In the period of just two short years, Corvette had evolved from a car that was facing the very serious threat of extinction to one that showed real promise for a long and healthy life. While General Motors still recorded only modest sales of the Chevrolet Corvette in 1956, it was apparent to everyone that it was also beginning to be taken seriously as a sports car. Even after the immense structural, physical and mechanical facelift it received in 1956, Corvette saw some major improvements in 1957.A new, larger 283-cid engine was placed under the hood, Mechanically, it was really still the existing 265-cid engine, though it had been bored out 1/8-inch (to 3.875 inches). This modified engine delivered an impressive 220 horsepower when coupled with a four-barrel carburetor. Dual four-barrels took it to 245 horsepower (and 270bhp.) Better still, consumers could now also purchase GM‘s newly developed “Ramjet” fuel injection system which yielded 259 horsepower (or 283 bhp). In almost any form, the 1957 Corvette delivered uncompromising, and largely unmatched, performance. The Corvette had effectively become a street-legal sports car. As taken from an excerpt in the book CORVETTE: Sports Car Superstar: “the ’57 Corvette delivered certifiably staggering performance.