Retro, 1957, 1957 chevrolet corvette, 1957 chevrolet corvette airbox, 1957 chevy corvette...

1957 Chevrolet Corvette Airbox Car

Now this is very cool. Three brothers and Corvette enthusiasts scooped up a messy old 1957 Corvette race car and have brought back from the rough. It all starts out like many car stories - at a bar talking cars - where Kevin Hussey was shooting the breeze with a friend and the topic of Vette restoration came up. The friend asked Kevin how much it would cost to fully restore an old Vette he owned. After viewing the car, Hussey answered honestly with a high number, but if the friend ever wanted to get rid of it, Kevin would be interested. Fatal last words. Eventually the exchange took place, but the pedigree of the Vette didn't come to light until after the car had changed hands.

After a little research, Kevin began to suspect the car was equipped with the ultra-rare RPO 684 and RPO 579E "airbox" options packages. After a bit more work, and a trip to see some Corvette experts, it was determined that the car they had was indeed a diamond in the rough and very rare. A full restoration was called for, but not one which would bring it to concourse standards. Nope, the maverick brothers decided to rebuild the car in the image of a vintage racer. Very cool story and definitely worth a read over at Vette - more pics too.

1:15 PM on Fri Mar 14 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,962 views
27 comments

Comments

skaz at 01:24 PM on 03/14/08
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That car looks fantastic with the chopped windshield and steelies. I've never been too hot on Corvettes ('cept C3s) but this is a beaut.
rognbrow at 01:32 PM on 03/14/08
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This really is the stuff of dreams, hats off to them
htrodblder at 01:33 PM on 03/14/08
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Nice car, nice build good job guys
FЯeeMan at 01:35 PM on 03/14/08
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They took a rare, old car and restored it to how it would have looked & been used when it was newish instead of making it a hermetically-sealed trailer princess? Rad!
acarr260 at 01:42 PM on 03/14/08
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Someone buy that guy a beer!
DrJeffie at 01:43 PM on 03/14/08
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As a hot rodder and owner of a '57 myself, I'm glad I didn't find it but I'm glad they did.
PhoneticLorin at 01:43 PM on 03/14/08
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Yum
clinto at 01:48 PM on 03/14/08
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I believe I would have done it to factory specs…………..
graverobber- Two BEER... at 01:48 PM on 03/14/08
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This is my personal POTW (Post of the Week). That is a great story and a great Vette. This totally makes up for that Czech Vette from earlier, renewing my faith in the Vette's hallowed place in my automotive parthenon.
JoSCh at 01:52 PM on 03/14/08
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@skaz: C3s? Really?

Agree, that windscreen is awesome. Neat car.
elwood at 01:53 PM on 03/14/08
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Not gonna lie, this is a pretty cool car. Early Corvettes generally aren't my thing, but this one is definitely awesome.
KatzManDu at 01:54 PM on 03/14/08
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Very well done. Noland Adams would be proud.
harumph at 01:55 PM on 03/14/08
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great car but they shouldn't have screwed with the body methinks. just my opinion.
mechimike at 02:44 PM on 03/14/08
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I'll second ++ those steelies. They look badass. They exude badassity. So purposeful, so simple.

Everything about this car is so understated. Even the side pipes are dull and kinda tucked away underneath so you don't quite notice them at first.

I want it. I don't even like Corvettes, and I want it.
NatefromOgden at 02:55 PM on 03/14/08
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Sweet! Restoring it to its racing glory was the right thing to do.
TheBlueBomber at 03:02 PM on 03/14/08
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Now, beat the piss out of it on a race track and post some times!!!!!!!
skaz at 03:14 PM on 03/14/08
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@JoSCh: I've got an awkward taste in cars. I own a 4th-gen El Camino and consider it to be one of the best looking cars around.

I admit it's ugly, but something about it makes it more rad than everything around it.
NovaloadMissesPolar at 03:28 PM on 03/14/08
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Where are the 3 wings? It's not cool without 3 wings.
944turb0 at 04:10 PM on 03/14/08
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That's awesome.
msheredy at 04:33 PM on 03/14/08
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I actually dig the original look more so than the finished product. Although that is a nice rendition of an old school racer.
Scroggzilla Raids Again! at 06:36 PM on 03/14/08
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Perfect.
Shapeshifter at 06:52 PM on 03/14/08
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Vroom!

I think Jalopnik should sell a poster with that rusted out frame and the caption "Project Car Hell", or perhaps something witty.
valeriomassaro at 09:53 PM on 03/14/08
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Is that Legendary Motor Cars in the background?
Hello_Newman at 01:07 AM on 03/15/08
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Yeah that would have been a better choice to do to a donor car that wasn't as important. If the car is so rare they should have put it back to factory specs. Doing a resto mod (even a period mod) not only tanks it's value but it's just ridiculous when there's so many ordinary Vettes that year in crappy condition they could modify however they wanted.
Turboner at 11:06 PM on 03/15/08
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@FreeMan: Add +1 rad to your comment.
Turboner at 11:12 PM on 03/15/08
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@skaz: Hey, I like C3's, too. Except the one from Corvette summer. My denmother had one when I was a cub scout. Black '82 with T-tops. C2's are my favorite, but I will never be able to afford one, even in PCH condition, it seems.
Buckster at 09:03 AM on 03/16/08
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@Novaload: It wont be fast either.