Unique Blue and Red 1957 Corvette Has Us Stunned

Apparently, this is one of just four 1957 Corvettes produced in this color combination.

Early Corvettes are always a visual treat to behold, this one we found on Hemmings more so than most. It wears an unusual color combination that, on paper, seems like a terrible idea. In practice, however, it’s nothing short of show-stopping.

Most ’56-’62 Corvettes we see wear white or body-color side coves. Sometimes, with white paint, we’ll see some more unusual side cove colors. However, we would have never thought of pairing Arctic Blue with Venetian Red coves. It’s now clear to us that we really should have.

The original buyer — and the three others who had the same idea back in 1957 — clearly had an eye for color. The metallic light blue is accented beautifully by the red coves, and vice versa. It’s so unusual and unexpected that we can’t take our eyes off of it, and each time we revisit the photos, we like it even more than before.

Clearly, this car’s original owner liked attention. That’s the only way to explain why they’d order a car like this. We’re not saying that that’s a bad thing, either. We’d want to be seen in this beautiful machine, too.

Under the Hood

Instead of the new-for-1957 fuel injection system, this Corvette was ordered with twin four-barrel carburetors. In that trim, the 283 cubic inch V8 is good for 245 horsepower, fed in this application through a Powerglide two-speed automatic. Out back, you’ll find 3.70:1 rear gears and a Positraction differential.

Inside, the red carpet and upholstery stand as the perfect complement to the red side coves. The tri-tone dash, in red, white, and blue (the Corvette is America’s Sports Car, after all) ties in well with the white convertible top. Personally, we like it best with the matching Arctic Blue fiberglass top.

Interior options include an AM radio and power windows. Combined with the automatic transmission, it seems like this particular Corvette was just as much about luxury as it was about performance in the eyes of its original owner. Then again, Corvettes have always bridged the gap between luxury and performance with little effort.

Photos: Hemmings

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