Technical ID: '57 Chevy (?) dune buggy chassis

Hi again. My boss got this old dune buggy when he bought the Ford dealer building here (EDIT: It came from an estate in Landers near here). Now he wants to get rid of it along with a bunch of O/T cars, so I looked it over. Took photos of the engine and checked some numbers, and it looks like it has a '57 Chevy 265 or 283 with a build date of January 14, 1957:

















So, what do I have here? Cut down Chevy chassis or something else? Over to the experts... and thanks!

 

I’d drive it

 

55-56 per exhaust manifolds. Rear shackles are 56-57. So I’m going 56.

 

engine is 57. The rear center section could have a casting date, so could the powerglide transmission. But either way, it's 56-57.

really neat car! it would be amazing if whoever gets it could leave it all as is, and just get it roadworthy and drive it around as is.

maybe I should go buy it.

 

Couldn’t see the rear axle drain plug in the housing. 5-6

 

That has some seriously ugly charm. I'd love to drive it around in the desert.

 

Somehow get it registered and street legal and drive it on the next Lemons rally?

 

Check rear end housing at center section to see if it has a drain plug. 55-56 no plug. 57 yes, plug. But hey, it’s at minimum 67 years old. Lot’s swapping can happen.

 

It looks like it was “purpose built”, the side tie downs, diamond plate steel, towbar, etc.

Maybe a hunting buggy? Has a bit of an early CJ vibe to it.

 

Another thing come to mind driving back from listening to some live Jazz. Check the spindles for these holes/bolts. 55-56 will have them. 57 won’t.

 

This is Squirrels next drag week car…..

 

Is that a cast iron 'Glide? Hard to tell.

 

it's really easy to tell that's an Iron PG, if you've played with them before. Nothing else like that bellhousing, which also houses the valve body, etc. And bolts to the block with the iron adapter ring.

 

Adapter and dip stick present.
Cast Iron

 

A sh**, I was so busy editing pic that Jim slid in before me.

 

gotta get up pretty early to beat a guy that's on Mountain Daylight Time! here in Roswell NM

 

@squirrel Carina showed me that your there. Neat.

 

Well, did the OP buy it already?
You guys are right, no experience with the iron 'Glide. My buddy is pulling his and the stovebolt in front of it out in favor of a blown sbc.

 

Column and master cylinder are tri five as well. I envision big dusty burn outs in that rig

 

Nice catch. 55-56 column. The clues we can see thus far point to 56 chassis.

 

could just look for the car serial number stamped on the frame, too. Would be about where the driver sits, on top of the frame rail.

 

I might drive it in the dirt, but I wouldn't take that thing into the dunes on a bet. Too much weight and not enough tire.

 

Just weld 2 wheels together and make a set of duals like was done back in the day.

 

I see headlight mounts, turn signals and license plates. It must have been registered. Square the lights away and get some foam and Mexican blankets for seat covers and you're ready to roll.

 

That looks like a hoot !

 

I thought about that; hopefully the frame wasn't shortened where the number was stamped!
If you're interested, feel free to PM me and I'll put you in touch with my boss .

 

Here in Washington State we called them brush buggies and damned near killed myself on one made out of the frame of a 54 Buick that was short enough I could sit in the seat and put a foot on the front tire and my hand on the rear tire. I ran it through a barb wire fence 3/4 mile from the house.
That was in the 60's when 4x4 rigs were pretty spendy but an old beat up sedan could be had for beer money and they were great for running around in the sage brush. I sold mine to the doctor who stitched me up and he did some work on it and took it up to their extended family's mountain cabin where I heard years later they used if for years.

 

Id love the full drivetrain out of that lol

 

Here another one of the old school sand cars probably from early 60's.

 

If anyone's interested PM me; make an offer and bring a trailer - and post a video when you get it running!
"'56 Chevy Dune Buggy Sitting ?? Years - WILL IT RUN??" Good clickbait at least