splidecision63

Paul Borowski

...I believe they are refering to the only "43" 579E Fuel Injection cars built in 1957 that had fresh air ducting fabricated into the driver's side front fender. Those with much more knowledgable will chime in.

BarryK

in 1957 they produced I believe it was 43 of the Airbox cars. All of them were Fuelie cars. The Airbox was option RPO-579E
On regular fuelie cars there was an air cleaner attached directly to the air meter of the FI unit but on the 43 Airbox cars there was special fiberglass ductwork attached to the left inner fender and a hole cut into the left side of the radiator support. This allowed COLD air for the intake of the air meter of the FI unit rather than the hot air from under the hood.
Again, if I'm not mistaken, all of the Airbox cars also came with all the heavy duty options like brakes, suspension, steering, shocks, etc. They also came with no radio and no heater. Also had a Tach mounted onto the steering column and maybe a few other items that made it different than any of the other Fuelie cars.
basically these cars were configured for racing purposes and very rare and worth a ton of money.

EDIT: Paul beat me to it. he types faster

Paul Borowski

....yeah, but you gave the more "complete" answer. Took longer to type that.

BarryK

Paul

BTW, I've been looking at your avatar for years now, Who is the chick?

Plastic Pig

DZAUTO

According to Ken Kayser, AND HIS DOCUMENTATION IS VERY, VERY CREDIBLE, especially since he was a GM employee for many years, the CORRECT option for the FI Airbox cars is, and always should have been (You just have to buy his book and read the information) RPO 579D. Ya, ya, ya, I know, allllllllllllllllllllllllll these years it has been shown/listed as RPO 579E---------------BUT NOT IN GM DOCUMENTS--------------ONLY IN AFTERMARKET DOCUMENTS.

OK, with that said, there has already been plenty of information provided above to give you the info you seek. In the community of early Vettes, when you say "Airbox", people IMMEDIATELY know that you are referring to ONLY a 57 Corvette with the solid lifter (283hp/283) FI engine, which included much more than just the duct supplying outside air to the FI unit. The "package" included heavy duty suspension and steering, HD brakes, solid lifter FI, steering column mounted tach (8000rpm), no radio, no heater, wide wheels, dog dish caps, and probably some more stuff I've left out. In essence (keep in mind the time frame of 1957), it was a factory built, no frills, race car.
GENERALLY speaking, it is accepted that 43 were built and sold to the public. BUT, Ken very slightly sheds some doubt on that number. He does NOT dispute the 43, he simply makes it known that that may not be a 100% accurate quantity.
I have upgraded my 56 with MANY of the components that would be installed on a 57 Airbox car (RPO579D).
Like some other cars, when a particular feature is unique to a specific car, that car in time becomes known by its particular unique feature. Another perfect example is the 1963 Corvette coupe. With its 2-piece rear window, it is now best known as a "split window" Corvette. When that term is mentioned, everyone (who is Corvette knowledgeable) immediately knows you are referring to a 1963 Corvette coupe. Period.

This is my 56 with numerous components added that would be found on a 57 Airbox car.




Front HD brakes with airscoop (elephant ears).






Here is a race restored real Airbox car.

69ttop502

Tom, I want to spend some time milling around your garage. Love your cars.

Loren Smith

I have no affiliation with the seller, but I thought this was interesting:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251032306323...#ht_500wt_1413

Mike Geary

Looks like a young Sharon Stone to me...

SBR

I asked Paul the same question a while back. She is a French news anchor Melissa Theuriau. She is absolutely beautiful. Now back to the thread at hand.

vt65

well the alzheimers will allow me to ask that again next week

splidecision63

Thanks, 4 the Good info, on the Air Box, Pictures and Young Beauty, in reverse order.
Thanks again.

Lou64

Any relation TOM?

I have a related question: Is the "airbox" the FIRST instance of cold air induction on a production car?

bill connell

Lou,

I think the 1957 Fuel Injection Passenger car also used cold air induction--in which case it would pre-date the Corvette Airbox system which debuted in May. I am not aware of anything earlier.

Bill