Some project builds are more straightforward than others. Although it may not seem that way at first glance, returning this wild 1957 Chevrolet Corvette to active service requires little more than bolting in a fresh motor and transmission. The engineering is complete, with this baby ready to accept a fire-breathing big-block. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting this beast listed here on eBay in Manchester, Maryland, with an asking price of $29,900 OBO.
In motorsport, a racer’s greatest enemy isn’t necessarily the opposition. Weight is a prime consideration, which is why many builders will prune away every unnecessary ounce. Basing a drag car on a Corvette is a canny move, because its fiberglass body is lighter than an equivalent steel shell. This 1957 ‘Vette is a prime example of that thinking, with its creator removing most of the exterior trim and replacing the glass in the hardtop with perspex. The thinking continues below the surface, with the body attached to a strong but light tubular chassis. The car’s presentation isn’t showroom-fresh, with the tri-color paint combination exhibiting chips and scratches. It would be worth closely inspecting the panels to see whether racing stresses have left any cracks or other issues. Rust isn’t a problem, because the chassis looks spot-on. The car has the look of a traditional Super Gas, thanks to the wheel and tire combination. What you might find surprising is that it rolls on street tires, because the Corvette was road-legal in 2010. Returning it to that form might be relatively easy if potential buyers aren’t keen on hitting the local drag strip.
Tilting the hood reveals what makes this Corvette genuinely interesting. It lacks an engine and transmission, but the car is otherwise complete. The robust chassis is clearly visible, as is the strut front end, disc brakes, and the rack-and-pinion steering. The Dana 60 rear end is supported by a four-link setup, ensuring this beauty transfers every pony to Planet Earth. This is where life becomes interesting, because the car retains its mounts and other components from when it featured a big-block V8 and Turbo 400 automatic transmission. It includes the radiator, driveshaft, fuel system, headers, and a Flowmaster exhaust. It saw action on the street in this form, and since it still retains the lights and other items required by law, returning it to road duties could be relatively straightforward.
The builder’s focus on weight reduction is clearly visible inside this Corvette. The only upholstery is the vinyl covers on the racing seats, while there are acres of aluminum sheeting. The dash is a bespoke unit housing gauges and switches, with no unnecessary luxury items. The roll cage is super impressive and, combined with the racing harnesses, should provide welcome protection if the Corvette finds itself shiny-side down. With no carpet or sound deadening, life aboard this classic would be pretty loud if the buyer returns it to street duties. Still, I suspect they will only make short journeys rather than embark on cross-country adventures. In that case, it should be bearable.
I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for this 1957 Chevrolet Corvette. As this image reveals, it was a wild-looking beast in its competition days, and such a light car with enormous power and torque would have been exceptionally fast. It is not terribly surprising that it saw action on the streets after its racing career ended, and that could be an option worth considering. The Corvette has generated significant interest since it hit the market, and it would be fascinating to discover what the hundreds of people who checked the listing would do if it were parked in their workshop. It could return to the strip, but it’s easy to imagine the stir it would cause if the buyer rocked up to a Cars & Coffee behind the wheel. Is that vision enough to tempt you to give the Corvette a new home?
It’s a little to “niche” for me.
Love it!
The days of this car being a competitive Super Gas car ended decades ago. It might fit in at a local Super Gas association, but that’s questionable as to how competitive it would be. The cage will need extensive reworking in order to run quicker than 10.0 or faster than 135mph. If this has a future at a track it will be as a bracket car likely running in the 10’s, there are a lot of former class legal cars and cars where the owners don’t want to put in the effort to keep a chassis certified and their competition license up to date. This makes no sense as a street car, it would be like driving a 55 gallon steel drum with someone beating it with a hammer., there is not much of a suspension and comfortable seats aren’t easy to come by. It might draw a crowd at a cars and coffee, but it won’t be uncommon for someone that’s never seen the business end of a track to hassle the owner as to why they aren’t racing it. Then you get to the price, it’s way too expensive. Nice turn key bracket cars can be found for under $20,000, this cars history won’t mean much, it’s hard to justify that much of a premium.
Steve R
$29,900 dream on
I pity this car. I wish it would have been kept stock. They look much better that way.
That car was built and raced by Rod Saboury. For those not familiar with Saboury, he’s built some of the meanest and fastest Corvette’s ever, including a street legal 63 split window with a twin turbo-charged small block than ran 6 second quarter mile times. The 57 here previously ran in street legal trim 7 second quarter times at over 200 mph…and that was through the mufflers, with a single four barrel and NO nitrous. I think he won Hot Rod Magazine’s “Fastest Street Car Nationals with it years ago.
Readers here can blow off Saboury’s 57 Corvette, but I saw it run as well as some of his other Corvettes and know that anything he’s built you have to take seriously.
You are right. I mistakenly looked at it as just another class legal race car that had been sitting for a decade or longer as technology and changes to the rule book passed it by.
Steve R
According to the listing that was a different ’57 he had.
Awesome. Cannot afford it, but love it.
It’s a history car as a drag car, but today there aren’t many who really want this AND will pay the price. What do you do with it? You can’t drive it on the street and it doesn’t have original value. The steering wheel is an appearance time that doesn’t fit with the drag car personna. It’s quite a sum for a garage pet…..It is however quite a professional build!
Reminds me of that one the team raced in “CHIPS”. Pretty cool though.
There are better donor cars to choose from to cut up into drag cars. Such a waste of.
Today, yes, but if you look at the pictures it was clearly a race car in the 1980’s, it was probably in some configuration earlier than that. Corvettes populated the staging lanes of drag strips throughout the country, road courses too. Their involvement in competition helped cement their history and desirability.
Steve R
Personally there are better donor cars to choose from to cut up into drag cars. Such a shame.
Tell us what you really think, Matthew.
Why? It’s just another old Corvette that’s been a drag car for years. It could very well have been a drag car since long before people started restoring these cars.
I’ve restored Corvettes, had NCRS Top Flight ones, had modified Corvettes, autocrossed them and crewed on road race Corvettes. For the last 20 years I’ve crewed for a team that vintage road races various C1, C2 & C3 Corvettes. I can find enjoyment in just about any old Corvette, stock, modified or race. Not every old Corvette needs to be a 100 point restoration that lives on a trailer or in a climate controlled garage.
I find this car more enjoyable and honest, than some base 283/220 horse, Powerglide car that someone has turned into a “restored” 283/283 fuelie with a restamped block and a 4 speed. Maybe it’s just me, but I can really appreciate an old Corvette drag or road race Corvette that has a long racing history.
“Perspex” Adam? On this side of the pond we call it plexiglass.
Absolutely Love it…it’s out of my price range and I’d need to trade in my triple black camaro convertable to help finance it….sure looks fun don’t it?
I would stick with the Camaro.
Price dropped by 2K.
30 grand fora tube chassy shell, pass.
Now a ’58/60 with its same dash, rear deck?
I’d make a funky canyon carver. Nah…
mod a ’60/3 falcon – wagon or ‘chero. Use
this ona 200/3.3L i6 motor:
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/offenhauser-triple-manifold-adapter-1960-1968-1