Hey guys, I had a lot of people asking a lot of questions about my car at Autorama, and people on here asking for pics, and... Anyway, here's a post about my car. It's a '55 chevy (obviously) 2 door post. It's been a drag car since at least the mid 60's, but it's gone through some changes since then. I don't know much of the history of it; I don't know if it was ever lettered, or named, or any of that. It was originally raced out in New Mexico. It has a super old glass front end (3pc), a stick welded 6 point roll bar, and a '57 poncho rear, with a 5.13 posi. It has some old airshocks out back, and some 90/10's up front. It doesn't have any traction bars or anything on it, but the guys that had it before me must have done some tuning on the suspension, because even with 35+yr old "Super Stock" tires on it, it will take all of the travel out of the front suspension before it breaks them loose. With a decent set of tires, it'd do wheelies for sure. Even when it DOES spin the tires, there is NO wheelhop at all. It apparently spent most of it's life with a tunnel-rammed 327 and a 'glide in it. The guy said he launched at 6000 rpm and shfted at 9200 (no wonder it has the 5.13's huh?); it was running 10.02's until a wristpin let go! My dad and I picked it up to build as a father and son project about 13 years ago, and just never got around to it. It sat in a pole barn we rent until this past summer. Unfortunately, while it was there, we left the window down, and raccoons made it their "home", so the interior got DESTROYED. I fully intended to have my '34 5 window done for Billetproof Detroit '05, but that didn't work out, so at the last minute I decided to drag this thing out of the barn and resurrect it (hence the name, "Plan B"). In 6 days (with major help from friends), I: got it home ripped all of the interior out of it hosed the interior out pulled the locked up big block out of it re-wired it re-plumbed it rebuilt all the brakes (including a dual m/c) scrounged some tires and wheels for it tracked down some fenderwell headers for it found a driveshaft that would work fabbed up the mounts to put a small block back in it installed a sbc/th350 (a motor I built back in high school) installed gauges put all of the lights back in it lubed/greased everything The friday before Billetproof, I went out to work on it about 9am. I worked through the night, and at 10am Saturday (day of show), I fired it up for the first time, took it around the block once, came back and said "It goes, it stops, and it turns; good enough!" I came in the house, took a 5 minute shower, went back out, screwed a 1955 plate to the decklid, and left. I stopped for gas and a soda, and then made the 50+ mile trek to the show! The only problem I had was overheating on the way back (due to the raditor getting plugged with a mouse nest!). I've since flushed the radiator several more times, and all seems well now. I drove the crap out of it for the rest of the summer... Before Autorama I decided to throw a tunnel ram back on it, and get it lettered. I had Kritz do the lettering for me (Thanks again... it RULES!), and while I originally HATED the color of the car, now that it's lettered, I think it looks great! I got some EELCO valve covers from Marty (suedesled/NWSpeed), and if you guys want some cool SBC covers, you should check these out... they're REALLY nice. I also commissioned Chromed Rat to make me a "custom" skull shift knob for me. I ended up with #666, and he put horns on it, as well as gave it a gold tooth. The detail in these things blows my mind... they're WELL worth the money he's asking... I actually sent him a few bucks extra after seeing pics of it, because it's THAT cool! Anyway, I took it to Autorama, and I think everybody seemed pretty in to it! I was answering questions about it the whole time I was there... Then I had some guy come by and ask me if it was a "real" 150... I told him I had no idea, it says "2 door" on the title. So he had me read the trim tag to him. He repeated the number and asked If I was sure that's what it said. I told him he could come check it himself if he'd like... He then proceeded to tell me that 150's are pretty rare, but this car is a 150 "utility sedan", which was the lowest production model of '55 chevy there was! When I got home, I checked the interweb to see what I could find... Apparently Chevy made around 1.75 million cars in '55, and only 11,000 of them were 150 utility sedans. They were the lightest of the 55's, because the rear windows didn't roll down, there was no back seat, no carpet, no ashtray, etc... They weighed in 300-400 lbs lighter than the other models. Because of this, this was the model that all of the racers wanted. Who knows how many of them were destroyed on the track? I know that the rarity of a car doesn't really matter too much, but I thought it was cool info to find out anyway... Anyway, I'm rambling, and it's time for me to go to work... so here are a few pics... If you guys want to see or know anything else, jsut ask... Steve
Bitchin' man. Looks even better than when I saw it at Billetproof. What's the news on this years event?
