I see many nights in the garage in your future.........Someone on the HAMB will know of this car and it's history........... guaranteed, seen it happen many times!
Have to jump on the bandwagon. I would NEVER repaint that car. I WOULD get it running and functioning as a street/drag car again and do whatever touchup was required to preserve the vintage racing patina. Fantastic little car. Most of us would not be saying the same about the same condition plain white car. It is the history and the vintage lettering that is so cool. Just finish it out as is! It will cost a lot less money and attract WAY more attention. Nice find. Enjoy!
I am a big fan of all Corvettes, stock and modified. That one is way cool as it is. Clean it up a bit, get a traditional small block hi-po engine in it, and go attract crowds! I hope you find some history on that car. I am sure if you dig hard enough you will. A buddy of mine found some info on his COPO Chevelle by posting an info wanted ad on Craigslist in the car's for sale section. You may want to try that in the Cleveland area? Where in MI did you find it? Good luck! Mike
Way cool find! How about a little bit of background on how you found it? You must have been busting at the seems when the light first hit that thing and youy saw what you had a shot at! Fill us in on all of the sordid little details.
From that shade of orange I'd say it was put together in the mid/late 60's I rather like your first idea of mid 60's hot street Corvette hotrod. Unless it is a national event winner or record holder the former race car thing is just part of it's heritage and something to have in it's build book and album.
The door art is awesome! There has to be some photos of this car out there. Good Luck! Hope you find out where it's from.
I'm getting nervous.....we haven't heard anything back yet. Is this body being placed over a new Z06 frame right now? Please for the love of GOD....leave this car alone. I'm with everyone else.....327, 4-speed, wash the damn thing and love every minute of driving a piece of real history. You will be the envy of everyone that sees it and I would go to the concours Corvette shows just to drive 'em nuts!!
Fairborn may have had a Chevy dealership, but the Smedleys your talking about is actually called Smedleys Chevrolet, and they have been in Vandalia since 1955. I used to work there a few years ago.
can't believe "Red Fox" hasn't posted one yet..thought he had a picture of every drag 'vette in existence. lol..
Man, you HAVE to leave that paint on there.... The car has some history, whether it be an amature or a famous driver. That vette was there, doing it... Once that paint is gone, it's just another 57 vette
Got to be honest, there is something very coool about that 'ol bitch....Good luck, bro...Please keep us posted.
I'm on board with everybody else. Throw a solid lifter 283 or 327 and 4 speed in it, and take it to the next Corvette restorers show. Very kool find..
Alright - another Vette guy! Throw in a 301 small block- 4 speed and make some passes at the track. Drive it man! Great find!
No plan to "upgrade" the suspension with new Z06 stuff, don't worry about that. This one will remain a "solid axle" Corvette. I added a photo at the top of the post that shows that the paint on the front end of the Corvette was already stripped when I found it. Plus, the stock hood (no hole or scoop) & trunk lid have been stripped and appear to be from a different car as there is no sign of orange paint on these panels. The body has some minor damage along the rockers (apparently from lifting it on & off the frame) and will need some fiberglass repair. So, the front end, hood, trunk lid and rocker panels will need some body & paint work just to get the car all one color. I believe the old orange paint is lacquer and would be difficult to match. The original color appears to be that red/orange '57 Corvette Venetian red. I've looked close at the frame and can find no evidence of any modifications, roll bar, traction bars or straight axle conversion. So, I suspect that the previous owner may have swapped frames. It has a nice stock frame & suspension, just not one set up for B modified sport production drag racing. A buddy of mine used to race a MG/Olds in BM/SP and told me that roll bars were required in that class, so the '57 should have one or remnants of one. I'm not going to make a move on the car right now. I need to see if anyone remembers seeing the car compete and try to gather any history that might be out there. A '62 327 & a Muncie 4-speed will definitely be back in the car someday. I just bought another '57 Corvette hood that already had a "hole", so I can use an early FI system like an Enderle or modified Rochester. Stay tuned. I was able to lift the body enough to check the serial number on the frame. It's definitely the original frame, but I still haven't found any signs of race mods. I know the old paint job says "race", but the frame & suspension are stock. I appreciate all of the encouragement for the car and I'm still looking for any history on the Lil Twister. Has anyone seen this '57 Corvette in the past on the street or at the track? Thanks.
OH cool!!! yeah I agree with your choice of Fuel injection. Thats what I would have suggested to put on it. Sounds like your doing the right thing....So for the most part are you going to leave the paint alone?
bttt. Guys we are all jealous, but how about some hard core research. Somebody out there must have photos of this car. Lets find the history!
Very cool car, I hope you can find some history. I think the hunt is the best part. I am right there with you. I tracked mine to 1968 and that is all the farther I have been able to find. Good Luck!!!!
A good painter should be able to match the paint. Find one that has been around a while and knows lacquer paint and flattening agents and you will be supprised how close it will come out. and remember race cars weren't perfect! A few battle scars are part of the deal. Very cool project!!!!
Are you going to put it back original so you can bring it to barret jackson? ,,,,I am kidding !,,dont change a thing!!!!its perfect,,,,,,i found my anglia the same way,,,,,
A 60's drag car named "Lil' Twister" needs its own 60's-style theme song. And here it is! "With A Little Twist" http://www.muckandthemires.com/discography/twist_mp3.html
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