1957 Airbox Corvette

[Steven B.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

Peter Klute still has this one for sale. It may be the one you saw on TV.

[Jim W.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

These are some absolutely fabulous photographs. Whenever I see this kind of photographs and hear some of the old tales of these cars, I have to wonder to myself what kind of stories the night guards at the back lot of the Flint, MI and St. Louis, MO plants could tell. If I close my eyes I can see that after the managers had left work for the day, a lot of action came and went in the dark at General Motors. I believe this sort of 'Covert' movements went on till the C3 had run it's lifeline and things were loaded up shipped southward to Bowling Green. I love it !

[Steven B.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

If it weren't for the AMA bans we would likely see alot more really great cars, and 100 GS's or more!

[Tom P.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

I could never afford the likes of an Airbox car, so, I just built my own out of a 56. It has MOST of the parts used on an Airbox car, but with 123 more cubic inches and one more forward gear!
AND, it WILL NOT even Third Flight! But do I care?

[Bruce B.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

I believe the airbox car pictured in Michigan is from Cincinnati and belongs to Bill Connell and Joel Lauman.
I know the car in the Discovery channel video is Connells.
It has the red cover on the column mounted tach, the cover is one of 2 made by GM.
It is the first airbox car made and has some very interesting history.
Google it for more info.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

.... Are you sure about '81? I ask only because I would have thought that such-a-car-equipment would have attracted a large degree of attention.....

Loren -- double checked and this pic of my registration package for the '81 St. Louis Nationals is on the same 35mm roll of film, and 20 or so frames prior to the shots of the airbox car at Bloomington. I attended both events that year.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

Bill Rhodes car featured on the cover of Vette Vues around 1983 with a multi page article inside.

Not sure who owns it today. Talked to Bill some years back and he relayed his experience in the restoration and showing of the car at Bloomington.

Joe

First time I saw that car was at a NCCC show at the Greensboro Coliseum in about 1981 or 1982. I belive Wayne Walker's ZL-1 rolling chassis was there at the same time.

[Dan H.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

First time I saw that car was at a NCCC show at the Greensboro Coliseum in about 1981 or 1982. I belive Wayne Walker's ZL-1 rolling chassis was there at the same time.

I had this funny looking air cleaner adapter on a FI unit that I was rebuilding, it had a small 4" opening that wouldn't fit my 59 set up. Asked Brian Futo about it and next thing I get a call from Bill Rhodes, it was an air box adapter for 57. He was getting ready to fabricate one when Brian gave him a heads up. I traded it for a 59 jack, those were the days!
Dan

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

I had this funny looking air cleaner adapter on a FI unit that I was rebuilding, it had a small 4" opening that wouldn't fit my 59 set up. Asked Brian Futo about it and next thing I get a call from Bill Rhodes, it was an air box adapter for 57. He was getting ready to fabricate one when Brian gave him a heads up. I traded it for a 59 jack, those were the days!
Dan

An original 1957 airbox airmeter adaptor sold on Ebay last year or so for around $3000 at a time when several cars were being restored and prices were flying high.

A nice repo was available from a long time 57 guy.

Joe

[Jim L.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

First time I saw that car was at a NCCC show at the Greensboro Coliseum in about 1981 or 1982.

First time I saw Bill's car I didn't know what an airbox was. The body, in bare fiberglass, was on a trailer and headed for Jamison's in Charleston SC. Bill had stopped at the gas station of a friend of mine and I happened to be there when he drove in. I was underwhelmed by the sight of it.

The owner of the gas station grabbed me by the collar, drug me over to the car, and said, in essence, you big dummy you don't even realize what this is.......

Jim

[Tom P.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

An original 1957 airbox airmeter adaptor sold on Ebay last year or so for around $3000 at a time when several cars were being restored and prices were flying high.

A nice repo was available from a long time 57 guy.

Joe

Joe,
Do you know who made the air meter adapter for the Airbox FI unit, and if they are still available?

[Paul Y.]

Re: 1957 Airbox Corvette

I love your car Tom and see the value of it because you drive it. That is as it should be. I put almost 5K miles on my 63 last year and am looking forward to a 900+ road trip this weekend to Moab, Ut. from Denver. First one of the year and can't hardly wait to get going. Keep on driving them as you are my inspiration. Paul