Did 57 Chevy have fuel injection?
The answer is yes, but only on a very limited set of cars in 1957—most notably the Corvette, which offered Rochester Ram Jet fuel injection on its 283 cubic inch V8. It was a rare, high-cost option that did not become a standard feature for Chevrolet’s lineup.
In 1957, Chevrolet experimented with production-level fuel injection as an alternative to carburetion. The Ram Jet system, developed by Rochester, aimed to improve power delivery and fuel efficiency by delivering fuel directly to each cylinder. It was technically advanced for its time but also bulky, expensive to install, and difficult to service, which limited its uptake to a small number of vehicles and a short time frame.
The Ram Jet system and its place in 1957 Chevrolet
What it was and how it worked
The Ram Jet setup was a mechanical fuel-injection system built by Rochester. It used a central fuel distributor and a bank of injectors connected to each cylinder, with air metering guiding fuel delivery. The system offered precise fuel metering compared with a carburetor and was promoted as providing stronger, more consistent performance. However, it required a specialized fuel system, careful tuning, and more complex maintenance, which limited its practicality for everyday owners in the 1950s.
Availability and models
The Ram Jet fuel injection was offered on the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette, which used a 283 cubic inch V8 tuned for higher performance. It was the standout, widely recognized application of the technology that year. Other Chevrolet models did not receive the Ram Jet option in 1957, and the price tag—plus the maintenance demands—made it a rarity even within the Corvette lineup. The option contributed to a small, exclusive segment of the year’s production rather than representing a Chevrolet-wide shift to fuel injection.
Impact and legacy
The Ram Jet experiment in 1957 is remembered as one of the early demonstrations that production cars could use direct-injection-style fuel delivery. While the system did not become a lasting mainstream feature for Chevrolet, it foreshadowed the broader pursuit of electronic and mechanical fuel injection that would accelerate in the coming decades. Reliability, service infrastructure, and cost ultimately kept fuel injection from becoming common in Chevrolets for many years, but the technology laid groundwork for later developments in the automotive industry.
Summary
Chevrolet did offer fuel injection in 1957, but only as a limited, high-end option on the Corvette with the Rochester Ram Jet system. It was not a standard feature and the technology did not become mainstream in Chevrolets for many years. The Ram Jet remains a landmark historical example of early production fuel injection and a milestone in the evolution toward modern EFI.
Was the 1957 Corvette fuel injected?
In 1957 the new Corvette took a giant stride forward with the introduction of the new Ramjet Fuel Injection. This was at the time, the most advanced performance feature ever offered on an American production engine.
When did Chevy start using fuel injection?
1957
Fuel Injection Option The 1957 Chevy was one of the first cars to offer fuel injection as an option. The Rochester Ramjet fuel injection system could be ordered on the 283 V8 engine,#761.
Did a 57 Chevy come with fuel injection?
1957 was the first year that Chevrolet ever offered fuel injection as an option. A 283 cu in (4,640 cc) engine fitted with solid lifters, the "Duntov" cam and fuel injection was rated at 283 hp (211 kW) and cost $500.
How many fuel injected 57 chevys were made?
1.5 million Chevy were made in 1957. Only 1,530 had fuel injection and it's estimated that only 50 or less were in utility sedans!
