1957 "Airbox" Corvette - What is it?
12-21-2007, 12:14 PM
#42
For those who have an interest in the "airbox" Corvette, I will pass along this picture of two of the most knowledgeable Airbox Experts: Frank Buck on the left and Dick Robinson in the center.
Frank Buck had done much research in the eighties and owned more of the cars than I believe anyone else. Dick has restored a significant porton of the "Airbox" population.
Regards.
Frank Buck had done much research in the eighties and owned more of the cars than I believe anyone else. Dick has restored a significant porton of the "Airbox" population.
Regards.
12-21-2007, 01:21 PM
#43
Instructor
Do you have more info on your meet? I didn't see anything on the Miami Valley Chapter site or is it not NCRS?
I can see that I need to add Ken's book to my library immediately. Is there any reference in the book to the small number of Chrysler letter cars ('57 or '58) that were produced with the Rochester FI? I have some old manuals that have info on them and have seen a few pictures over the years. I passed on a '57 Pontiac Bonneville FI in 1966. It was on the back row of a Dodge dealer in Auburn IN for $175.00. Too much money and needed too much work.
This is one of the best threads I've read in a long time.
Tom
12-21-2007, 02:27 PM
#44
The following pictures were taken at Bloomington Gold Special Collection 2007. All cars are RPO 684 and most have RPO 579 D(E).
Bill Connell & Joel Lauman - '57 #4007
John Justo (ex Rich & Char Mason) - '57 #5938
Sean, Kevin, & Kent Hussey - '57 #4387
Alvin & Ronnie Steinman - '57 #5305 (RPO 684 only)
Greg & Barbara Heinrich - '57 #5084
Larry J. and Linda Martin - '57 #6023
Irwin Krioz - '57 #5655
Bill Connell & Joel Lauman - '57 #4007
John Justo (ex Rich & Char Mason) - '57 #5938
Sean, Kevin, & Kent Hussey - '57 #4387
Alvin & Ronnie Steinman - '57 #5305 (RPO 684 only)
Greg & Barbara Heinrich - '57 #5084
Larry J. and Linda Martin - '57 #6023
Irwin Krioz - '57 #5655
12-23-2007, 07:01 PM
#45
Melting Slicks
I owe John Neas a dinner but being the frugal type maybe this will suffice. John a web site for your car and its friends, will this do?
http://deliquescence.net/~tyler/57_racer/index.html
Tyler
http://deliquescence.net/~tyler/57_racer/index.html
Tyler
12-14-2009, 02:15 AM
#46
1st Gear
Member Since: Jan 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1957 airbox corvette
Last week I located a 1957 airbox corvette in South China, Maine in a farmers barn.It has been sitting there for years but appears to be all there.
He's willing to sell it but wants a fair price of which he has no idea and for that fact neither do I.
Anyone Know what the car is worth so I can make him a fair offer? I am buying it to resell so if anyone is also a buyer let me know.
All I need to do to get the car is come up with what the farmer feels is a fair offer. Again,It needs complete restoration but it appears to be all there.
thank you , Chris.... twinsrule2@verizon.net
He's willing to sell it but wants a fair price of which he has no idea and for that fact neither do I.
Anyone Know what the car is worth so I can make him a fair offer? I am buying it to resell so if anyone is also a buyer let me know.
All I need to do to get the car is come up with what the farmer feels is a fair offer. Again,It needs complete restoration but it appears to be all there.
thank you , Chris.... twinsrule2@verizon.net
12-14-2009, 08:52 AM
#47
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2007
Location: Richmond Kentucky
Posts: 5,719
Received 1,240 Likes
on
457 Posts
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C1 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year (stock)
C2 of Year Winner (stock) 2019
2017 C1 of the Year Finalist
Here is the somewhat unique car of Art Saylor.
According to VERY CONVINCING documentation, this car was FACTORY BUILT as an Airbox car WITH the full 579D/684 pkg (HD brakes/susp). It is the next to last 57 built.
The original purchaser of the car (exact reason unknown) requested that it be changed to a 270hp 2x4 configuration. I obtained these pictures from another source and discussed this car with John Neas, thus, between John and I, here is what I'm posting. If John has additional info (or needs to correct any errors) he may step in with more comments.
But my main point is that this is an example of a NON-FI car with the 684 pkg.
Now, here is a personal comment of my own.
MANY, MANY years ago, there was supposedly a 57 Corvette in existance that had in fact been built as an FI car, with HD brakes/susp, and then converted (by St. Louis or a dealer???????????????) to a 270hp car. Did it really exist? I don't know, I never saw the car with my own eyes. BUT, several Corvette knowledgeable friends of mine SAID they either knew for sure of its existance or had seen it. As everyone knows, you can't believe everything you hear and only half of what you see.
