History The NASCAR Units...

Interesting roll bars too. The hoop runs front to back instead of side to side?

 

cool story. I like the covered headlights. And it goes to prove that racing never waits for you to catch up.

 

Great post! I'm a 40 year veteran of GM and Corvette lover!

 

Had a local car hoarder pass recently, he loved corvettes especially the first series. He gave everything he had to his local church. In the collection, that sat in a barn and outside, were about 12 'parts' cars. Some were rollers, some just bodies and suspensions.
I had a dream
Of a stripped down racer, just like these.
But though they went 'cheap' still not enough denero.
Put that dream back on the shelve
Oh, and the church in their infinite wisdom had all the complete and almost running ones detailed removing all the 'dirty' barn find patina.

 

They sure are great looking racers, though I never cared much for the grill treatment. To me, they just look like a really cute girl with braces on.
But I sure wouldn't kick one of the garage either!

 

That is some great history Ryan. Have not read about it before. I believe Bill Ellis of North Wilkesboro raced one of those cars on drag strips in the late '50s including the Daytona backstretch. I will try to contact him.

 

Thanks for the early Corvette history, love the painted on coves. They sure don't look like they were pampered, the fate of a race car. Wonder what tricks Smokey used on these babies, guess we'll never know!

 

When we showed at Autorama in Detroit in 2015, there was a Corvette claiming to be one of these two showing in the sports car class. It was to die for. Didn't even get an honourable mention at the awards.

Warren

 

Great read, loved it!

 

very interesting post, glad Ryan put it words as the old guys that participated are thinning out these days.

 

I had a 54 ,shure hate myself for letting that one go

 

I've often wondered how much of the Corvette's success can be attributed to Smokey and his work.From a high school dropout to a B-17 pilot to one of the most influential engine builders in racing with multiple patents,he was epic.

 

And what about the grill? And the longest living small block!

 

And if you owned one of them right now, you'd be a VERY happy puppy. Gary

 

Ryan, We enjoyed your reframing of this fascinating story and delivering the story to folks who can appreciate these types of true legends. As you are aware, one of the NASCAR units resides in our ProTeam Classic Corvette collection. The complete story is available in a stand alone book (available free of charge online or request a printed copy) to you and your readers. Keep up the great work! Thanks, Beth W., events coordinator ProTeam Corvette.

http://www.nascarcorvette.com/i/442661-1953-corvette-nascar-unit/0?m4=
https://www.proteamcorvette.com/Corvette-1953-1111B/1111B.html