Corvettes for Sale: 1957 Fuel Injected Corvette Driver for Sale in Arizona

Many a Corvette enthusiast has no doubt dreamed of owning a 1957 fuel-injected Corvette someday.

But with prices soaring well above $100,000 for pristine examples, it’s a dream that has turned into a nightmare for those of us with ordinary means.

A more affordable example of a ’57 fuelie, however, is currently available on craigslist.org out of Gilbert, Arizona, southeast of Phoenix, for only $69,900.

While it’s not a perfect Corvette, it’s in good enough shape that it would make a great daily driver, with the potential for a new owner to invest more money to bring it back to 100 percent original if he chooses to do so.

The owner says he loves the car “but unfortunately I need the space” for another project so he’s decided to part with it now.

Obviously, the most important feature about the car is its fuel-injected engine, which the seller believes is one of the last, if not the last, to be produced that model year since its 539 block, with matching heads, is dated at the end of June.

Unfortunately, the original fuel injection unit was replaced in 1958 “due to issues (as most of them were),” the seller explains.

A similar situation applies to the Muncie four-speed manual transmission that has been added at some point in place of the original three-speed manual.

Barn Finds, where we saw this car, believes those two problems could be addressed with the purchase of a correct fully rebuilt fuel injection system they found online for $5,000. They also located a correct three-speed manual for $300 that would need to be rebuilt, though performance would likely suffer since the four-speed should be faster in the quarter-mile.

Furthermore, the car doesn’t have the correct color interior, as it has been converted from the original beige or red upholstery at some point. Replacing the seat covers, door trims, and carpet could cost more than $2,000.

As for the body, it’s described as being in “nice” condition, though there is evidence of “some repairs on the front end.” The Venetian Red paint (with white coves) has been redone “a long time ago,” the seller notes, but it remains in “still shiny” condition with “some cracking and chipping” now. The frame is said to be “really nice” with no rust, and the body is “nice” with doors that open and close “with ease.”

In short, the seller admits the car “is not an NCRS correct example but a very nice driver.”

Hence, a new owner will have some tough decisions to make. Does he enjoy the car as is since it’s said to run and drive “great” and the interior is in “excellent” condition other than the carpet that needs to be replaced at some point?

Or does he invest more money, including a new interior, paint, transmission, and fuel unit, to bring the car back to its original condition, knowing that it still won’t really be 100 percent original.

We’d be inclined to leave the car like it sits and just enjoy it as a nice daily driver, or perhaps take it in the restomod direction by adding a modern drivetrain and suspension. What would you do?

Source:
Craigslist.org via BarnFinds.com

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