57 fuely and fenton headers

I drove my 57 Fuely to the supermarket tonight and as I parked it an older fellow( I'm 69 so I think he was about 77-78)came up and asked me if was a real fuely. I told him yes and opened the hood. The guy was really knwledgable and noticed the deep pulleys, fuel filter,etc. etc. Went on to say he bought a new one in 57 with a 283 FI engine and raced it all around the central valley and Half Moon Bay and had gone thru 3 blocks by late 59. He then told me about a black 56 BelAir hardtop he and his mother bought new and he was redoing the engine and trans. I asked him if it was orig yes and he said it has not been driven in 30 years. I asked if it was a stock rebuild and he said yes except for the fenton type headers he got for his 57 when new and kept them ( super rare!!). I am going to go help him adjust the valves etc. I have heard of the car for a few years but never saw it and it is 5 blocks from here !! My neighbor saw it once when he was on his walk and said it was super clean and low mileage.
You never know what is in garages--he also has a 37 chevy that he drove to work for 40+ years !!!

 

Great story!

 

See if he has any old pictures of the 57.

 

I'm going to help him with the 56-will take some pics and will ask him if he has any old pictures of his 57-I'm guessing that he probably does--also will try to take pics of the headers as he explained that they are the same ones that the 57 black widows used before the FI cars were banned in early 57. I think they are kinda scarce. He also told me that the only car that beat him consistently was a 57 Ford with a factory supercharger from the Bay area-very interesting guy.

 

went to see the older fellow while ago. He says he has pics and 8mm movies his FI car and other cars running at HalfMoon, Lodi,etc and they are on a disc--he will try to locate it--also has other interesting items like orig window sticker, etc. He said he will call when he finds the stuff and I go adjust the valves on his 56 which is very nice with one repaint and new seat covers form CARS-guessing he's 77 and really wants to go ride in the Fuely--he is very knowledgable on these cars and can quote facts and figures in rapid fire.