Reawakening the '57

Legacy Innovations Reawakens a Legend:
Saboury's 1957 Corvette That Made History Gets a New Life in York, PA

A milestone machine in drag racing history is being reborn in York, Pennsylvania. Legacy Innovations—a nationally recognized leader in high-end automotive restoration and fabrication—is proud to take on the resurrection of Rod Saboury’s legendary 1957 Corvette, famously known as The Corvette That Eight Memphis. But this machine’s legacy reaches far beyond Memphis.

Rod Saboury’s pearl white ’57 Corvette didn’t just make headlines—it made history. Powered by a naturally aspirated 632 cubic inch engine built by Charlie Garrett of Garrett’s Racing Engines, this beast was the world’s first street-legal car to break into the 7-second quarter-mile range, both with and without nitrous oxide. Even more impressively, it was the first doorslammer of any kind to achieve this feat while running mufflers.

The Corvette remained fully street legal—complete with a full interior, functioning lights, and even exhaust mufflers. And yet, it was capable of consistent low 8-second passes, eventually breaking into the elusive 7s. It was a game-changer, proving that genuine street cars could run numbers once reserved for full-blown race machines.

After making its mark, the Corvette was sold to Texas Pro Mod racer Ronnie Hobbs, who intended to evolve the platform into a modern Pro Modified street car. Hobbs—known for piloting the “Texas Rattlesnake” Mustang in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series—was a respected and passionate figure in the sport. Tragically, he lost his life during a qualifying pass at the Great Bend Nationals in 2022.

In the wake of that loss, Ronnie’s son, Landon Hobbs, chose to carry forward his father’s dream. He entrusted Legacy Innovations to complete the Corvette project that Ronnie had envisioned—honoring both his father and the car’s iconic past.

Now under reconstruction at Legacy Innovation’s cutting-edge facility, the Corvette is undergoing a new metamorphosis. The team is preserving its legacy while pushing it into the future, building not just a showpiece, but a living tribute to the racers who shaped its legacy.

Stay tuned—the legend is far from finished.