 The 1957 SS Corvette
was on display to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lime Rock Park and the
SS. In the backround, note the large curved diorama that illustrated the
design, development and history of the Corvette SS. The photo below is the
left side of that large dislay showing the SS chassis without the Magnesium
body. | ||
 Below the headlines
of "Detroit Goes Grand Prix" and "the 1.5 million
dollars race car" the copy reads "It is hard to believe
today, but 50 years ago Corvette was hardly a household name. In fact, General
Motors was considering scrapping the Corvette entirely. In response, Corvette
attempted to enhance its image and increase sales by instituting a high-profile
racing program. Thus, the 1957 Corvette SS was born." | ||
 I never tire of
seeing this piece of Corvette history. When on display at it's home at the
Indy 500 Museum, it has nowhere near as nice a display. Note the 4 Black
and White photos above the SS silhouette. All four photos are shown below
in left to right order. | ||
 Note the large group
of Chevy staff working on the SS at one time. | ||
 The goal was for 1850
pounds, but I could not read the numbers on the Toledo scale even at the
show. | ||
 Zora at work with
the SS taking shape. | ||
 It looks like final
details are being checked on the SS. | ||
 Note the group
of GM workers pushing the SS in the upper left of the diorama, and in the
photos below. | ||
 Note the SS did not
have the number one painted in the White circle yet. | ||
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 Atop the diorama, was
a 3D symbolic sculpture of the signature head rest, and identified with
the 1957 SS names and contemporary Corvette crossed flags logo. | ||
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 Note that Zora is
in the SS when it had 10 hood louver slots, while the SS on display has
5 hood louver slots. I blew up the photo at the right and it's definately
10 slots, not an optical illusion. | ||
 Definately 5 slots
in the hood now. | ||
 If only these side
pipes were on the outside of the body, heat would not have presented such
a problem. | ||
 Note the quilted insulation
used as a heat barrier. | ||
 About the only stock
production Corvette item here is the horn button on 56-57 and later C1. | ||
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 Halibrand "kidney
bean" Magnesium knock off wheels. Kool ! | ||
 Thia photo was part
of the diorama display. | ||
 I'll bet John Fitch
knows who is driving in the shot. | ||
 This display also
included 5 other significant race cars. Above left is the Red 1957 Masterti
450S that won 1957 Sebring. | ||
 Also on display
about 10 o'clock was the Green 1960 Cooper T53; hiding a Red 1956 Ferrari
Testa Rosa. At 1 o'clock is a White 1957 Jaguar D type, at 2 oclock the
Yellow and Red 1957 Belond that won the Indy 500. | ||
more photos of the SS from the John Fitch Reptrospective | ||