Features Corvette hot rods - picture thread

@scotty t, Yes I would too. I really like that one. If it was mine I would put some Magnesium wheels on it.


Here is one that we have seen before but I don’t remember if we have seen this shot.

 

Hayseed

 

Here is one for Jim

 

I knew a guy about 1970 that had a 63 coupe with a ?66? compe***ion nose, the headlight doors were not cut out and the headlights were mounted in the grille opening, pretty mild based on the common Corvette modifications back then.

 

I remember seeing a lot of them with the Headlights in the grille now that you mention it. It’s interesting to think about how many custom ones that you used to see with extreme fibergl*** modifications and how many original, numbers matching, never been altered ones that there are today. I had a friend that would buy two wrecked ones from the insurance company and make one good one. They would be hit hard in different places like one in the back and one in the front and would be similar years like a 58 and a 60. The car came out very nice.

 

I also have a friend that had a 63 split window that some one had cut the center bar out of it a long time ago to make it look newer or help with visibility. He had a hard time finding the pieces to make it a split window again.

 

I normally fall into the "anyone can restore an old car but it takes a real man to cut one up" camp but I would have drawn the line on that one.

 

@DDDenny, I agree with you on that one. I really like split window coupes but I can see where in about 1967 that could have been a cool thing to do.

 

In '73 two brothers, friends of mine, were big into fixing up 'Vettes. They offered me a '63 Coupe, 327/300, 4spd, red/black interior, w/4 new Cragars, $1800. P***ed because I hated the split. No prob, they'd remove & update it. Still p***ed as I'd just bought a BB Chevelle with a hefty pmt of $63@month...

 

@slowmotion, Hopefully you at least you still have the Chevelle. What I would give for a time machine but I guess that I will just have to settle for an old corvette. I bet that you would like another shot at that deal.

 

Have a great New Year everyone. I found these pictures elsewhere.

 

Nice!.....

 

One of the best threads on the HAMB.

 

Someone help me out here with the gold 'vert @elgringo71 posted.
'63 or '64? No hood, that's what stalls me..

 

It's not an early '63 because of the short based door mirror. And I don't see the plastic hood guides for early '63. I don't remember '63 having backup lights so I am going to guess it's a '64. Without seeing the gauges on the dash I can't be sure. Saddle Tan paint was used both years. I'd be real happy with it in my shed.

 

This one is for Jim

 

Thanks for posting the pics Jason. I still am trying to figure out the Gianino pic with the hood on it, as opposed to the stack injection that is normally present.

Also would like to know more about the Central Garage 61-K/SA.

 

@elgringo71,
You already did one for Jim in post #5645. Can you do one for me? Both the Midwest car and the Gianinno one were part of my introduction to drag racing. I can't read the roof on the MidWest car. Jim, can you refresh my memory?

Sam's car evolved (like most). If I remember, the windshield went first and shortly after the stack injection appeared. Did it ever run as a M/SP with a top? I thought it did, but haven't seen a pic of it that way.

 

Bruce I am pretty sure that the hardtop reads, Owner: Ron Reader and the bottom line reads Driver:Butch Elkins. Butch was pretty responsible for the build anyways. Butch drove the car for a while and so did Al Maynard. Bob Schaeffer may have driven it on occasion. I believe this picture was 1967 and the registration for the 1967 Springnationals had Ron Reader's name. Often they use the driver's name but maybe Ron was switching drivers at the time. He said the car was a real handful with the 25% setback (which I easily believe).

As to Gianino's car here is a pic with the hardtop in spring of 67 (I believe it was early spring ). I thought he switched from Midwest sponsorship to Standard Auto Supply in late summer of 67 without the top although I believe he ran stack injection most of the time. This picture above with the hood is a bit different. I believe it may be late fall of 67 after they won at the U.S. Nats. I seem to remember reading he may have had engine troubles so I am wondering if they put a different engine in it for this particular meet and ran without stack injection-admittedly a guess.

 

@GearheadsQCE, This might not be exactly what you are wanting but hopefully you will like it.

Here is some history on Sam.

https://www.mmshof.org/index.php/inductees/inductees/109-sam-gianino

I also did some digging around and found this on EBay.

 

Jason,
I have visited the MMSHOF website many times but I think Sam's biography has been updated since I last viewed it. When Sam opened his shop in Royal Oak, I was teaching at the Skill Center right around the corner. another teacher and I would stop by often just to see what was up.
Jim,
Ron Reader also had a business within a block or two of the school and Sam's. I think it might have been called Midwest *.* but not sure. This would have been 1978-79.

Bruce

 

Bruce,


The shop might have been called Midwest Auto Parts. It sounds like you have some great memories of Sam and Rob and that the car also made quite an impression on you. I wonder which of his cars are featured in the Magazine and how much detail and how many pictures are there?


I found this picture of the magazine and it’s not the Corvettes that are featured like I had hoped.

 

Midwest Auto Parts was in the neighboring town of Berkley. I'm not sure of what might have happened to it as I was out of the area from 1966 - 74. Maybe Jim can fill in there. The shop in 1978 was not an auto parts store but more of a repair/fabrication shop.

 

Bruce not sure about a Ron Reader business other than Midwest Auto Parts. Hopefully I will get the chance to ask him one of these days.

As to the Hot Rod magazine that Jason posted it brings back a few memories. I think I have that issue as well but would have to look for it. When that issue came out I had just graduated college and was waiting until law school was to start and was working part time at a Detroit gas station owned by Jack Fruehauf. He had bought the franchise for his son Dave but Dave preferred drag racing and used to take his own big block 69 Camaro to the track with Dave Kanners who is the guy with the beard in that photo. Kanners used to stop by the station regularly (and take our fresh tanks of Safety Clean) and to shoot the breeze on occasion. He was a hell of a driver and I asked him questions including where the black Midwest car ended up. Bruce and I have talked about him-he was a character to say the least. I remember seeing Kanner's Camaro a number of times- a big block stack injected..

Besides Sam Gianino and Kanners the other two racers were Al Maynard and John Lukovich. I never met Lukovich but met Maynard. he was a really good guy and his black 57 Chevy he ran in gas was about as nice as they came and ran really well. I later talked briefly to him on driving the blue Midwest 62 above but never asked as many questions as I should have.

Good memories for sure.

 

http://www.draglist.com/stories/SOD...C2Iz0JLbOM46HqV1V71oEi8vkCeH1Eb2ukZEa0qJ3iBh0