1957 Corvette Proves Looks are Deceiving

This 1957 Corvette may look original but is a serious sleeper thanks to its 383 stroker V8! 

Appearances can be deceiving. This 1957 Corvette for sale on Bring a Trailer looks like an original, driver-quality C1. The red paint looks good, perhaps even matching the factory color. Chrome wheel covers and 15-inch whitewall tires look original, as do the red vinyl seats and white dashboard. Even the large, three-spoke steering wheel looks like it belongs in the car. In fact, the only things that appear out of place are the cupholders and RetroSound stereo.   

Pop the hood and the first thing you see are the dual carburetors.  They look accurate for the time period, as do the valve covers with the Corvette script. The engine could be correct, but Chevy small block engines are difficult to tell apart. Without the casting codes, it’s hard to identify a 283 cubic inch motor, or tell a 327 from a 350. At least you can tell it’s no Deception Corvette, like the Lambo powered beast.

Still, you are looking at an elaborate deception. The seller installed a 383 Stroker engine and went through a lot of trouble to make it look stock. They also made sure it performs well with a solid lifter LT1 cam and Edelbrock aluminum heads. Even though numbers are not provided, this motor has to be packing serious power.  Chevy quotes up to 435 horsepower and 445 lb. feet of torque for the SP383 crate motor Chevy lists on their website. A rebuilt Borg-Warner T-10 transmission and 3.70 Posi rear end put the power down on the road. Electric upgrades including a dual-point distributor, electronic fuel pump, and heavy-duty alternator improve drivability. And an aluminum radiator with electric and engine-driven fans keep this Vette cool. 

In addition to the mechanical upgrades are some practical ones. Halogen headlights and LED taillights improve visibility at night. A rebuilt steering box incorporates electric power steering. New insulation, electric wipers, and a new metal heater box, make this car enjoyable to drive year round. 

A lot of work went into upgrading this Corvette while keeping it looking original. It’s almost like the seller wanted it to look unrestored.  The auction description lists some flaws. A few paint blemishes, a missing hardtop headliner, and a misaligned window. All things to expect on a driver quality car. But whoever wins the option won’t care about a missing headliner or paint blemishes. They will care about the upgrades which make a better car to drive. And they will never get tired of firing up that 383 Stroker and going for a spin.    

Photos: Bring A Trailer