’57 Corvette… No Way!

The Corvette was born in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, 1953. The GM traveling road show had microphones hidden around and with over 7000 favorable responses received, and it was love at first site! Harley Early assigned Bob McLean and Duane Bohnstedt who created the body style, and an icon was born. 1953 Zora Duntov joined Chevrolet, the father of the famous Ardun heads so desirable on Ford flat motors. With the adding of Duntov, Chevrolet now had the wizard who could deliver the performance to match the design excellence.

’57 corvettes are desirable with the introduction of Fuel Injection and 283 ci, with over a 1000 made with the FI system, initially problematic. The way to tell a ’57 from ‘58/’60 is the dual headlight introduction which helps makes the ’57 desirable. Joel being a master fabricator and experience Fiberglas Tech including Corvette repairs; not being afraid of metal and fiberglass had a dream. That dream was to develop a ’57 Corvette with C6 running gear, the best of a classic Corvette but the comfort and speed of a C6. He started with a ’57 Corvette body aftermarket as a beginning about 10 years ago. Finding a 2004 C6 running Corvette donor the transition starts. Removing all the body components except doors and this transition started. A year and half later we have this statement of rolling art.

The ’57 body was widened and fitted to the C6 such that it looks natural. The body was widened 4”, added to area between headlights and grille. Gives you that low profile look likes it going 200 mph just sitting there. ’57 front track 57”/’04 front track 62” so the 4” widened was needed to keep the wheels under the front fender wells. The rear track on the ‘57/59” while the ’04 rear track 62.1”. The widening worked well for both ends. Yes, all the chrome, headlights, grille are stock ’57 to retain the classic look for sure.

’57 wheelbase was 102” while the ’04 wheelbase is 104.5” not too bad of issue to deal with. Since the ’04 doors were retained the concave signature vette front quarter panels did change but still true to concept. The door handles from the ’04 were retained, if it’s not broken don’t fix it! The 2-1/2” wheelbase stretch was taken up in the doors which was a good idea. The doors, A/B pilar structure, windshield was retained, and skins fabricated to mesh together as so eloquently executed. Since Joel was a master fiberglass guy this tested his ability to manipulate glass to create this rolling piece of art beauty. The ’04 windshield was retained and gives that laidback look which adds to the aero features of this rad ride. There is a soft top but seldom sees use in this awesome ride, of course you must be seen in this kool cruiser when you are in Havasu with your fellow Pharoah’s going up and down McCullah Blvd on Thursday nites.

Joel’s must take turns in driving this beaty with his wife, Mary, who enjoys this kool ride. His next project could be an Avanti by Studebaker, yes, its fiberglass, in his wheel house for sure from what you see here, this man is the glass wizard…….