1957 Corvette Super Sport Built to Show Off Rochester Ramjet

Built for the 1957 GM Motorama, Corvette Super Sport show car halfway to winning NCRS Heritage Award, been with current owner since 1997.

The Corvette first arrived on the scene in 1953. Revealed in prototype form during the 1953 GM Motorama in New York, the two-seat roadster knocked out a grand slam on the show circuit before turning up in showrooms later that year. From that point on, American finally had its own sports car to rival the Europeans.

Four years later, another C1-era Corvette appeared at the GM Motorama, a 1957 Corvette Super Sport built to show off the then-new Rochester Ramjet fuel injection system. Come January 2022, it’ll appear at a different extravaganza: Mecum’s red-carpet auction party in Kissimmee, Florida.

Built in March 1956, the ’57 Corvette Super Sport made its big debut in New York the following January. From there, it also appeared at the Chicago Auto Show and the ’57 SCCA Convention. It even landed on the cover of the June ’57 Speed Age magazine. After its time in the sun, the ‘Vette landed in the arms of Ron Wilsie, owner of Wilsie/Kelley Chevrolet in Caro, Michigan. Forty years later, it found its current home.

Under the hood, the Corvette Super Sport still possesses its original EL-stamped 283 V8, linked to a three-speed manual. The drivetrain logged a total of 4,372 miles over the decades. Those miles included trips to the 2017 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it received the Presentation of Significant Cars Award. It’s also halfway to earning the NCRS Heritage Award. The next owner must showcase the ‘Vette at an national NCRS meet to complete the journey.

Draped in Pearlescent White with blue stripes, the interior retains the original blue-dyed leather trimmings. There are tons of one-off pieces abound, too, including the solid wood steering wheel. To cap it all off, the ‘Vette’s original US Royal rubber is believed to be the only set of five to exist.

Restored to how it appeared at the 1957 GM Motorama, the Corvette Super Sport still stuns today. Not to mention it’s an excellent look into the ‘Vette’s early years like no other. The next owner to adopt this one-of-a-kind ride will be very lucky, indeed.

Photos: Mecum Auctions

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