Chevrolet
Corvette fuel injection "Fuelie" (1957–1961)

Why it matters

The 283 hp fuel-injected V-8 of 1957 delivered one horsepower per cubic inch, a figure Chevrolet advertised widely, and made the Corvette a serious performance car. RM Sotheby's calls the fuel-injected cars the ultimate street Corvettes of their era.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

For 1957 the Corvette's V-8 grew to 283 cubic inches. In its top form it used the Duntov camshaft and Rochester mechanical fuel injection and was rated at 283 hp, with a 250 hp injected version below it. Per RM Sotheby's, 1,040 Corvettes were built with fuel injection in 1957, of which 756 had the 10.5:1 compression, 283 hp EL-code engine.

Early 1957 cars used a three-speed manual gearbox; the Borg-Warner four-speed arrived in May, together with Positraction. The AMA racing ban of June 1957 ended factory racing, and customers carried on with parts such as fuel injection that Duntov kept in the order book.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The 283 hp engine is the EL-code engine; the car described by RM Sotheby's carries engine number F924EL. The hub advises checking that the engine-pad suffix matches the claimed horsepower, that the block casting date precedes the car's build date, and that the Rochester injection unit is of the right series with its own serial number.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   1957 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Colors – CorvSport Level C

   • 713 1957 Corvettes with RPO 579B 283 hp fuel-injected engine
   • 182 1957 Corvettes with RPO 579A 250 hp fuel-injected engine

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   C1 Corvette (1953–1962): The Complete Solid-Axle Guide Level B CorvSport

   • Forty-three cars, one purpose. The 1957 Airbox package

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   Corvette Action Center – 1957 Corvette Production Numbers & Options Level C

   • 43 579E cars built

   Accessed 2026-11-12
4. 4
   1960 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Colors – CorvSport Level C

   • 100 1960 Corvettes with RPO 579 275 hp fuel injection

   Accessed 2026-11-12
5. 5
   1961 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Colors – CorvSport Level C

   • 118 1961 Corvettes with RPO 353 275 hp fuel injection

   Accessed 2026-11-12
6. 6
   1957 Chevrolet Corvette 'Fuel-Injected' (Miami 2025, Lot 275) Level C RM Sotheby's

   • 283-horsepower EL-code engine
   • 283-cubic-inch V-8
   • 10.5:1 compression ratio 283-horsepower EL-code engine
   • Rochester mechanical fuel injection system
   • 283 advertised horsepower from the 283-cubic-inch V-8

   Accessed 2026-11-12
7. 7
   C1 Corvette (1953-1962): The Complete Solid-Axle Guide Level B CorvSport

   • 283 ci V-8
   • A Borg-Warner four-speed arrived in May
   • steel X-braced ladder frame ... fiberglass body on a steel structure
   • independent front suspension
   • solid rear axle on leaf springs
   • drum brakes throughout
   • 102-in wheelbase

   Accessed 2026-11-12
8. 8
   C1 Corvette (1953–1962): The Complete Solid-Axle Guide Level B CorvSport

   • The V-8 grew to 283 cubic inches
   • 283-horsepower version with the Duntov cam
   • Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection

   Accessed 2026-11-12
9. 9
   C1 Corvette (1953–1962): The Complete Solid-Axle Guide Level B CorvSport

   • 283, a 265 bored to 3.875 inches

   Accessed 2026-11-12
10. 10
    1957 Chevrolet Corvette 'Fuel-Injected', Miami 2025, Lot 85 Level C RM Sotheby's

    • paired with a three-speed manual gearbox

    Accessed 2026-11-12