Although, the pictures of the car below fit perfectly with the story about the car that I heard about many years ago, is it the same car? Don't know, plus, my friends from long ago (over 30yrs ago) are now gone.
And let me add this. As all knowledgeable early Corvette people know, the tachometers were driven by the generator, EXCEPT for the later 57 FI engines with a 908 dist, as well as the 58-61 solid lifter FI engines that had the tach drive dist. Everything else had the tach driven by the genreator.
Notice that the generator in the pictures below DOES NOT have a gear reduction housing for the tach cable. Thus, the tach must be driven by a distributor, and the dist appears to be a 908 dist!!!!!
Oh ya, by the way, notice the well known autographs on the dash!
According to VERY CONVINCING documentation, this car was FACTORY BUILT as an Airbox car WITH the full 579D/684 pkg (HD brakes/susp). It is the next to last 57 built.
The original purchaser of the car (exact reason unknown) requested that it be changed to a 270hp 2x4 configuration. I obtained these pictures from another source and discussed this car with John Neas, thus, between John and I, here is what I'm posting. If John has additional info (or needs to correct any errors) he may step in with more comments.
But my main point is that this is an example of a NON-FI car with the 684 pkg.
Now, here is a personal comment of my own.
MANY, MANY years ago, there was supposedly a 57 Corvette in existance that had in fact been built as an FI car, with HD brakes/susp, and then converted (by St. Louis or a dealer???????????????) to a 270hp car. Did it really exist? I don't know, I never saw the car with my own eyes. BUT, several Corvette knowledgeable friends of mine SAID they either knew for sure of its existance or had seen it. As everyone knows, you can't believe everything you hear and only half of what you see.
Although, the pictures of the car below fit perfectly with the story about the car that I heard about many years ago, is it the same car? Don't know, plus, my friends from long ago (over 30yrs ago) are now gone.
And let me add this. As all knowledgeable early Corvette people know, the tachometers were driven by the generator, EXCEPT for the later 57 FI engines with a 908 dist, as well as the 58-61 solid lifter FI engines that had the tach drive dist. Everything else had the tach driven by the genreator.
Notice that the generator in the pictures below DOES NOT have a gear reduction housing for the tach cable. Thus, the tach must be driven by a distributor, and the dist appears to be a 908 dist!!!!!
Oh ya, by the way, notice the well known autographs on the dash!
Rex
12-14-2009, 08:57 AM
#48
Race Director
Member Since: Feb 2007
Location: northern california
Posts: 13,608
Received 6,519 Likes
on
3,001 Posts
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Jim
12-14-2009, 09:08 AM
#49
Team Owner
What is that chrome object laying flat to the left of the gear shift lever ??
Never seen one of those..
Never seen one of those..
12-14-2009, 09:42 AM
#50
Le Mans Master
How'd I do?
12-14-2009, 11:25 AM
#51
Safety Car
I'm gonna make a WAG here, and probably about 180* out, but it looks like it could be a plate clamped to the left side of the shifter surround to function as a reverse lockout. If so, it wouldn't let you inadvertantly move the shifter over to go into reverse.
How'd I do?
How'd I do?
Originally Posted by examiner
Last week I located a 1957 airbox corvette in South China, Maine..... I am buying it to resell so if anyone is also a buyer let me know.
Last week I located a 1957 airbox corvette in South China, Maine..... I am buying it to resell so if anyone is also a buyer let me know.
Someone pulling our collective chain?
12-14-2009, 12:47 PM
#52
Race Director
Member Since: Feb 2007
Location: northern california
Posts: 13,608
Received 6,519 Likes
on
3,001 Posts
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
10-27-2015, 05:07 PM
#53
Advanced
I just found out my Cousin's fiancé has 2 1957 Corvettes in her garage that haven't moved in years. I am dying to see them. Her dad raced them so they might actually be Airbox vettes. I think both had the hardtop option with them. I am trying to get a look at them but she is reluctant. She says they are covered with junk. I think she is too embarrassed to show me the inside of the garage.
So the story as I know it is her dad bought them new and raced. He passed away many years ago and technically belong to her mom who she lives with. These ladies are of meager means and they both state they are cherished and wont be sold. Hell I just want to look at them. two 57 Vettes in a garage for many years. Hell yes I want to see them. The really sad thing is she is on dialysis and waiting for a kidney. Oh how I want to see those 2 cars.
So the story as I know it is her dad bought them new and raced. He passed away many years ago and technically belong to her mom who she lives with. These ladies are of meager means and they both state they are cherished and wont be sold. Hell I just want to look at them. two 57 Vettes in a garage for many years. Hell yes I want to see them. The really sad thing is she is on dialysis and waiting for a kidney. Oh how I want to see those 2 cars.
