1956 Corvette and 1957 Corvette

The 1956 Corvette was the first model where the body received its first major redesign. Only the instrument panel remained the same. The new design featured roll-up windows and an optional power assist. Additional add-ons to this design included external door handles, locks, and exposed headlights. This was also the first year for two-tone paint, seat belts, factory hardtops, a "transistorized" AM radio, and "dual point" distributors. It was also the first year for dual four-barrel carburetors, which sat on a cast aluminum intake manifold.

The 1957 Corvette was pretty much the same as 1956. However, the 1957 model added two major improvements: optional fuel injection and four-speed manual transmission. A total of 1,000 fuel-injected Corvettes were sold. If you ordered a standard model, it came with a 283ci 220hp engine, 3-speed manual transmission, vinyl interior trim, and a soft-top.