1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Personal story and photograph submitted by owner Vass Theodoracatos
for participation in the the 2008 GM Century Cruise
...my very early 1957 corvette (VIN# 000135) built in October 5, 1956, the first week of 1957 production. Because it was an early ’57, several parts are used from left over ’56 Vettes. This car has been restored to original after seven years of body-off restoration. It’s one of the few C1 Corvettes with a functional powertop which I personally restored including all original (no reproduction or replacement) parts.
This Vette received the TOP FLIGHT award at the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, July 2007 with a score of 97.5%. This made it eligible for the DUNTOV Mark of Excellence Award if passed the Performance Verification (PV) test. I will participate in the NCRS Regional conference in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania for the Performance Verification the second week of June. I also have been accepted to participate in the next NCRS National Convention in St. Charles, Missouri next month to be judged for potentially receiving the DUNTOV Mark of Excellence award. Also, this Vette has been accepted to be judged this month in St. Charles, Illinois for Bloomington Gold show. Last year at the Corvettes America show in Warren Tech Center, my Vette received the Celebrity Choice Award by Gary Cowger, GM VP....
We own this ’57 Vette for over 20 years and have been involved with its restoration for the last eight years. The majority of the components on the car are either original restored parts or NOS with a minimum number of reproduction parts, such as tires and battery. I have enjoyed this hobby and learn about the history and assembly process and all idiosyncrasies of 1956-57 Corvettes. There is still a lot to learn about them and plan to become an NCRS judge for '56-'57 Vettes. I have generated a network of many wonderful Corvette owners around the world through the NCRS club. It’s exciting to meet the same people who used to race those cars back in the 50’s.
Watch GM Century Cruise participants explain what makes their cars special.
Video Courtesy of General Motors Corporation
I have been told many times that I must be extremely patient to go through this restoration by trying to restore the car to the condition and originality as was driven off the assembly line. Condition and originality includes bolt head marks, dates, part number stampings, correct position and orientation of parts, etc. I have enjoyed recreating that timeframe back in October, 1956 with the sight of the car and the sound of the exhaust as was driven off the assembly line in St. Louis, Missouri to be parked outside the building waiting to be put on a trailer and transferred to the dealership.
GM’s Century Cruise pays tribute to GM’s past and the passion owners have for their vehicles. On Saturday, August 16, 2008 this vehicle and more than 100 other classic GM vehicles will cruise from the GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center up Woodward Avenue to the heart of the Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak and the surrounding suburbs. One of these vehicles will be crowned “top cruiser” based on a text voting campaign.
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