10-27-2015, 09:32 PM
#54
Le Mans Master
I suppose that prospect is worth re-animating an eight year old thread, just so long as caboman doesn't pull a fast one and never revisit the CF again!
10-27-2015, 09:39 PM
#55
Advanced
10-27-2015, 11:33 PM
#56
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Mustang OK
Posts: 13,846
Received 3,766 Likes
on
1,669 Posts
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
Soooooooooooo, with all this discussion, what about cloned airbox/FI/HD brake cars? Are there any-----------------besides mine?
08-17-2018, 03:10 PM
#57
Race Director
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 10,698
Received 3,048 Likes
on
1,934 Posts
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Resurrecting this old thread.
Reading this about the first page NJ found air box car reported to be the "prototype" Makes me wonder what has been learned and proven since my experience with these cars from back in the late 70s.
My name is Darryl Dayton my phone number is 928-239-0017 for anyone that wants to talk about MY old car.
Much of this below info is copied and pasted from emails I have saved from years past communicating with several knowledgeable people on 1957 racers. It is old info and there certainly may be new info that contradicts what I am saying.
About 1976 myself and partner Jerry Gendreau purchased V.I.N. 834 from a garage very close to the Mississippi river outside of Savanna Illinois. The car was in very poor condition as it had been partially under water in the big 1965 flood of the river. After talking to several "Corvette guys" that were far more knowledgeable about air box cars then us (which did not take much as neither one of us had ever heard of one) at the urging of Mike Hunt we took the car to an NCRS meet in Rockford Ill. around 1977. It was inspected by Mike Hunt and many others there and was photographed by and later pictured in Nolan Adams first book showing the engine compartment. The caption for the picture was "would you buy this mess?" as the car was as found and we only had limited info as to what we actually had at that time. See the NCRS RESTORER magazine Vol 5-4 and 13-2 for Mike Hunt's stories on the car back in the day. Mike pasted away in July 2007, but his research is still being treasured by Ken Kayser, and other 57 history freaks. Back in those days, Mike had 17 "air box" cars identified (today there are 29 of the 43 made), and this car was one that he felt was legit even though the air box cars production fall into the vin number 3950-6339 ranged of May 57 production and later. The late Mike Hunt, the authority at that time on these cars said it could only be the mule car for the Sebring cars with as early a V.I.N. as it had. I hope to hear if this is still thought of as true and any other documented updated info about all of this. According to Mike Hunt at that time it was the first factory 57 Fuel Injected car built in late 1956 and had the famous cold air box, big brakes and suspension. It like the rest car for the Sebring races, where supposed to have been recalled to GM and destroyed when they banned factory sponsored racing, however as was the custom back then it "slipped out the back door" later to show up at Elkhart Lake racing. My research indicates the car was raced by Jim Jeffords at Elkhart Lake and sold there to the owner prior to the owner we bought the car from. Jerry and I both knew this man as well as he lived only about 14 miles from us.
I sold my interest in the car to Jerry early on around 1978. The car was missing many of the rare parts and over the course of several years he managed to locate most of them. He later sold the car and parts as a basket case to Tim Partridge. Tim restored the car and painted to appear as a Sebring racer and offered for sale. At one of the CORVETTES AT CARLISLE's RACE CAR REUNION, which occurs every five years,Tim Partridge was present with vin #832, (this may be a typo on the V.I.N.) which is his TRIBUTE #P3 race SEBRING car. At some point Tim sold the vin #834 car to I believe Jim Jeager past CEO Cincinnati Microwave inventor of the Escort radar detectors--current owner of our old Corvette V.I.N.834 air box car
This will make all of you chuckle. We paid $2000. for this car when we found it. LOL! Can only guess what the value of this car is today. Much of the info gathered and shared here is OLD from around 2009 from conversations with the two below people.
Jim Gessner
1346 Laurelwood Lane
Mentone, CA 92359
909-794-7905
jim@vettefinderjim.com
DomReading this about the first page NJ found air box car reported to be the "prototype" Makes me wonder what has been learned and proven since my experience with these cars from back in the late 70s.
My name is Darryl Dayton my phone number is 928-239-0017 for anyone that wants to talk about MY old car.
Much of this below info is copied and pasted from emails I have saved from years past communicating with several knowledgeable people on 1957 racers. It is old info and there certainly may be new info that contradicts what I am saying.
