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In Corvette chronology, 1957 is the year of fuel injection, and, for the first time on an American production engine, one horsepower per cubic inch-all 283 of both. FM selected the "fuelie" option for their model, and also the most popular color combination of that year. In fact, the very subject for this replica can be found in the Petersen Automotive Museum in west Los Angeles, equipped with slightly oversize blackwalls, "doggie dish" Chevy 150/210-series hubcaps on red rims, and erected soft top. It's all a pleasant departure from the fully-opted mode that's so hard to resist by model manufacturers, and well conveys the "factory hot rod" look.
The shape is captured well, and grill, bumpers and chrome trim are crisply molded and fit precisely. Corvette monikers fore and aft are separate moldings, while the "Fuel Injection" script and crossed-flags are sharply tampo printed on the side covings. Doors, hood and deck lid fit reasonably well. The seats look a bit "plasticy" and the dashboard could stand more detailing, but the interior is unmistakably "Vette." Under the hood, ignition wiring is absent, but the Hilborn injection unit is neatly replicated. If, like me, you want only a few highly representative Corvettes for the collection, this one fits the bill. The issue price is $90. DISCONTINUED 12/31/2000 (08/06/1998)
(05/17/2000)
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