The Uncommon 1957 Airbox/Fuelie Transformed the Corvette into a World Class Player

1957AIRBOXIt’s hard to believe that over half a century has come and gone since a mechanical fuel-injection system first appeared on the 1957 C1 “Fuelie” Corvette. Developed by the high performance oriented duo, Zora Arkus-Duntov and John Dolza, the Rochester Ramjet FI remains a breakthrough feat of engineering, well before the dawn of computer-controlled induction in the early 1980s. The ingenious system featured only three essential components, a fuel meter, an air meter, and an intake manifold. Yet, the simple arrangement prevented the common problem of fuel sloshing associated with carburetors back then, by providing a continuous supply of fuel waiting in the ready for the intake valves to open. However, keeping those three basic parts aligned with each other could at times prove to be a mind-boggling puzzle. 

The Rochester Ramjet fuel injection system was introduced in 1957 on the 283 hp 283 small-block V8, AutoTraderClassics

Considered by many aficionados as Corvette’s historic benchmark, the 1957 C1 is the pivot point at which the Vette began its earnest transformation into the true world class performance car it is today. That same year Chevy also introduced their new RPO (Regular Production Option) 684 which featured wider wheels, stiffer springs, bigger shocks, quick ratio steering, cerametalic brake linings, vented brake plates, a limited slip rear-end differential called “Positraction,” and numerous other upgraded components. The most significant being the first factory-installed cold-air intake, or “Airbox.” This was indeed the ultimate road race-ready Corvette and their production was tremendously limited at best.

It’s worth noting that another important racing-oriented option was offered to the fuelie-airbox Vettes two model years later called the LPO 1625 (limited production option). The much larger 24-gallon gas tank car’s moniker was the “tanker.”

Was it 43 or 50 Airbox Vettes?

The most common understanding is that only 43 of these extremely rare ’57 airbox Corvettes were built with the RPO 684 option, but one of the leading airbox Vette authorities, author Ken Kayser claims otherwise. According to Kayser who wrote the book “The History of GM‘s Ramjet Fuel Injection on the Chevrolet V8 and its Corvette Racing Pedigree,” Chevrolet actually built a total of 50. Kayser writes that 43 went on the recognized airbox cars that were out there, and four boxes were installed incorrectly at the factory. The 48th airbox was delivered by Zora Arkus-Duntov himself to Rosenthal Chevrolet in Arlington, Virginia, to go on the dealership’s RPO 684 big-brake ’57.

This extremely rare 1957 Corvette with Ramjet airbox fuel injection sold for $374,000 at RM Auctions in Gainesville, Georgia. There were just 43 factory airbox Corvettes completed in 1957 and less than half that amount are believed to still be in existence. CorvetteBlogger

So where are the other two? There’s a picture in Kayser’s book of a fuelie with a box installed. In the photo Duntov is showing the illusive number 49 to some visiting VIP’s, yet no one knows where that car is today. The 50th fuelie airbox equipped ’57 is owned by Dominick Salvemini, owner of Vette Dreams in West Babylon, New York. That particular Vette also features a number of other rarities including a steering-column mounted tach, the RPO 440 Aztec Copper/Beige two-tone color scheme that was shared with only 261 other ’57s, and the Borg Warner T-10 four-speed gearbox, which didn’t appear on a factory ’57 until early April. 

History of the Rochester Ramjet Continuous-Flow Fuel-Injection System

1957 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Fuelie at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance (conceptcarz.com)

1957 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Fuelie at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. ConceptCarz

The Rochester mechanical continuous-port injection system was actually the creation of a dedicated group of GM engineers and not so much by Rochester. The prospective benefits of fuel injection increasing both performance and economy must have indeed been a very motivating factor. Clearly the ability to achieve 20 mpg on the highway was appreciated by those who’d paid the substantial $550 premium for fenders displaying the iconic fuel injection badge. Still another benefit of the fuel injection was a greatly improved power band, without flat spots, which simply was unparalleled anywhere else in the world, except arguably, in the direct-injected Mercedes 300SL engine, which inked in at double or triple the price. The fuel-injected Corvette was nevertheless the quickest production car in the world in its day, easily out-accelerating the 300SL.

Necessity being the mother of invention, it was during World War II that Germany initially hired the Robert Bosch company to develop fuel injection for its hastily evolving aviation development. Simultaneously, both Great Britain and the United States joined forces in an effort to master fuel injection for the Patton tank and other war related vehicles like the B-29 Superfortress. Once the war was over most aircraft industries abandoned fuel injection and focused towards jet engines, while auto manufacturers retooled from making tanks, planes, and weaponry back to automobiles.

