Is This a Correct Airbox?

[Paul P.]

I am writing a feature article about the 1957 Airbox Corvette option for my local vintage Corvette club. Attached is a photo of an airbox on a '57 Corvette at the August 2012 Historic races at Laguna Seca. My research tells me that the factory airboxes were fiberglass and this appears to be aluminum. Also the air filter access has only two screws, others have six. I'm thinking this one was an imitation fabricated at some point.

Comments?

~Paul

[Joseph L.]

That is not the real deal. Many cars had air boxes added after delivery. There were part numbers for these and the big brake components that could be purchased. The FI unit is not a typical 1957. What is the VIN# on this car?

Joe

[Paul P.]

That is not the real deal. Many cars had air boxes added after delivery. There were part numbers for these and the big brake components that could be purchased. The FI unit is not a typical 1957. What is the VIN# on this car?

Joe

I do not know the VIN. It was a race car at the Monterey Historics in 2012. I suspect it (the airbox) was added on as another photo showed a tachometer installed in the middle of the dash. There was also a tachometer on the steering column which has a different mounting scheme. I've attached another photo which shows more of the FI unit if that is any help. Were the airboxes available from the parts department made of metal or fiberglass?

Thank you for your help.

~paul

[Jim L.]

Joe is spot on. That is definitely NOT a factory airbox but the craftsmanship is super nice. All real airboxes are fiberglass.

[Tom P.]

Joe is spot on. That is definitely NOT a factory airbox but the craftsmanship is super nice. All real airboxes are fiberglass.

Jim is spot on. That metal (alum?) copy is excellent craftsmanship!!!!
According to Ken Kayser, the FI units that were used on Airbox cars were the 4520 and the later 4960. That FI unit is not either one.
I acquired a real airbox about 30-35yrs ago for the SB400 in our 56. I pledged then, and have remained true to my pledge, not to reveal where it came from (I assure it was honest).
The FI is a heavily modified Bill Thomas unit, made up from 57-65 parts.
It was cut in half between the center fins, heavily ported and welded back together. Airbox FI.jpg


Airbox AM adapter chrome.jpg


Airbox1.jpg


Airbox3.jpg


Airbox4.jpg


AirboxCover1.jpg


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[Jim L.]

It was a race car at the Monterey Historics in 2012. I suspect it (the airbox) was added on as another photo showed a tachometer installed in the middle of the dash. There was also a tachometer on the steering column which has a different mounting scheme. I've attached another photo which shows more of the FI unit if that is any help.

~paul

A well prepared, black, fuel injected Corvette vintage racer would have to be the Corvette owned/driven at the time by Bob Paterson. That car was previously owned by Frank Buck and was a Bloomington Gold winner.

Bob transitioned to the '57 after selling Grand Sport #003 to Tom Armstrong. Bob was the absolute master of that Grand Sport. At Road America once, the GS stalled and would not re-fire for four minutes, giving the entire field a four minute head start. By the time the checkered flag waved, Bob had caught and passed the entire field of Corvettes and Cobras. And he had caught up with the CanAm cars.

But back to the '57, here is Bob diving down the Laguna Seca Corkscrew:

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