VIN E57S103486

Car Year:	1957
Car's approximate birthday:	April 19, 1957
Owner:	Unknown Owner
Purchase date:	Undefined
Status:	Current Owner
Nickname:	Old Blue
State:	Unknown
Exterior:	Arctic Blue	(7.68%)
Interior:	Red	(79.21%)
Coves:	Arctic Blue
Softtop:	White	(38.82%)
Wheels:	Red
Delivery Dealer Zone:	Unknown
Delivery Dealer Code:	Unknown
Options:	RPO	Option	Percentage Sold [%]	Sales Price [$]
	02934	Base Corvette (1x4 220hp)	100.00%	3,176.32
	101	Heater	84.76%	118.40
	102	AM Radio	57.34%	199.10
	290	Whitewall Tires 6.70x15	79.18%	31.60
	303	3-Speed Manual Transmission	45.53%	0.00
	Total		0.003227752431750% (1 Cars)	3,525.42
Factory job nr.:	Unknown
Export Car:	Non Export Car
Engine details:	1x4BBL, 225 HP
Other details:	For some reason the engine came with FI heads. This may have been the reason I went through spark plugs (hot, cold) at a prodigious rate. Added a breakerless ignition system, but this didn't help. I had a top overhaul in 1969-70 when car had about 70,000 miles on it. A succeeding owner told me a previous owner had let the block freeze with resulting crack and original engine replaced.
Car history:
I'm the original owner and still rue the day I sold her. Car delivered to Rogers Chevrolet in Norwalk, Ohio where I bought it in May 57. Was special order: Arctic Blue with red interior. Top of dash was flat Arctic Blue, the dash eyebrow was red, and the flat part of the dash was white. I suspect this was rather unusual in that model year. Price $3067 (bought near dealer cost), no tax by registering in VA, which had no sales tax. Registered in Ohio when VA registration expired. In 1964 had it painted dark blue (not a Chevy color). The color was what I wanted originally but it didn't exist in production, although there was an ad earlier in 57 with a dark blue Corvette. Production gelcoating and painting were still in the learning stage in 57. Paint was uneven and eventually many hair cracks began to appear at stress points in sharp corners. I recall that the forward LH hinge pulled out of the fiber glass and I had to have a backing plate inserted. The LH hood retaining pin creeped up from the start. Just before I left the Navy in October 1968, car was rear-ended in Riverside, CA resulting in a the frame being bent downward aft of the rear wheel well. Was drivable and took it to Annapolis, MD where I then lived and had the frame straightened and the major split in the truck repaired. Car then painted in gray prime. The hot water heater was another problem. Once one of the hot water hoses failed and dumped radiator fluid in RH floor. Only engine replacement parts were a water pump and tons of spark plugs. Went through several mufflers and tailpipes because of moisture pooling. Considered stainless replacements, but at that time the expense was beyond my spare change. Mechanical tach eventually failed internally. I was a very leaky car. The front top retainer design (2 clamps) allowed water to pour over the middle when driving in a rainstorm. Apparently the designers didn't consider that the top became a lifting surface when driving, the result being the retainer pulled up to let in water. The front door seals didn't do a good job either. Drove the car back to CA in 1971. Sold in Thousand Oaks, CA, 1972 (about 77,000 miles) to buy a Datsun 240Z, the worst vehicle I've ever owned. Wish I'd never sold the Corvette. Eventually Chip Turzo in Bangor, PA did a complete frame-off restoration circa '77-'78 and I believe sold her. Should anyone know of Ol Blue's whereabouts, or have any amplifying information, please contact me at smpurvis3@gmail.com.
For Sale:	No
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