What is an airbox fuelie?

[Tom P.]

Re: What is an airbox fuelie?

First of all, what has been known for MANY, MANY years as RPO 579E, is incorrect. It's a long story, but should be real short, and I don't want to go into a detailed explanation, but the CORRECT RPO for the 57 "Airbox" cars is RPO 579D------------------even the NCRS powers accept RPO 579D as being correct (FINALLY!!!!).
Now, as far as is known, the 43 cars which got RPO 579D, ALL of them also got the complete HD brake and suspension pkg, NO radio, NO heater, wide wheels (with dogdish caps), and of course, the column mounted tachometer. At one time, the HD brake and susp components were separate RPOs, but once the airbox pkg was introduced, all of the above was included with RPO 579D.
The equipment on the possible remaining 8 cars MAY have been FI and/or 2x4 cars. I'm not sure that has been firmly established.
If all of the above interests/intrigues you, then one of the best books that you could/should add to your library is a fairly recent book by Ken Kayser. It WAS available in both hard bound and soft bound (I have both, I use the soft bound for highlighting and making notes) but if any of the books are still available, it will only be the soft bound version. WITHOUT QUESTION, the information in Ken's book is the best, most accurate info for early Corvettes, especially with FI and other RPOs.

The information clarified a lot of confusion and dispelled multiple myths about early FI cars and options.

[Jim L.]

Re: What is an airbox fuelie?

For 1957, the Corvette Black Book says "RPO 579E included fresh air intake..." and shows it as a 283/283 FI engine package with a production of 43. Is this the "air box" option we're talking about?

That is correct. 43 fuel injected Corvettes came with option 579D (not "E", the literature is in error) which included the air box

It also describes RPO 684 as "HD Racing Suspension", which has a lot of components including "fresh air ducting to rear brakes, and front brake air scoops (elephant ears)" and shows a production of 51. I assume this is the "brake cooling package" Jim is talking about?

Do we know how many cars had both options?

All air box fuelies came with RPO 684, so the answer is 43. However 8 cars were made which had RPO 684 but did NOT have the air box. Many if not all of these were also fuelies. (I'm leaving some wiggle room because I don't know if any of those 8 were carbureted. AFAIK, some could have been.)

The first RPO 684 '57 delivered to the west coast was one of the 8. It was (and still is) a fuelie but not an air box fuelie. Delivered to CS Mead, it was first driven by Jerry Austin and then owned by Bob Bondurant. It has been in the possession of its current owner since 1962. This is the car as it appeared back in the day:



Jim

[Mark E.]

Re: What is an airbox fuelie?

Thanks Jim; cool photo! I like seeing three Corvettes in front of an SL!