The big story from GM Engineering in 1957 was the introduction of Rochester Fuel Injection for the Chevrolet and Pontiac V8s. This original GM promotional film trumpets the news.
These days, fuel injection is universal in gasoline engines across the auto industry, but in 1957 it was quite an advance, offered by fewer than a handful of car makers including Mercedes-Benz. And as you can see in this original factory promotional film, GM and its Rochester Products division were extremely proud of their achievement. The system did enjoy some success, too. Despite its considerably greater cost and complexity, it was used to good effect by Chevrolet—most notably on the Corvette—from 1957 through 1965, and by Pontiac, briefly, in 1957 and 1958.
While modern FI systems utilize electronic management and precision-timed injection, the Rochester scheme was far more simple—it was completely mechanical and operated at constant flow. Our little three-minute film is not terribly technical, but it does clearly show the Rochester’s three essential component groups: The intake manifold assembly with plenum and eight individual runners; an air meter and throttle valve assembly to measure and manage the air entering the engine; and a fuel meter assembly to proportionally deliver fuel to the eight individual injector nozzles.
Was the Rochester system as effective as modern electronic fuel injection? No, not by a long shot. But it did enjoy some significant advantages over the venerable carburetor, including superior air/fuel mixture distribution and the ability to handle high cornering loads. The film supplies a nice overview, and as a bonus, provides a detailed look inside a 1950s-vintage carburetor lab and its fascinating equipment. Video below.
When I was a kid, early 60’s, a neighbor across the street had a ’58 Bonneville, I think it was a 2 door, blue and white, and had the “Fuel Injection” script on the front fenders. I remember having no idea what that was. He was retired, and this car was his pride and joy. We’d ride our bikes past it when he would be waxing it. He rarely drove it. He passed away, the widow moved out, and I always wondered what happened to that ’58 Bonne with fuel injection.
Good question indeed. Where do all the “cool” cars we remember seeing in our youth end up when they leave our neighborhoods?
The “fuelie” 283 was available in full size Chevies until 1959. Wonder if any originals still exist today…
First race featuring 1957 Fuel Injected Corvette Factory Race Cars was the Governors Trophy Race at the Nassau Speedweeks in Nassau, Bahamas Dec.7th, 1956. Cars were shipped on the SS Nassau!
I have one of the three Corvette Fuel Injected Factory Race Cars sent to Nassau in Dec 1956 and it still has its prototype Fuel Injection.
Thanks Joe Trybulec for that additional bit of history! Any photos you can share?
How do I attach a photo
I bought the unrestored original 1957 Corvette Nassau Factory Race Car in 2005 from the original owner who bought it from GM in 1958 when it was retired from racing. The Nassau Corvettes were ordered on Chevrolet Engineering Workorder 17792 in October 1956. The cars were sent to Engineering in Warren, Mi. Where new Fuel Injected engines were installed as well as RPO 581 rear suspension, Roll Bar, 371/2 gallon center fill gas tank, Sun Tach, pre production heavy duty finned brake drums and vented backing plates, before being shipped to Nassau,Bahamas. The event and the Corvette Race Cars were featured in Corvette News Vol 1 #1
After trying for 11 years to get a copy of the original Engineering Workorder for the 1957 Nassau Car I reached out to Mary Barra. A month or so later I received a call from the Heritage Center advising they would look for the Work Order. About 6 months later I got an email from the Heritage Center saying they now had a copy of the Work Order and would I like a copy. The very next day I received it. Followed by a very gracious email from Mary Barra. THANK YOU Mary and THANK YOU to My friends at the Heritage Center.