steve0415

LOWER PRICE - $85K FIRM until December 1st, 2016, my 57th birthday. This price is for Forum Members only!

If I haven't received a Deposit by then, the car will be off the market, and probably sold at a future auction in early 2017.

Below is the link:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ercharger.html

Thanks for looking,

Steve
---------------------
Hi,

Last year, I purchased a 1957 Corvette with a Latham Axial Supercharger installed back in 1957. The car was owned by one family all of it's life, and still has the original 283ci motor. I bought this car early last year, and just finished the restoration. As far as the Latham Axial Supercharger, there were 600 of these units built from about 1956 to the early 60s. This 1957 Corvette was bought new at Berger Chevrolet in Grand Rapids, MI. The original owner bought the car new, and then ordered the Supercharger from Latham Axial in West Palm Beach, FL. It was shipped up to him in Grand Rapids, where he had it installed and the hood modified at Berger Chevrolet in 1957. I have the original Eastern Airlines airbill when he bought the unit and had it shipped up there. I have many original photos and documents for the car, including the title, registrations, etc. The car was owned by the one family, and I bought it last year after the mom had passed away. I have been told that only six C1 Corvettes had this Latham Axial Supercharger installed, and this is the only one of the six that has survived.

A little about the car. It was a 220hp, hardtop only, and a real radio delete. It was always Black/Silver with the Red interior. I have photos from 1957 to prove this as well. The car left the factory with blackwall tires also, and I have the same on there now. I left the original interior in the car, and just cleaned it up. It is in excellent shape, as the car has only 68,800 miles on it. The family told me that is the original mileage. The car has been repainted, the chrome triple plated, and the stainless polished. The motor is 100% original to the car, with complete matching #s, even the PowerPack 997 heads are still there. I had the motor completely rebuilt, including the heads, etc. This was an early car, built in October 1956, within the first 500 cars built. All parts are original, and dated September or October 1956, including the engine block, heads, 3 speed transmission, 4.11 rear end, starter, and exhaust manifolds. I still have the original intake manifold, carburetor and air cleaner also, which will go with the car.

I am going to put this rare Corvette up for sale in the next week, and am trying to determine a valuation of it. Any help from the Forum members will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading my post,

Steve
rjdac88@yahoo.com

54greg

Oh my. Thats beautiful

mrnisguy

Your rear carbs need to be switched side to side. You have both chokes on the right side. They were set up with the choke carbs on the right front and the left rear.
That way you have a choke carb on each side
Car looks great. Hope it finds a good home.

tuxnharley

Wow! '57s have always been my favorite C1, but this one might just be my all time favorite '57!

ILBMF

Even though I have a modern Whipple twin screw supercharger on my stroked Mustang engine laying down 600 rwhp I am so impressed to have the privilege to see that early model. Thanks for sharing that. I think the car will be worth more to the few that appreciate the blower and it's early history.

LouieM

Thanks a bunch for posting. I'd never even heard of a Latham supercharger. It looks beautiful and purposeful. I wonder how much power it's intended to add?

Dr L-88

VERY NICE !!!!!!

I would say that's even rarer than an honest politician.

Beautiful car,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, good luck with the sale.

leif.anderson93

Is that a magneto hiding back there?? What a beautiful and rare piece of Corvette history. Beautifully restored. I have no idea as to value but rarity should bring top dollar. Best of luck with your sale

MidShark

Hi Steve- I saw this car at Impact in it's unrestored state. Interesting and unusual to say the least. Neat history, too. My dad's cousin, John Heys, was a salesman at Berger back then if I'm not mistaken. I don't know how having the supercharger on it would affect value one way or the other. Some might look at it as an aftermarket part that caused a hood modification; others may think it's vintage automotive cool at it's best. I couldn't put a value on it either, but I also wish you luck with the sale.

Rich

steve0415

Hi again,

I want to thank all of you who have replied to my posting. I am also attaching a photo of two Motor Trend magazine covers that have stories and testing on the Latham Axial Supercharger.

The October 1956 issue has a good story and testing on it. The June 1959 issue has it on the cover, as well as another good story and testing. I will post some of the test results and portions of the articles soon, once i figure out why my scanner is not working.

54Greg: Thank you.

Mrnisguy: Thanks for that info. I wasn't aware of that, as that is the way it was when I bought it. It will probably start much easier changing the back carbs.

Tuxnharley: Thank you. It is an incredibly fast car.

ILBMF: Very welcome. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

LouieM: Very welcome. The car was tested in the 1950s in these magazines at around 410- 415hp. I have never tested it, but it sure seems fast.

Dr L-88: Thank you. I agree with you.

Leif.anderson93: Thank you. That is a Spalding Fireball distributor.

Midshark: Thank you. This is the car that you saw at Impact. Great group of guys up there.

Thanks again,

Steve

scopeli

isn't this the car proteam had at Carlisle a couple of years ago? hood at the time had it's reinforcement bar.

steve0415

Hi John,

I spoke with Terry at Pro Team this week about my car, and he said he remembered the car being at Carlisle, as it was close to his location. Definitely not his, but he does enjoy it's uniqueness. I did have to remove the reinforcement bar on the hood, because it would not close all the way with the air cleaners.

Steve

W Guy

I have one of Latham's catalogs with specs and part numbers. There was a guy in No. Jersey many years ago who had one on his '62 409.
Good luck with the sale. Very unique piece of Day-2 technology.
Verne

scopeli

I am surprised no one has mentioned the first latham supercharger is for sale on ebay.

Todd H.

The Latham makes the value of your car difficult to predict. As you can see from some of the posts, a few guys will love it. Maybe that will bring you a premium over the price of a well-restored stock '57 like yours would otherwise bring, but only the market knows for sure. I'd put this car on eBay. Best chance to reach that special buyer somewhere in the world.

Maybe you could strike up a friendship with the seller of that Latham on eBay now. If you could get him to tell you what he eventually sells it for, you could remind that buyer that wants to put the original carb and intake back on that he could sell the Latham and get extra $$$ back.

C2 Hot Cam Guy

Wow gorgeous car a once in a lifetime find you lucky dog

steve0415

Hi Verne,

If possible, I would like to buy a copy of your Latham catalog. I will send you a PM as well.

Thanks,

Steve

steve0415

Hi,

Scopeli: Hi John. Richard Paul in Simi Valley, CA is the current owner of Latham Axial, and I have spoken to him several times already. He initially had this unit listed on Ebay for $25,000, and has now lowered his asking price. He is a wealth of knowledge on these systems, as he bought the company from the original guys.

Todd H.: The Supercharger he is selling is the prototype, and I do not think he has the carbs nor intake to install. My intake is actually a 1957 Corvette FI intake, slightly modified to adapt the Supercharger.

C2 Hot Cam Guy: Thank you. It is a fun car.

Thanks again to all,

Steve

steve0415

My 1957 Corvette is now listed on the Forum for sale. Below is the link:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ercharger.html

Thanks for looking,

Steve

C2 Hot Cam Guy

WOW wish i had the cash