My Error my 1957 Corvette is not a RPO 684 it's one of 5 RPO 565 Corvettes

[Bob I.]

^th 1957 with 283 hp Fuel Injection, radio/heaterdelete, 4 speed transmission, heavy duty brakes, heavy duty suspension. Beginningin 1974 Mike Hunt started a 1956/1957 Research Project asking 1956/1957Corvette owners to answer survey questioners regarding their Corvette theowners of serial numbers E57S102276, E57S102281, E57S102286, E57S102328,E57S103361 responded to Mike all equipped the same as mine RPO 579C 283 hp fuelinjection, RPO 684 heavy duty suspension/brakes and RPO 685 Borg Warner 4 speedtransmission. These other Corvettes also had radio/heater delete, no curtesylights and no windshield washers. I have been able to get some information onthese other Corvettes but I need more to present my case to NCRS. If you haveany information on these 5 Corvettes that were built within a week of eachother in February 1957 please let me know.

[David B.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

I do not know who told you not to attempt to have your car judged but if it were mine I would jump at the first opportunity just to see who would hang themselves first, you or da judge! Personally, I am NOT an NCRS judge, have no pins, badges, hats, t shirt or certification awards to prove my worthiness (although I did judge 56-57,s 9 years @ Bloomington in the 80's) but I would love to take a shot at judging your car and I think I could tell you if right or wrong. The fact the cars mentioned (2281 was JD's) all appear to have been built prior to '57 Sebring in March could possibly explain their originality (Chevy needed to show HD parts availability etc.)

[Bob I.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

Thanks for your comments, I am going to have the car judged this year with all my documentation. I spent a week at the GM Heritage Museum and I have a lot of proof these RPO's existed before May 1957.

[Tom P.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

Interesting!
Ken Kayser, Mike McCagh, John Neas are probably among some of the most knowledgeable regarding the availability of these HD options.
Personally, I would be VERY interested in any follow up information about your car.
As I understand it, the accepted introduction date for the 4sp was Apr 9(?). BUUUUUUUUUUUT, there are pictures of prototype/pre-production 4spds much sooner (including pictures of an all alum 4sp in the Corvette SS). Also, the 684 option (HD brakes) was available BEFORE the first RPO579D car was built.
Now, with all of this said, for several years all the HD brake parts were listed in the Chevy Parts books, which would allow owners to add HD brakes to their NON-HD brake cars. And the 4sp transmission AND shifter kits were also available over the parts counter for replacing a 3sp transmission. Thus, it is possible that VERY early in the ownership of a 56-57 Corvette, these parts could have been purchased AFTER the car was built and delivered.
Last, MANY cars which were raced their cars frequently and very aggressively had to replace failed (or tired) engines. Back in those days, there was no such thing (NOR concern) about originality/numbers correct! Competition dictated what was done to a car to make it a potential winner (oh gosh, isn't that still done today????????????).

In fact, my 56 is a "built" "Airbox" car.

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

Regarding RPO 685 4 speed Borg Warner transmission - earliest 1957 VIN number that I've seen with a production Borg Warner 4 speed is 3725.

Please post photos of your Borg Warner 4 speed transmission; main case, side cover and tailshaft showing the part numbers and cast dates.

Photos of any of the other RPO 684 option parts showing part numbers and dates would facilitate your pursuit.

Gary
....

[Bob I.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

I have blueprints of Borg warner 4 speed transmission dated 12 13 1956 and GM build orders 17792 in Jan 57 for installing Borg Warner 4 speeds in Corvettes

[Bob I.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

In Ken Kayser's Volume III Legend Or Myth Zora's Marque of Excellence on page 487 and 488 lists 102276, 102281,102286, 102328,102361 and 102932 witch are marked with an note A denoting that these are surviving evidence of Zora's specially built " Field Test Fleet " equipped with RPO 579C, RPO 684 and RPO 685 assembled at St Louis.

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

Bob,

There are several folks who have lots of the GM/Chervrolet/Heritage Center blue prints and information on 1957 Corvettes.

The key to your car, is what's installed on your car with the correct part numbers and dates that would support those RPO parts as being originally installed on your car by the St. Louis factory.

There were several test mules built by engineering with varying amounts of pre-production RPO equipment.

Where are the supporting Work Orders that list the VINs you've quoted. The VIN numbers you've listed are not in any in official GM/Chevrolet documentation or any document at the Heritage Center.

Photos of the installed RPO equipment on your 1957 Corvette showing cast part numbers, dates and assembly codes would help your quest.

Gary
....

[Garry B.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

Interesting thread. Bob, is it your goal to prove that what you have is factory original, or is your goal to learn everything you can from all sources and then draw a conclusion? So often we enter into these "challenges" for all of the wrong reasons and nothing is ever concluded. I would also ask those who take an opposing view to Bob's comments, are you looking to "prove him wrong", or help him and the rest of the community determine what is correct based on the weight of the evidence? No winners, no losers, but everyone learns a bit more about these early equipped cars.

View it as a quest and not a contest.
My 2cents
Garry Barnes 18531

[Bob I.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

I did a photo documentation of my car including part numbers some with some 0- parts

[Bob I.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

Gary
I've spent the last year trying to gather enough credible information on my Corvette and in so getting NCRS to agree and allow me to enter the car in Flight Judging. I hope with the help of the community to add any other helpful information in my quest to understanding what was going on at the St Louis plant in February 57 before the AMA Ban on Racing.

[Darryl D.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

I did a photo documentation of my car including part numbers some with some 0- parts

I would think that if you posted them here you would get a lot of help.

[Michael I.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

Bob,
Following our conversation the other evening, I spoke with the 1956-57 National Team Leader, John St Peter, and the National Judging Chairman, Dave Brigham, regarding your interest in having your car flight judged. They agree, as do I, that the only place that can be done where judges with the depth of knowledge to properly evaluate your car will be available is at a NCRS Regional meet. Fortunately for you there is a Regional meet scheduled next September in South Lake Tahoe, right out your back door. Registration will open for that event on May 1st. That gives you several more months to gather information about your car. You will need to provide whatever documentation you have gathered that you believes demonstrates that it is in fact a factory-built 684 car to John St Peter and Dave Brigham well in advance of the actual judging date. I suggest you target forwarding that documentation no later than August 1st so that John and Dave have adequate time to evaluate it. I look forward to you registering the car for the Lake Tahoe Regional.
Best regards,
Mike

[James G.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

I do not know who told you not to attempt to have your car judged but if it were mine I would jump at the first opportunity just to see who would hang themselves first, you or da judge! Personally, I am NOT an NCRS judge, have no pins, badges, hats, t shirt or certification awards to prove my worthiness (although I did judge 56-57,s 9 years @ Bloomington in the 80's) but I would love to take a shot at judging your car and I think I could tell you if right or wrong. The fact the cars mentioned (2281 was JD's) all appear to have been built prior to '57 Sebring in March could possibly explain their originality (Chevy needed to show HD parts availability etc.)

I AGREE David. SOLID AXEL convention in DETROIT next Aug 13-16 will feature WOODWARD cruise. Many are going on to CARLISLE the following week. I told BOB lets do it all.

[James G.]

Re: 1957 rpo 579c, rpo 684, rpo 685

I like your ''SPIRIT''
Garry Barnes (18531) Everyone having FUN !!