Kool Chevy Steve............. Little shot of you and I discussing the finer point's of your ride.......thank fuel pump for the shot.
you still owe me a hell ride in this thing some time this summer. it gave me goose bumps when u pulled in with it thursday. fucker sounds so mean.
...a ride... what a great idea. If I were coming up for Billetproof I'd throw some fun pedal money at you for a ride in it as well. Its one of my favorite cars from downstairs... and I like the name.
Steve, I know I told you this but it's worth repeating. On Thursday nite during move in a group of us were standing around catching up when we all heard this very cool sounding rumble that kept getting louder. Conversations stopped all around us as everyone in the place stopped to look. I said out loud "I bet that's HotRod2Hell in his Chevy" and sure enough a couple of seconds later you drove thru the overhead doorway. It was a very cool moment. The car looks great bud! You and your Dad should be very proud. I could tell by the look on your Dad face Thursday that he was very proud of you. He never quit smiling.
Thanks... I like it! Even though I don't know much of the history of the car, just knowing that it HAS history makes it so much cooler to drive... Any of you guys that want a ride... all you gotta do is show up at a cruise or show I'm at, and say the word... Whenever I get a chance to build a motor that will take advantage of the 5.13 gear, I'm sure it'll end up at the HAMB drags... (Right now she'd be a good 1/8 miler!)
That is awesome! I love old race cars with unknown history (if that makes any sense). I have a good friend with a 55 BelAir 2dr hdtp sitting in the WOODS out behind his house, that was an old drag car back in the late sixties and early seventies. Some of the old lettering is still kinda visible, slicks are still on it, full 61 or 62 Impala interior (wheel, seats, short console). He says last ran a 427 w/a 4 spd, and it was quick, but when the others started keepin up with it they pulled the engine and put it in something else (Vette he thought).
Who's that handsome feller wipin' the snow off that rad hot rod? Anyone who hasn't seen or better yet, heard this car is missin' out. Fuckin' rad doesn't even touch it.
Great story on a cool car Steve. The utility sedan idenification is one that I haven't heard of before. There is only one thing wrong with this race car. It didn't go around in circles on dirt tracks back in the day.
How's that saying go??? Something like "Real racers drive straight to the finish line while those other guys drive around in circles looking for it!".
Steve, working on that heap with you this past Summer and seeing your true enthusiasm for it was a treat...and seeing you rumble into the gates at Billetproof against all odds was a priceless experience that defies words...I can't say enough how cool the whole thing was. You've taken the car even further along it's Path since then, and it is looking right on! I know I'm not supposed to have opinions, but fuck it...I think that car KICKS ASS, and you deserve top props for sticking to your guns and getting it done! As cool as the car is, it pales in the light of what an inspiration YOU are. Keep at it, bro!
Awww Jeez Greg... Don't go gettin' all emotional on me! I really appreciate the kind words man... Just as much as I appreciate all of the help you jokers gave me when I decided to shoot for Billetproof... I couldn't have done it without you (and Dirty T, and J Dubbya, and Flathead Pete, and Kritz, and Primer, and Boobhater, and my buddy Sam, and... I was honestly so sleep deprived that I can't even remember who all helped! )!
I had a grey primered sedan just like that in High School; Had a worn-out 301 in it and a 3-speed tranny with a Sychrolock Hurst shifter. I LOVE what you've done! IMO you've really paid a sort of "Tribute" to a by-gone era! The name ( Plan B) is drop dead cool! Keep going! You've got a great car! Cruise often! Cruise well! If you have a "Limited" chrome script on a vehicle, and thousands of them were produced by the Factory, how "limited" is it really?
I like this car; mostly because my grandad ran one very similar to it at Milan and I have an old pic of him putting the 427 in it. I was glad to be a part of it and if I ever gt back home i will hit you up for a ride!
I love that car. Up at the engine shop, my engine builder has all the pieces for a 301 if you are still looking
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