About 1976 myself and partner Jerry Gendreau purchased V.I.N. 834 from a garage very close to the Mississippi river outside of Savanna Illinois. The car was in very poor condition as it had been partially under water in the big 1965 flood of the river. After talking to several "Corvette guys" that were far more knowledgeable about air box cars then us (which did not take much as neither one of us had ever heard of one) at the urging of Mike Hunt we took the car to an NCRS meet in Rockford Ill. around 1977. It was inspected by Mike Hunt and many others there and was photographed by and later pictured in Nolan Adams first book showing the engine compartment. The caption for the picture was "would you buy this mess?" as the car was as found and we only had limited info as to what we actually had at that time. See the NCRS RESTORER magazine Vol 5-4 and 13-2 for Mike Hunt's stories on the car back in the day. Mike pasted away in July 2007, but his research is still being treasured by Ken Kayser, and other 57 history freaks. Back in those days, Mike had 17 "air box" cars identified (today there are 29 of the 43 made), and this car was one that he felt was legit even though the air box cars production fall into the vin number 3950-6339 ranged of May 57 production and later. The late Mike Hunt, the authority at that time on these cars said it could only be the mule car for the Sebring cars with as early a V.I.N. as it had. I hope to hear if this is still thought of as true and any other documented updated info about all of this. According to Mike Hunt at that time it was the first factory 57 Fuel Injected car built in late 1956 and had the famous cold air box, big brakes and suspension. It like the rest car for the Sebring races, where supposed to have been recalled to GM and destroyed when they banned factory sponsored racing, however as was the custom back then it "slipped out the back door" later to show up at Elkhart Lake racing. My research indicates the car was raced by Jim Jeffords at Elkhart Lake and sold there to the owner prior to the owner we bought the car from. Jerry and I both knew this man as well as he lived only about 14 miles from us.
I sold my interest in the car to Jerry early on around 1978. The car was missing many of the rare parts and over the course of several years he managed to locate most of them. He later sold the car and parts as a basket case to Tim Partridge. Tim restored the car and painted to appear as a Sebring racer and offered for sale. At one of the CORVETTES AT CARLISLE's RACE CAR REUNION, which occurs every five years,Tim Partridge was present with vin #832, (this may be a typo on the V.I.N.) which is his TRIBUTE #P3 race SEBRING car. At some point Tim sold the vin #834 car to I believe Jim Jeager past CEO Cincinnati Microwave inventor of the Escort radar detectors--current owner of our old Corvette V.I.N.834 air box car
This will make all of you chuckle. We paid $2000. for this car when we found it. LOL! Can only guess what the value of this car is today. Much of the info gathered and shared here is OLD from around 2009 from conversations with the two below people.
Jim Gessner
1346 Laurelwood Lane
Mentone, CA 92359
909-794-7905
jim@vettefinderjim.com
Acquisitions & Historical Research
Racing Preservation Museum "-Preserving the memory of those On the track, In the pits & Behind the scenes-"
301.706.4855
rpm57scca@aol.com
Last edited by 68hemi; 08-17-2018 at 03:20 PM.
10-17-2018, 10:29 AM
#58
Bill Rhodes from Concord NC restored an AIRBOX car in the mid - late 70's... he found the car in Florida in 74. He is a wealth of knowledge in regards to these cars.
I was up at his place a few years ago, so he is still around though he is not into Corvettes any longer. He has restored some Ferrari's for Pebble and raced Porsche's in the ensuing years but now he is into FLAT HEAD FORD V-8's, UGH... oh well, maybe since Zora played with them (ARDUN HEADS) I will give him a pass.
.
I was up at his place a few years ago, so he is still around though he is not into Corvettes any longer. He has restored some Ferrari's for Pebble and raced Porsche's in the ensuing years but now he is into FLAT HEAD FORD V-8's, UGH... oh well, maybe since Zora played with them (ARDUN HEADS) I will give him a pass.
.
10-17-2018, 03:21 PM
#59
Race Director
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 10,698
Received 3,048 Likes
on
1,934 Posts
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Bill Rhodes from Concord NC restored an AIRBOX car in the mid - late 70's... he found the car in Florida in 74. He is a wealth of knowledge in regards to these cars.
I was up at his place a few years ago, so he is still around though he is not into Corvettes any longer. He has restored some Ferrari's for Pebble and raced Porsche's in the ensuing years but now he is into FLAT HEAD FORD V-8's, UGH... oh well, maybe since Zora played with them (ARDUN HEADS) I will give him a pass.
.
I was up at his place a few years ago, so he is still around though he is not into Corvettes any longer. He has restored some Ferrari's for Pebble and raced Porsche's in the ensuing years but now he is into FLAT HEAD FORD V-8's, UGH... oh well, maybe since Zora played with them (ARDUN HEADS) I will give him a pass.
.