1957′s Ram-Air fuel injection, it was by far the most advanced engine around, and it made the Corvette the quickest production car in the world. CurbsideClassic

Fuel injection continued to be viewed as a futuristic automotive concept until 1949, that’s when an Offenhauser-equipped race car entered at Indy. Developed by Stuart Hillborn, the indirect injection system wowed crowds, even though the car didn’t win. Fuel injection didn’t enter into the commercial combustion engine battle until the mid-1950s, the most high-profile being a Bosch-developed design introduced on a ’55 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Using a standard fuel pump that supplied fuel to a mechanical injection pump with individual plungers for each injector, the system pumped high-pressured fuel directly into the engine’s combustion chamber.

While Bosch was working with Mercedes, Chevy was developing a fuel injection system of their own. Developed and engineered through GM’s Rochester Products division, the Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection system for Chevrolet’s 283 V8 engine was ready in 1956 and marketed for the 1957 model year.

Performance IQ

The hole left in the dash where the stock tachometer would go was filled with a Corvette emblem, similar to that found on the trunk lid. (corvetteblogger.com)

The hole left in the dash where the stock tachometer would go was filled with a Corvette emblem, similar to that found on the trunk lid. CorvetteBlogger

The 283 fuelie, the greatest American engine of the postwar era, was one of two engines produced in ’57 to deliver an advertised one-horsepower-per-cubic inch. The ‘57 fuelie was available in 250 or 283 horsepower. Horsepower ratings for the injected engine rose to 290 for 1958, 250 or 290 for 1959, 275 or 315 horsepower for 1960 and 1962, and finally 360 horsepower with the advent of the C2 in 1963. A three-speed manual transmission was standard and an optional two-speed Powerglide automatic was also available. 

The 283 fuelie could rev to 7,000 rpm and idle reasonably well at around 900 rpm, which back then was simply unheard of. To this day the fuelie’s performance stats still remain impressive, reaching 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, whereas its German rival, the 300SL, lumbered in at around 7.7 seconds. The 300SL required 16.0 seconds to travel a quarter mile, while the fuelie only needed 14.3 seconds. The fuelie’s top speed exceeded 130 mph, and to keep that in perspective, we need to remember these stats came from a production car produced over a half-century ago. These numbers would be tough to beat by any Corvette, even those produced during the golden big-block period. In spite of an official ban on racing activities, the ’57 Rochester Ramjet fuel-injected Corvette quickly racked up an impressive record on the race track, with off the record support coming from Chevrolet.

This extremely rare 1957 Corvette with Ramjet airbox fuel injection sold for $374,000 at RM Auctions in Gainesville, Georgia. There were just 43 factory airbox Corvettes completed in 1957 and less than half that amount are believed to be still in existence. CorvetteBlogger

As mentioned above, keeping the Ramjet injection system tuned could at times be a bit pernickety. There were a few well documented flaws, most of which were diminished, or eliminated altogether over its nine-year production run. For all those willing to learn how to unravel its mysteries, the handsomely cast and polished aluminum crown was a miraculous leap forward in automotive technology.

Cost of an Icon

The ’57 Corvette was the last of the single-headlight series and was offered with a long list of new factory options. A well-restored (NCRS-level) ‘57 fuel injected fuelie Corvette will set you back anywhere from $60,000 – $126,000, according to Corvette Market magazine. GM built 6,339 1957 Corvettes, 713 of those were ordered with RPO 579B (11% of the cars built), which was the option code for the 283/283 with mechanical lifters, a high-lift cam, and the legendary Rochester Ramjet fuel injection.

One of the few “tells” of an airbox-equipped Corvette was the street racer-like tachometer mounted to the steering column. SuperChevy

There was also the more exclusive RPO 579E option, which featured the same 283/283 fuelie engine, but with the cold-air induction and a mechanical tachometer on the steering column. Those are the exceptionally rare ones known as airbox cars, and they were without question the most enviable top performance Corvettes available at the time. They were fundamentally race cars in street clothes, and with the additional available options they increased their base price of $3,176 by almost 50%. Only 50 were built and 43 were completed.

As would be expected, the original airbox 283s are worth exponentially more money than a standard 283/283 fuelie. At auction you can expect to shell out anywhere from $375,000 to more than a half a million dollars, on the outside chance that you can even find one for sale. No one really knows for certain, but of the 43 airbox Vettes that were completed, perhaps only half of those still exist. For dedicated collectors searching for an example of the high point in 1950s Corvettes, but on a more down-to-earth budget, the RPO 579B standard 283/283 Fuelie is clearly still the car to own. 

About the author

Olaf Wolff

Olaf Wolff discovered the joys and passion of off-roading at age 11 and since then has made it a point to enjoy motorcycles, go-carts, buggies, and anything with a motor. He has been writing about off-roading and travel adventures for more than 30 years, and has published four DIY books. Olaf previously served as associate editor for Modern Cycle and Mini-Bike BMX Action, both national publications, and as a contributing writer with Rider magazine where he tested and reported on motorcycle products, and wrote travel features that took him through the U.S. and to Canada, Morocco, Turkey, and South America. Since 2009, he has written hundreds of online motorsports profiles and racer interviews, covering nearly every aspect of the motorsports racing industry.
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