56 gasser garage find!

Nothing yet, still working on some leads.

 

Another garage find. Not a 56, but in the family of tri-5's.

Look who showed up tonight at the year-end event at NHRA Twilight Cruise. This classic Southern California ‘555’ gasser of Stan Johnson has been in storage for the last 3+ decades. It's now part of the resurgence of rescued gassers of the past. Looking at this was like going back to the future. So way cool for us all.

 

That car is perfect! I really hope you never change the paint! I love that car!

 

Man that '55 is wicked.

 

When I saw the first pictures of the seats Austin Healy Sprite was my first thought. I had a bugeye that I had the seats redone in black rolled and pleated pattern, and yours could be their twin. I think a few other English sports cars used those to and they folded down for access to the rear luggage compartment.

Another thing that I was thinking before you posted it was that the car looked familiar, but I saw you were from the West Coast. Then you mentioned later on Pennsylvania, and that is where I lived until 1982. If you find out the car came from the Pittsburgh area it probably raced at PID.

Don

 

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I'm sure your right Don, the car was moved out here around the mid 80's according to Gary who we bought it from.

 

So cool ain't it. Dennis called me last August to tell me he finally got the car back from Stan Johnson, and this car has quite a story behind.it. However I've promissed to keep it to my self until the car is featured in Hot Rod Deluxe.

 

Really nice looking gasser!!!!!!!!!!!

Also a true classic gasser. Those were the day's to be a kid hanging around the drag strips.

I always liked the ones that had the colored plexiglass windows that matched the color of the car best.

It was a real cool look.

Jimbo

 

What is this ranch you guys refer to. Is this the one in Lompac?

 

Yep, its a happy place, like Disneyland for Gassers and bitchen cars and stuff in general

 

9 day's, Jonesing for some update's, if you would please-n-thank-you.

 

ok, here is some new info. The car was originally built/raced in Washington state, it was then bought by a guy name George Wise from PA. and taken/ raced there. Gary(no last name) who we bought it from, was a friend ofGeorges, and bought it from him. He raced it only a little bit at Keystone, Newbie, and a strip in Tyron?(he can't. Remember the name). Gary then traded the 56 to some guy in PA. for a dragster, with the stipulation that if the guy ever decided to sell the 56, he had to give Gary the first shot. A year or two later, Gary wants the 56 back, only the guy sold it to some one in Ohio without giving Gary, first chance. Gary tracks down the 56 in Ohio, and buys it back without the motor and trans (310" injected small block and clutchflight). Gary said it was not a 327, it was a destroked one, can't remember how, but thinks it was a .060 over 327 block w/283 crank. So here we go Seattle guys!, ring any bells?

 

PS. George Wise lived in St. Marry PA. When brought/ bought the 56 from Washington State.

 

Seattle bump

 

Anyone in Seattle?

 

Bump for the Seattle gasser vets.

 

I've placed a call to a buddy who raced a '56 sedan delivery at S.I.R., Pacific Raceway, and Bremerton Raceway about the time this car was probably built. Maybe he can help. I'll keep you posted.

 

Thanks for effort High5, was that sedan delivery the bright green one that sold on eBay about 6 years ago with a Mopar wedge engine in it and push button shifter?

 

No, his '56 was a forest green metallic with blue panel inserts. The name on the quarter panel was "Chimera". He ran modified production. But hung out with the gasser guys. I'm still waiting for a call back.

 

Yalzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

 

I've also contacted Butch Thuney who raced a '55 Chevy gasser. If anybody would know, he would. He told me tonight the car doesn't ring a bell. But you never know. I downloaded a couple photos of your car and sent them to him. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

I do not remember this car, and believe me, if I'd have ever seen it, I would; especially since it's a 150 model. There was a "magazine car" out of California many years ago, with the same transverse leaf spring front end setup, engine set back, and the car sat rather high; it's rear wheel wheels were also cut the same way. I'll have to did through my stuff now to see if I can find that car. I do like your car! Might try Rich Carlson who used to be the official Div 6 NHRA photographer, and he lives in Everett also. Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

That sedan delivery with the Mopar power belonged to a buddy of mine here in Wenatchee, pretty cool car, he still can't figure out why he sold it? He sure scared the shit out of a bunch of people at Hotrodarama in Tacoma one year with it! Chris

 

Ya that Delivery was pretty cool, didn't it have a left hand throttle pedal and right hand brake or something crazy like that?, or maybe the shifter was mounted on the left side?

 

Thanks 56sedandelivery, I really appreciate any effort. Although this car has some cool old speed equipment, I just get the feeling it wasn't raced alot, and maybe it did hit some car shows.

 

Thanks again High5, when is Butch gonna get his 55 out of moth balls and come play, That car is another super bitchen time capsule, tell him I'm a big fan.

 

I will pass on your response.

I don't know him personally. He's a good friend through another friend.

Like you, I want to see that car brought back to life. Right now the car is still buried in his garage. But it sounded like he's collected some of the missing parts and had others rebuilt. So who knows, we might see that dust washed off fairly soon.

He told me he would call me sometime today. Those photos may trigger a memory. It sounded like he may call around to some of his other gasser buddies as well. We'll see.

 

Tell Butch not to be shy about asking for needed parts, if I have trinkett that would help bring his car back to life, I'd more likely donate it to the cause. Ric.

 

Will do Ric.

Another name came to mind and that is Jerry Valentine. He was the Division 6 tech for the NHRA. He lives up here in the Seattle area. Unfortunately I only run into him at swap meets and don't have a phone number. Maybe someone else has it. Evan.

 

What did you ever do with it?Way cool.Call me if you want to trade for some one of a kind rides,541-408-7034.Thanks