1957 Chevrolet "Field Test Fleet" Corvette 283/283 “Fuelie”

Description

History was made on 17 March 1957, when two factory-backed Corvettes finished the 12 Hours of Sebring first and second in the GT Class. It was the first time Chevrolet’s sports car was victorious in an international event, and history will show how this was the turning point in the Corvette’s fate, as sales began climbing rapidly.

Those victorious Corvettes were built in October 1956, both carbureted cars that were transformed by Chevrolet Engineering into competitors by adding pre-production Rochester mechanical fuel injection, four-speed transmissions, heavy-duty suspension, and large metallic drum brakes. Not only were they remarkably fast, but equally reliable, thanks to a rigorous testing program. But in February 1957, as those Corvettes were in final preparation for Sebring, Engineering ordered five more similarly equipped cars for continued development, including this Corvette, chassis number 2276. By now the special racing components had the factory part numbers required by the rules, but the final specs were still in flux. Through local competition, the five would continue to finalize what would become the RPO 579E competition cars offered to the public beginning in April 1957, though those 43 Corvettes had one notable difference, an “Air Box” fresh air intake in the engine compartment to feed the fuel injection.

First-generation C1 Corvettes would go on to earn numerous SCCA National and Regional championships, compete at Le Mans and again at Sebring, and prove Chevrolet’s sports car was truly world class. Those racers all benefited from the foundation laid by the Field Test Fleet Corvettes, including this, the first one built, chassis 2276.

Highlights

• Historic first-generation C1 Corvette development vehicle

• First of the five competition “Field Test Fleet” Corvettes built February 1957

• One of believed eight competition Corvettes built without the “Air Box” induction

• RPO 579B 283 cu-in 283 horsepower V8 with Rochester “Ram-Jet” fuel-injection

  • Engine stamp: FII7EL

  • Fuel injection Serial Number: 1545

  • Fuel injection Part Number: 7014350

• Pre-production T-10 four-speed manual transmission

• Rear leaf springs with engineering part numbers not yet available in February 1957

• Vary rare Kelsey-Hayes 5.5 inch steel wheels dated 1957

• Rare 8,000 RPM AC 158680 tachometer

• Featured in Corvette Magazine December 2021

• Documented by Rochester fuel injection historian Ken Keyser

• Top Flight Award in 2019 from the National Corvette Restorers Society

• Finished in Venetian Red with Polo White coves and red interior

• The chassis number (E57S102276) decodes as:

  • E – Corvette

  • 57 – 1957 model year

  • S – St. Louis, Missouri, final assembly plant

  • 102276 ­– Sequential production number starting with 100001

• This 1957 Field Test Fleet Corvette is equipped as from the factory with:

  • RPO 276 – Kelsey-Hayes 5.5 inch steel wheels

  • RPO 684 – Heavy-duty brakes and suspension

  • RPO 685 – Borg Warner T-10 four-speed manual

  • RPO 677-79 – Positraction with 3.70, 4.11, or 4.56 gear ratios

  • RPO 469C 270 HP V8 possibly including the 8,000 RPM AC 1548680 Tachometer

  • Upgrades to the RPO 579B 283 hp 283 cu-in fuel-injected V8 including the 8,000 RPM AC 158680 Tachometer

Features

• Driver’s side exterior rear-view mirror

• Three-spoke steering wheel

• 160 mph speedometer

• Two-speed electric windshield wipers

• Dual sun visors

• Seat belts

• Dashboard-mounted mirror

• Manual roll-up windows

• Electric clock

• Dual exhaust outlets

Included

• NCRS Top Flight Award

• Extensive factory documentation

Ownership History

This 1957 “Field Test Fleet” Corvette, chassis 2276, is thought to have been sold through a southern California dealer, as did at least one other Field Test Fleet car. The area had an extremely vibrant road racing scene at the time, and there is evidence 2276 had been equipped with a welded rollbar. It was discovered in 1968 by Mike Pillsbury, known as the “Corvette Hunter” for his uncanny ability to find old historic Corvettes, including one of the 1960 Briggs Cunningham Le Mans Corvette racers. By 1973 it was owned by Ron Richardson who purchased the car after seeing it advertised in the Orange County Register. Leonard Albert of Rescue, California, then purchased 2276 around 1977.

2276 was later owned by noted Corvette collector Rich Mason, who also once owned the famous Chevrolet SR-2 prototype racer. Pillsbury had sold 2276 years before, and he was able to find it in a barn in 1986, still owned by Leonard Albert. Mason meticulously restored 2276 in 1990 to its current state, painting it Venetian Red, though it appears the chassis remains in its original condition. After years of trying to acquire it, Mason sold it to the current owner in 2016, who only then fully realized the historic impact of 2276 as a Field Test Fleet competition Corvette. Mason had fitted a three-speed manual transmission, but the current owner found and installed a correct early T-10 four-speed. It has been shown with Halibrand magnesium wheels, but currently rides on the factory correct RPO 276 Kelsey-Hayes 5.5 inch steel wheels with “Dog Dish” truck hubcaps. As further proof of its factory correct nature, 2276 earned the coveted Top Flight award from the National Corvette Restorers Society in 2019 as being more than 94 percent of its “as manufactured” state.

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Group Consignment Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle.

Contact: Matt Lowney Phone: 623.308.2640 email: mlowney@hagerty.com