History First generation '56-'62 Corvette

I am a really big fan road racing/SCCA vettes of yesteryear.

Airbox Vette or the 1957 Race ready Corvette...




1957 Corvette SS racecar....

 

I agree with you.

Early Corvette drivers did not wear chains, they were real men and loved cars. Also liked to race cars. The early vettes are great cars.
I got my first one in 1960. A 1958 two 4's, then a 1959 293 hp FI. I also had 1958 FI and still have a 1966 that I got in 1970. I never wore a chain, but I might have blown your doors off.

 

I was a senior in HS 1972, and I so wanted a vette. I sold a '65 Mustang that I had just painted after many months of work, to purchase this 1960 vette. Many good memories from that year.

Shoebox

 

They were also real babe magnets. I remember a cop stopping my younger brother who was cruising his 62 Vette in a nearby resort town that was a real gathering spot for college kids. The reason? The cop told him that all the women but two had to get off and out of the car. If I remember correctly after all these years he and his buddy had 6-8 women in and on that car

 

Mine


Maybe not hamb friendly but it really turns heads and its a blast to drive.

Original motor 340

 

You know I'm '56-7 guy, but that red '62 is just *****in'. can't wait to see it done.

 

My parents bought my brother a 56 back in 1967 for $500.00 and he used to load it up with girls also. He still has the vette but it's been sitting for 40 years now and the orginal motor with the 2 fours is long gone.

 

God Bless you Jim. I love your two Corvettes. I love all old muscle, mostly chevys. My first muscle car was a 66 Corvette back in 69 when I was 19.
No money but mom co-signed a loan for me and I have been hooked ever since. I blew the original motor in the 66 and put in a replacement with help of my friends a new short block 327/365 solid lifter motor ( the engine right from the GM whare house set me back 350.00, Raced it at the strip and the street. I have owned a 62 327/340 a 61 beeter a 60 original paint 283/230 ( I should not of sold )and currently have a 61 red all stock 283/230 4 speed with a factory 4:11 rear. I really want to find one to make into a g***er.
I think alot of guys just don't get it, if they never grew up with the Vettes as we have. You know I never owned a gold chain and most think I'm just a regular guy.
Take care.
Chevyfan NJ

 

Chevyfan, you are right that some just don't get it. I always liked early Vettes but after seeing them run the quarter mile I was hooked. This pic of Midwest's red and black 56/57 brings back good memories and cars like these are the reason I have spent too much time and money on them. Midwest Auto was out of Berkley Michigan (Woodward territory). A bunch of great racers ran out of Midwest; **** Arons, Mike Fons, Sam Gianino, Wally Booth, Dave Kanners, Rich Maskin to name a few.

Seeing you are from NJ you should look up the NJ Outlaws when they rent the track at Island. The black car in post #44 is one of the guys that runs and so is Duntov 097 who runs a 57. There are a couple of 62s, three 61s I believe and a 60 and a 57 (Duntov's car) and a few more and they are always looking for more that want to run. Even if you wouldn't want to beat on yours it would be fun to watch. Hopefully you will find a project that will fit into some g***er plans.-Jim

 

If you take the "Corvette " in the contexct of the times it is always in style or in other words there are no bad Corvette's . Im in the 7th decade of my life & remember the first cars in 54 & how exotic it was for an American car. Recently I said to my son there are no bad Covette's & he wanted to argue when I said I would take any of them. Why wouldnt you?

 

I have a 59 now, had 2 64s, a 62 and 63. I built the 34 Chevy in my avatar, I build all of my cars, I've owned VWs, 4WD trucks, Jeeps, A restored model A and a blown BBC 33 Willys, dirt bikes and choppers all kinds of vehicles, in other words I'm a car nut. Yea there are alot of gold chain ****s that own vettes, just go to Corvettes of Carlisle and you will see them. But I know a lot of guys just like me with vettes, muscle cars and hot rods, don't paint us all with the same wide brush. Do they belong on here, I don't know but I like them.

 

At first I was a Ford guy and didn't really want a Vette but did admire them.Then I got married and my wife talked me into buying an old ex race car 58 Vette. I didn't have the money to fix it up and I sold it but I got hooked.A few years later with a better job I bought a pretty nice 1959.Loved that car but a divorce forced me to sell it.I now have a 65 and a 72 Vette but would still love to have one of the old pre Stingray Corvettes again.But they are out of my price range now.I dont think they are worth what people ask for them.Also, I have learned over the years that I don't have to actually own everything l like,I can admire other peoples cars.

 

Been there,done that. Did a frame off on my '57, not to restore it but to freshen it up to take the pounding of a very potent 331". Moved up to a Muncie and a Pontiac rearend narrowed to fit. The Halibrands were a lucky purchase that were bought from an altered racer that was selling out. The car was strictly a street driver as the local track had closed down but the 4.88's made some "interesting " stop light encounters. I sold it after the first summer as momma was in the first stages of making me a father for the second time.

Frank

 

Make mine a black '57 with 2 carbs, red interior, lowered slightly, and a set of Halibrand knock off kidney beans please!!!

 

Ok. Im in. here is pics of a 57 of a buddys car that was willed to him. The day we went and picked it up. I was in awe, it has some woodward steet racing history, along with 3 photo albums of pics. He is a gold chainer but i bust his balls every time i see him, to change. And dont you know every small block came out of a corvette.

 

Im not a corvette guy by any means. I DO LIKE 58-59's duel headlight modles. I know of arogent ***es who lovesownes there late 60's and up vette they own! I worked with one. Every time someone would ask a question about one of my projects or hot rods , And how I drive them everywhere. He has to inturupt the whole conversation on how superior his vette is. Must be a small **** thing.

 

being a Mopar, flathead and Studebaker guy....put me down for the 56-57 ones....please...

 

oh...and I've owned a factory 427 car...ran like he jeepees...just wasn't in a vette....

 

Jim Dillon, good to see you posting, never knew you were a Corvette guy. Hope you're healthy for Hershey next year. I'm working on a friend's '57 he's owned since about "65, 327 365 with 4:11 rear. He took the body off to redo the ch***is and got busy, about 25 years ago. It's time to put it back together so he can drive it again.

 

I guess my interests are a bit varied but I am hooked on Corvette drag cars as much as I am hooked on the early board track racers (and the Vettes are a bit more affordable). Two brothers in my neighborhood drag raced a 61 Vette in F/S and a BBC 57 Vette in B/G back in the sixties. I starting out doing the bodywork and paint on the 57, got totally hooked and then was a regular at the drags for several years. Had many great memories and will own one I guess until they throw me in the ground.

As soon as I get the red car done I am moving onto the car in my avatar. I actually was working on the frame for the Packard racer and my wife asked me how long it would take to "fix" the old beat up drag car I had in the back of my shop (the red 62). I pulled it up and started on it and have been going much too slow on getting it done. It should be a bit of fun and then no excuses (I hope) to getting back on the Packard (although not too long ago I found another old Corvette drag car-a Larry Teter built chopped top 61 Vette g***er style straight axle tube ch***is car with a BBC-tempting to jump on but will have to wait its turn).

Good luck on your project sounds fun-Jim

 

Hi JIm just got back on line. Thanks for your positive comments. You have one heck of a collection, good for you. I to have the same desire for quick rides. Actually I like allot of different brands
We are about the same age, I started life in 1950, no dad no dough no mechanical or artistic talent. But with that said I sure can drive and pull great hole shots when the time is right. I will look up the out laws, thanks for the advice.
Bill