Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

[Joseph T.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

it is funny that the 57 corvette FI did not have a cold air intake to the FI unit as our 57 FI 150 business coupe we ran at the beach in 57 had a cold air intake from the factory

Clem

Are you referring to the very rare Chevy style cold air intake with the flute mounted near the radiator to catch incoming air and sending it to the air meter?

You have a point that the development and availability of the that set up would lend some idea to timing. Those blueprints are posted in the back of Ken Kaysers book.

Joe

[Joseph T.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

Does anyone recall the transmission in the car? Red interior? AC Tach? 'Any other details?

Steve

I was not there so we need to recruit others who attended that meet. John Neas, Gary Mortimer etc..

I would guess the attendees would be posted in a restorer recap noe that I think about it.

Joe

[Clem Z.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

Clem

Are you referring to the very rare Chevy style cold air intake with the flute mounted near the radiator to catch incoming air and sending it to the air meter?

You have a point that the development and availability of the that set up would lend some idea to timing. Those blueprints are posted in the back of Ken Kaysers book.

Joe

the air cleaner had a snout that came out over top of the rad core support and the hood cross brace was notched out to clear it. we received the car some time in 1956 because we had to convert to the sedan delivery suspension parts and put in the roll cage. we drove the car from Pa to Fla, raced it,burned a piston during the race,took it over to smokeys and installed a new piston and drove it back to Pa. the article is incorrect as we qualified 12th but dropped out due to the burned piston. smokey's car dropped out for the same reason as the FI fuel shut off on coast caused the problem

[Terry M.]

[John N.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

I was there and appreciated the car. I do not remember any of the other details such as trans, tach, etc.. In the 80's, Grand Sports were less than $100,000, a well used 57 like this, probably $12,000 to $20,000. First meet attended was St Louis 1974.
Regards

[Steven B.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

In the 80's I went to Scotts Bluff, NE. and Husker Motors. Dom, an owner, had a air box (just the boxform a parted out car) and told me I could have it for $500.00. A couple of years later Dom took it to the Copper Mountain Nationals and told me he was asking $1,000.00. Woulda', Coulda', Shoulda'---

[Edward C.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

Dumb question but I thought all the air box cars were FI and no one had commented about the pictured car does not have FI. Can someone comment on this? Thanks Ed

[Joseph T.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

Dumb question but I thought all the air box cars were FI and no one had commented about the pictured car does not have FI. Can someone comment on this? Thanks Ed

At least one airbox car was delivered as a 270HP car. But this wasn't it.

Joe

[John N.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

Dumb question but I thought all the air box cars were FI and no one had commented about the pictured car does not have FI. Can someone comment on this? Thanks Ed

This car was probably not a St Louis produced air box car. It may have been produced as a FI car. It probably was a part of the 1957 factory race or test program. The air box was probably added during the program. Bill and Joels # 4007 is believed to be the first St Louis air box car. Many early Corvettes and pass cars lost their troublesome FI units in the 50's. Complete FI units went for $75.00-$100.00, 2-4bbls went for $50.00.
Regards

[Edward C.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

Thanks Joe. I had a 270hp 57 when new but did not realize it was available. Must have been a real challenge to get from the box to the two carburaters. I wonder if they jerryriged it at the factory or actually had a plan for it. Ed

[Joseph T.]

Re: Was this the first 1957 airbox car?

Thanks Joe. I had a 270hp 57 when new but did not realize it was available. Must have been a real challenge to get from the box to the two carburaters. I wonder if they jerryriged it at the factory or actually had a plan for it. Ed

Ed

The airbox on the delivered 270 HP car was not functional to the carbs. It was just there as the fuel system was converted to a 2 x 4 system...before it left St.Louis.

Several known airbox cars had their airboxes cut off or at least sawed in half.

Ouch!

I have many pictures of these various cars.

Joe