There’s something about a first-generation Corvette wearing decades of faded paint and fresh gray primer that gets a project builder’s pulpit beating, and this 1957 Chevrolet Corvette listed here on eBay is exactly that kind of temptation. Located in Walker, Louisiana, it’s being sold by longtime eBay seller mastersfred (a familiar name to anyone who follows vintage Corvette and classic Chevy auctions), and as of this writing the bidding sits at US $10,300 with nine bids, the reserve not yet met. There’s also a Buy It Now of $27,500 for anyone who doesn’t want to sweat out the clock, the auction ends Friday afternoon.
Let’s be clear about what you’re looking at: this is a genuine project. The seller describes it plainly as a Corvette that “needs restoration,” and the photos back that up honestly. The body is a patchwork of weathered original surface and gray bodywork primer across the doors and rear quarters, the kind of in-process fiberglass repair that tells you someone started down the restoration road before the car changed hands. What you see is what’s included — no surprises promised, no surprises hidden.
What makes this one interesting is underneath that hardtop. Pop the hood and you’ll find a small-block V8 topped with two four-barrel carburetors, the classic “2×4” dual-quad induction setup that gives the listing its NCRS-flavored swagger. Finned aluminum valve covers sit atop the engine, and while the bay shows plenty of grime and patina, the dual-carb hardware is all there to anchor a period-correct or hot-rod build. It’s the kind of detail that separates a generic project from one worth fighting over.
This is a hardtop-only car, the removable hardtop currently wears a dark green hue that contrasts with the body below — another job for whoever takes this on. Inside, the red steering wheel and light upholstered seats are tired and dirty but present, giving a restorer a complete canvas rather than a stripped shell. The seller calls it “pretty solid bones for a restoration or hotrod build,” and the straightness of the panels in the photos supports that pitch.
On the paperwork front, the listing shows a clean title in the item specifics, though the seller adds a wrinkle worth understanding: they note they are “non-title pre-’73,” will sell the car with a bill of sale and physical inspection, and can arrange a title in about eight days for roughly $100 if your state requires one. Full payment is due within seven days, storage and shipping quotes are available on request, and the seller reserves the right to end the auction early — so serious bidders shouldn’t sit on their hands.
For a 1957 Corvette — one of the most beloved years of the C1, the year fuel injection and the four-speed arrived to the model — landing a dual-quad project at the current bid is the sort of opportunity that makes Barn Finds readers reach for the bid button. Whether you’d chase a numbers-faithful restoration or build the resto-mod hot rod the seller hints at, this one has the bones and the carb hardware to justify the dream. So we’ll ask the question we always ask: would you bring this faded Louisiana C1 back to glory, and which direction would you take it?
Offering a title for an extra $100 seems real petty to me. Just get off your tail and get one! Same thing for the 61 also listed.
What’s a C1 driver worth. I think it will take 100% $’s or being upside down just to get it there unless you do all work yourself.
Think this is the same guy that’s thrown these Vette’s together and they have been posted here.
Do you mean that crook out of Miami whose Corvette crap used to be featured here on BF? I’m thankful that his garbage no longer shows up here.
“Some assembly required”. Definitely. It even has the dual quad setup..without the dual quads. Do-it-yourselfers? You Vette awaits. I can see upon completion, this car getting a coat of that dark green paint that matches the roof, along with white inserts. Any color with white, as long as it’s not that red-orange that seems to be on half of these.
Matt D is spot on. Also don’t buy it for the dual quads as it’s a non stagger valve cover later motor.
Please don’t paint the coves a different color.
Are the two Vettes shown kissing cousins?
Hey Chris, looks like he swapped the doors on them.
DRV, spot on, intake is just sitting on engine, too much dinero for parts pile with bill of sale, title extra? Get the title and then talk.
Chris, other vette is on Ebay also, good news is my notary said bill of sale from this dealer should work ok in Ohio, maybe. Time to place a bid.
I could have gotten one, slightly better for $500, back in 1966!
Pop the hood to find that the carburetors are long gone. Just a 2X4 manifold that SHOULD BE COVERED!
Its getting a LS anyways.
With these two corvette’s setting side by side in the pics, it appears the doors were swapped from one to the other ? Maybe I’m just seeing things. Did they take the best doors for the other car ? Lots of time and $$$$$ for a no where near project. This will needs eyes and hands before any money exchanges hands !!! Couldn’t afford the $100.00 for a title, that’s rich !
Funny paperwork on any car is a potential red flag……….but even more so on a vintage Corvette. Cost a boatload to put this old girl back in shape. I’ve always said “buy the best you can afford”. If this is it, then get ready to pay a lot more in the long run than that for a well sorted car.
To me this is a pretty good deal as I can do all the work myself, I love 56 & 7’s if I wasn’t already involved in restoring a 66 roadster I would seriously consider this one all the major parts are there
I found one(a 57 Vette) for my brother here in Ohio. He lives in Florida, and had been searching for one. It was in a little better shape than this one, and had an old 327 in it. It was black, and had been hit in the rear end, and poorly fixed.It had been red, white, blue and black. After he bought it for $34k, we shipped it to West Palm. He started the laborious 5 yr build. It was discovered that it was originally Cascade Green(turquoise like color) from the factory. He had it restored and added and LS1, A/C, Bluetooth, etc. Today, it has been awarded best of show all over Florida. Cascade Green with beige coves, interior, top and 17” chrome rims. Has been offered over $300k, but can’t do it………… Car is awesome now!