Projects No Fuzzy Dice...Digging the History of my '57 Chevy Convertible Drag Racer

Thanks.
VIN and data plate don't call out manual or auto in 57, but all the linkage, z bar, etc look factory. The engine suffix in the car was auto, but build date of the engine doesn't correspond to build date of the car so i know it was changed. Also, there's evidence there was once a hydrovac unit...only used with manual cars for power brakes.
I'd love to let engine masters build it up, lol

 

As was probably described previously.....
57's only had 3 speeds and automatics from the factory. Never made 4 speeds in a 57 full bodied cars...only Corvettes.
No floor shifters (3 speed or automatic) from the factory in 55-57 cars. ALL were on the column.
Corvettes had a 4 speed floor shifter

Back in the day it was pretty common ,,,,just about everybody converted automatics to 3 speeds, and in mid/later 60s it was the T-10 or Muncie 4 speed. You could dealer buy the clutch pedal, and everything to make the conversion. A new Muncie 4 speed was about $200 to $250

One of the pixs show the engins, Corvette valve covers with wing nut chrome hold down "bolts". We used the same thing on our race cars in the 60's. (quick valve cover removal)

Those ported and polished heads are beautiful. Crane and Mondello made the some of best out there in the 60s. Fairly rare even back then.
(would guess the valve stem seals are hardened and will need to replace....another item for the list of to do's )

What a rare catch of vintage stuff...wow

 

Wow! Great score!

 

Thanks!
It appears that early on it had a 3-speed floor shift conversion. I'm convinced the car came as a manual based not just on the linkage but also that it has the holes and evidence a hydrovac was mounted at one time. I've looked at a lot of restored automatic pictures and don't see the hydrovac holes present (not that it's definitive, but seems to be a good indicator). Later it looks like the 3 speed shifter hole was blocked off and it got the T10 4 speed which appears to be a 1962 Corvette unit based on castings and aluminum case (I have a T10 in my '60 Impala 348/4 speed which is the cast iron case used in passenger cars). 1962 is also the year that he bought the heads/cam so he was clearly on a mission to go faster!

 

I noticed one of your cardboard boxes were marked 'Dons Speed Shop'.
* Don Raleigh resides in Stockton , NJ and is a H.A.M.B. and Ford Barn member. ( 5 quart )

 

Seriously? Holy shiite!

 

Here's Don's Website
https://www.oilnspeed.com/

 

OH MY GOODNESS....what a find!
6sally6

 

You have a time capsule of great items most of us have never seen before. Not to mention a killer 57 convertible. Congratulations on your purchase.

 

Very cool.

 

My vote is the car was a power-glide. Picture in post 56 looks like an automatic column that has been modified. Shows the nut sert to mount selector detent bracket.

 

3 speed manual's had the same column's. 3 spot weld's on the cross shaft bracket's to the frame for factory install, which he has. The car is Legit...

 

Here's a 10 1/2 min. video taken at York Pa US 30 Drag Strip... briefly showing a '57 Chevy "Puffy" ragtop within the first several minutes___

*I was at this location ( York US 30 Drag Strip) but several years later, with a couple U.S.A.F. pals, around '1963 -' 64.

 

What are the chances that black convertible was this car?

 

Awesome vid!

 

The car left the factory Incan Silver. I may discover in the layers there was a color change in between but not likely. How I wish that car was silver

 

Got it. Yea, I was shocked when they paused on the driver in that specific car. That would have been too cool if it was yours.

 

What a fantastic find - you have won, hands down the hot rod lottery of all lotteries! Just unreal! Good luck with it and I hope to see it together, running and driving some day …. You don’t live all that far from me !

 

A little teaser...
I picked up the Model A rumbleseat roadster I bought as part of the deal today. The widow gave me folders of documentation, correspondence with Norman Latham on the supercharger, price lists, repair invoice, installation instructions, a Latham fold out brochure, and information back on application on a 327 he was building (assuming that's where the heads were going)...
Can now see why no one has seen the cast badges...they were a separate $3.00 (see the card).
I guess the decals are even more rare.
Plus lots of documentation on the other parts.
It'll take a while to get good pics of everything but here's a little for now

 

Damn...

 

Thank you for not restoring the car to stock!
Man, that stash is a one of a kind jackpot. All the exact right parts to build the car as it would have been done ''in the days''. Duplicating this would be difficult. Glad it fell into proper hands. Someone with less insight would have sold off the speed equipment.

 

You've definately unlocked the vault!!! Will the coolness ever end??? I hope not!!!

 

That is one awesome collection of schtuff.
I love the plan.
With all the goodies, all you need is 2 more bodies and it could be a AMT 3 in 1 kit.
Stock, Drag or Custom.

 

I’m going to repeat what I said before:

Jesus….


You sir have hit the coolness jackpot.

 

Did you get any info on the racing history of the car?

 

Not yet, other than what family told me. I know he raced at Old Bridge in Englishtown and probably some of the other NJ tracks. He also made several trips to Watkins Glen but it's unknown if he raced or was just a spectator.
The family is still going through his files. He saved everything so hopefully there's some racing slips or photos

 

Outstanding find and approach to preserving the intent of this car. Kudos, especially not low balling the family! Looking forward to watching this progress. Thanks for sharing.

 

Really liked the sharing of pix of treasure!

I bought a '32 three window mid-project from a friend's Mom, lots of parts came with it. I also insisted she take a fair price, (she had 'lowball offers' that would piss off a preacher)
But nothing near this!!! Thanks.

 

A little bit more of the Latham info...more to come...