1957 Chevrolet Corvette

The buzz surrounding the success of Chevrolets heavily redesigned 1956 Corvette proved lead engineer Zora Arkus Duntov right that GM had a winner on its hands. The momentum from 1956 continued into 1957, with the same striking styling, more luxury options, a vibrant new color palette, and a range of serious high-performance smallblock engine options, up to 283 cubic inches from the old 265. At the top of the line sat two V8s equipped with sophisticated Rochester Ram Jet fuel injection, rated at either 250 horsepower or, with solid lifters, high-lift cam, and high compression, 283 bhp achieving the magic one horsepower per cubic-inch mark.

Along with being Corvettes lead engineer and cheerleader, Zora Arkus Duntov was an accomplished racer who believed in the power of win on Sunday, sell on Monday. He knew the Corvette could stand proudly in the bustling world of American club racing and on the world stage, so he developed factory options aimed at gentleman racers. RPO 579D took the top-line Rochester Ram Jet fuelie added a special molded fiberglass cold-air intake, a close-ratio 4-speed gearbox, Posi-traction limited slip diff, and a column-mounted 8,000-rpm tach. No radio was fitted so the ignition wires could be relocated away from the manifolds. Buyers could also select RPO 684, which paired heavy duty suspension with a big brake kit that included larger finned drums, metallic linings, and brake cooling ducts. The package was undeniably effective, as Corvettes took an overall win at the 12-hours of Sebring and the hotly contested SCCA B-Production national championship.

Experts agree that just 43 of these so-called Airbox Corvettes were produced in 1957, making them among the rarest and most sought-after variants of the C1 generation. Our featured example is a genuine Airbox/Big Brake car, boasting superb documentation and a recent highly detailed, award-winning restoration. Distinctively presented in its original livery of Polo White with red upholstery, red wheels, and optional heater delete, it is an outstanding example fit for concours presentation, with the backing of fascinating history and NCRS Topflight and Duntov Awards.

According to documentation compiled by Corvette historian R. J. Mauser, this Airbox Vette was purchased new by Mr. Pat Mathis of Honolulu, Hawaii. A World War II veteran, car dealer, and active privateer club racer, Mathis bought this car to replace a Thunderbird which he had raced with little success. This Corvette was completed in August of 1957, and on February 19, 1958, Mathis registered it for its first race at the Dillingham Airfield held on March 15-16. He quickly found speed in the Corvette and began scoring top ten finishes and class wins, becoming a very competitive driver in the Hawaiian scene and filling his trophy case along the way.

By the 1960 season, Mathis had repainted the Corvette in bronze and made light modifications in the quest for speed. Changes included a cut-down aero screen in place of the windshield, removal of side molding and door handles, fitting a custom grille, side-exit exhaust, and a roll bar. All of these changes are documented in a series of marvelous period photos provided by Mr. Mathis son, and the telltale evidence has been meticulously documented as part of the restoration.

Subsequent owners include David Williams, a US Serviceman who brought the car to the mainland, and later Ray DeCesare. A photo of the car from 2003 still shows some evidence of its past, as it had not yet been restored. In 2022, while in the care of its current custodian, the Airbox Corvette underwent a comprehensive body-off restoration, finished to exacting NCRS standards. Throughout the project, details were photographed and documented by Mr. Mauser and compiled into a detailed report. He noted such details as original style fasteners indicating the body had never been removed from the chassis, original fiberglass bonding strips, and no evidence of bodywork aside from a small section over one fender. Quite incredible for a car that spent its early years on the racetrack!

Through the process of forensic restoration, the original paint color was discovered. The suspension and brakes were inspected and found to be consistent with the factory RPO 684 components. This was also confirmed by the original ductwork for the rear brakes. Many other details are noted throughout the report, including photos of the key components.

With the painstaking restoration of this very special Corvette complete, it was shown at the 2022 NCRS Florida Regional event, earning a Top Flight Award. It returned to the 2023 Florida Winter Regional event, where it passed the rigorous Performance Verification Test, counting toward the coveted Duntov Award, which it achieved at the 2023 NCRS National Convention in French Lick, Indiana, with a score of 98.2 points.

Looking the part of the 50s racer in warm white paint, contrasting red steel wheels, dog dish hubcaps and black wall tires, theres no denying this Corvettes purposeful presence. The superb restoration has hardly aged since its completion, and it remains in outstanding order inside and out. Along with its meticulous detailing, it is furnished with its NCRS awards and certificates, detailed history reports, period photos, and an array of fantastic period racing trophies won by Pat Mathis during his Hawaiian motorsport exploits. With just 43 examples of the breed, opportunities to acquire a genuine, meticulously documented 1957 Airbox Corvette are exceptionally rare, and this outstanding example with fascinating history and an award-winning restoration represents the pinnacle of this rare breed.

Offers welcome and trades considered.