknown. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, the quantity of 51 cars built in 1957 with HD brakes/wide wheels seems to be a frequent number that arrises. Although it is not yet totally verified. Also, the quantity of 43 with FI and HD brakes and an Airbox does seem to be somewhat more acceptable. Sooooooooooo, what about those other 8 cars????????? Did they have the 270hp (2x4) engine? There have been rumors and rumors upon rumors of some 1957 270hp cars with HD brakes/wide wheels, but I personally do not know of any owners of such a car.
Finally, it is an accepted fact that there was a quantity of 1957 Corvettes which were built with FI, HD brakes/suspension/wide wheels, column mounted tach and an airbox. One of these cars that was a GENUINE factory assembled car would be very difficult to duplicate because some of the parts are "one of a kind" and are not reproduced.
Thin skin?????????? So far, I've not been aware of any "special" thin skin 57 cars. The ONLY thin skin cars that I have ever know about were the five 1963 Grand Sports.

By the way John, KEEP US UPDATED ON THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!! From time to time, stuff keeps coming out of the woodwork that hasn't been seen or heard of for many years.

Also, I'm not aware of ANY 57 (porduction style) Vettes set up for Daytona, BUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, there were 4 FACTORY prepared 57 Vettes (and maybe a 5th practice car) set up specifically for Sebring. MAYBE it is just possible that is the car which he is referring to. If so, now that would be a REAL FIND. I'm only aware of ONE of the original 57 Sebring cars that has been restored (Tim Partridge WAS, and maybe????? still is the owner, Haven't talked to Tim for several years).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

how about a few pics of the car, its engine compartment,and the vins and trim tabs. Would love to see this.

 

I am planning to get back to that car as soon as I can and owner permitting get some pics and more information on it.

 

Has anyone ever seen or have in their possesion any official GM documentation from the 57/58 time frame that supports 51 RPO684 cars and 43 RPO 579E cars? It would appear that with the certainty that these numbers are being used that such must exist. It would be doing the hobby a favor were it shared.

 

What I know about those numbers are only what I've come across on the web.

Here's one link.
http://www.corvetteblog.com/archives...-corvette.html

Another. When you open this link, click "options"
http://www.vetteheaven.com/c157mainbody.html

One more.
http://www.libertyship.com/rpo/RPO1.htm#RPO684

I'm sure there is alot more to read out there and although it's not official GM literature the information stated in the above links seem to be in accord.

 

Be cautious. Just because it is "on the internet" doesn't make it true.

 

The quote of 43 and 51 started back in the 80's from research, Mike Hunt, Frank Buck, Noland Adams, John Amgwert, Mike Pillsbury, Rich Mason, John Neas, Dick Robinson, Ken Kayser and David Bartish and others found with their research. Many articles were published 25 plus years ago.

Mike Antonick's 'BLACK BOOK' has specified the numbers for many years.

Ken Kayser, who is a 57 fuel injection expert and Historian, has a book coming out in August. His research and mine, along with the sharing of all of the above, lead us to believe that Chevrolet and Zora authorized 50 of each 684 Heavy Suspension / brake cars and 50 each 579D Air Box cars WITH 684 be built. We have records of 23 579D Air Box cars have been found of the 43 originally produced.

Over 20 with 684 HD Suspension / brakes have been found. 99% have 579B 283HP Fuel Injection. There are a few (Very few) 270hp cars that started life with 684 suspension and brake options. vin #6338 (2nd from the end) was originally raced by Art Saylor in Southern California. Tom Kidd in Pennsylvania owns the car today and it was seen at the RACE CAR REUNION at CORVETTES AT CARISLE in August 2004.

The hunt goes on, and I would love to get more info on the car you are asking about.

There never was a lightweight 57 Corvette from the factory. Zora sure wanted to make one.....with disc brakes and all, but that's another story.

 

As I stated above, there are more than 8 cars with 684. Now, 8 cars with 270hp and 684 makes sense. I know of two (2) survivors.

So , please go and take pictues. Get the vin number. and all history you can. Many of us 57 FREAKS would love to see the car and bring the owner up to date on what he has.......'if' he has. Quite often, the history is unfounded, so don't be disappointed.

If you want to PM me, I will share more info.