This 1957 Chevrolet Corvette was once owned by Vintage Corvette Club of America founder Ed Thiebaud in California and featured in the December 1971 issue of MotorTrend. Thiebaud sold the car to Pennsylvania-based Corvette collector Donald Pulver in December 1973, who owned the car for the next five decades. The car is finished in red over red vinyl and powered by a fuel-injected 283ci V8 paired with a three-speed manual transmission. Features include a removable body-color hardtop, power windows, seat belts, an AM radio, bucket seats, and a twin-cowl dash with a dash-mounted rearview mirror. The selling dealer acquired the car in early 2025 and serviced it throughout the year in preparation for the sale. This C1 is now offered with a copy of the aforementioned MotorTrend issue, correspondence between Thiebaud and Pulver, recent service records, and a Pennsylvania title.
While the cover story for the December 1971 MotorTrend issue explored the possibility of a 1975 Wankel-powered, mid-engine Corvette, the magazine went to Thiebaud for a subject car to shoot for the “In Retrospect” feature about the 1957 Corvette fuelie.
The car is finished in red with ivory coves, and the paintwork and imperfections are discussed in the video. Exterior equipment includes a removable body-color hardtop, a wrap-around windshield, exterior door handles, split chrome bumpers, chrome front and rear bumperettes, and dual exhaust outlets that exit through the rear bumper uprights.
The 15″ steel wheels wear covers with faux knock-off spinners and are wrapped in 215/70 BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial tires. The car came equipped from the factory with an independent front suspension and semi-elliptical rear leaf springs. Braking is handled by drums at each corner, and the rear shoes and rear wheel cylinders were replaced.
The cabin features twin bucket seats trimmed in red vinyl along with a color-coordinated dash, carpets, and door panels. Equipment includes power windows, seat belts, a signal-seeking AM radio, a floor-mounted shifter, a clock, and a dash-mounted rearview mirror.
The three-spoke steering wheel frames a 140-mph speedometer, and center-mounted instrumentation consists of a tachometer, an ammeter, and gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows 58k miles.
The 283ci V8 features Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection and was factory rated at 250 horsepower. Service by the selling dealer in 2025 involved rebuilding the fuel injection unit, servicing the distributor, fabricating and installing a new vacuum line, and changing the oil.
The stamping on the engine pad is shown above. The EM suffix is consistent with a 283ci V8 rated at 250 horsepower and designated for a 1957 Corvette with fuel injection and a manual transmission.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission. Corrosion is present on underside components.
The Pennsylvania title carries an antique brand.
