In theory, the Corvette should never have materialized in a big corporation like General Motors. But men like Chevrolet vice president and general manager Ed Cole and Zara Arkus-Duntov saw tremendous potential in the sports car. With the Ford Thunderbird outselling the Corvette, the 1956 model was cleaned up and updated. The engine was beefed up to 283 c.i.d. Chief engineer and former LeMans racer Duntov commissioned the Rochester Division of GM to develop a mechanical fuel-injection unit for the new 283 small-block Chevy engine, which was first available in the 1957 Corvette in two options, including a 283 horsepower version. The 1957 Fuel Injected Corvette became an instant classic and put the Corvette on the map of high performance sports cars. A genuine 1957 Fuel Injected Corvette is one of the most valuable Corvettes of all time. It finally packed the power to match its styling, enabling Corvette to compete with the world's finest sports cars.

And now the 1957 Corvette is back in Arctic Blue, one of seven original factory colours. Your die-cast model is a Matchbox Exclusives edition crafted to capture the stylish front fenders with chrome-rimmed headlights, sloping rear fenders and the handsome scallop on the sides that was new for '57 and became a signature of the Corvette for the next five years. Your authentically detailed and officially approved replica is produced by - and available only from - Matchbox Collectibles.

(2000)

Scale: 1:43