Incidentally, the ’57 Black Widow was initially simply a special equipment group that wasn’t even part of Chevrolet’s regular production lineup.
After the 1955 Le Mans disaster, in which Pierre Levegh’s silver Mercedes crashed into the pits, killing approximately 80 people, motorsports were considered an extremely hazardous activity. As a result of this perception, General Motors disassociated themselves officially from racing teams. Yet, unpublicized, GM secretly established SEDCO under the direction of Vince Piggins, a former engineer at Hudson, which laid the groundwork for several legendary cars, including the Black Widow, in the years that followed.
While the car’s engine was undoubtedly eye-catching, it was the various subtle refinements and adjustments that ultimately made it a huge hit.
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The 1957 Chevy Black Widow was a feisty lightweight terror that left rivals in the dust on the racetracks.
The upgrade made a significant impact on its overall performance and increased its top speed to 130 miles per hour.
For the final product to be its best, the car’s smaller parts were not only redesigned but also upgraded. New 6-lug hubs and wheels were installed, making room for bigger, more effective brakes suitable for high-speed racing. Additionally, the vehicle was equipped with two new heavy-duty spring sets, an improved exhaust system, and a larger 20-gallon fuel tank. Despite having all these high-performance components, the car’s curb weight remained an impressive 3,168 pounds.
With a list of challenges associated with fuel injection systems, NASCAR ultimately decided to rewrite its rules and completely eliminate fuel injection from its systems.
assembled during its lifespan.
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