1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and patch

[Joseph T.]

This car was released from its racing duties by Engineering and sold in May 1958. It was owned by Erwin Rohrer for 46 years. It remains intact with the original workorder engine and prototype fuel injection, roll bar, RPO 581 traction bar suspension, quick steering adaptor etc..It is still on the original title!

This is one of the 2 Nov. 1956 Special Engineering Workorder Team cars..that debuted Fuel Injection at the Dec.1956 Nassau,Bahamas Governors Trophy Race.

This car went on to be driven by Paul Goldsmith on the beach at the Feb.1957 Daytona Speedweeks and also at the Feb.1957 New Smyrna event..to compete against the supercharged Thunderbird driven by Marvin Panch.

Both Paul Goldsmith and Marvin Panch went on to win the Daytona 500. Marvin just celebrated his 80th birthday last Friday..and Paul Goldsmith owns an airport in Griffith,Indiana.

Two of the best drivers in racing history.

I had the car on display at the Bloomington Special Collection a few weeks ago in its unrestored condition. The response was overwhelming. I was invited and had plans to bring the car to Park City..but business got in the way.

I hope to be able to bring the car to the NCRS meet at Waco in October.

[Bob Morgan]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

Cool pics. I've never seen the owners car before. Just read about them. Thanks for sharing.

[Brian M.]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

I bet the General generated a ton of paperwork on this car, has any surfaced?

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

Brian

Yes..the original Engineering paperwork exists and Art Armstrong a former GM executive at the Tech Center was kind enough to show me a copy.

The workorder..is like an internal purchase order..that ordered the cars from St.Louis to be sent up to the Tech Center..and subsequent workorders requisitioned all the special High Performance equipment..including the engine assembly, fuel injection , shortened steering column etc.. which were specially prepared. There were about 3-4 individuals that had the workorder purchasing power at Engineering..one of which is Bob Clift!

Each workorder specifically identifies the car and parts by workorder # ( not by VIN ) and the event ( Nassau Race for example ).

Very exciting stuff! And pure Corvette history in the making.

One of the interesting facts is this car and a few others were not COPO cars Central Office Production Orders..but were in fact specially ordered by the Engineering division.

More later...Joe Trybulec

[Bill H.]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

I find it quite interesting that in 1957 a "V" would still exist in front of the actual serial number!

I'm in no way disputing the authenticity of the owner's card as it looks just like mine (except a little more "used" around the edges); I'm just making a comment as my original owner's card contains the "correct" serial number.

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

Bill

This is the owners card that the owner carried in his wallet for years.

When I bought #4353 back 20 years ago from the lady who owned it for 26 years..the car was titled with a V in front of the serial # just like #775.

I was told years ago that this was not uncommon..and that when V8's became available... State Motor Vehicle Departments would sometimes add the V in the title process...to identify the car as a V8...( maybe for tax purposes ).

This car is still on the original title and it is titled with a V in front of the VIN #.

Now..how it got on the original owners card..is a good question.

Here is a Corporate Racecar that was retired after about a year. The original title lists the sale as a new car..probably because it was still owned by Chevrolet...and never previously titled.

If..the owners packet was available by sending in a request after buying the car..and the car got titled with a V..it would stand to reason the owner would have filled out the owners packet request form with the VIN on the title.

[Gary Chesnut]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

Joe, we're looking forward to you bringing your unique '57 to Waco this fall. We will it set up as a special display. Gary #5895.... Texas Chapter Chairman

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

Gary

If all goes as planned I will be there with the car. I received the registration forms and will send them in next week. I have some friends in Austin and Temple that I hope to see there.I look forward to meeting all your chapter members.

I have friend in Taylor with an old plane ..is there an airfield close where he could fly in.

Kindest regards,

Joe Trybulec
479-435-1855

[Jack H.]

Temple has an airport as well as Waco... *NM*

[Art A.]

Re: 1957 Nassau/Daytona Corvette owners card and p

Joe, Chevrolet Engineering held the State of Michigan title work, which was left blank thru a special arrangement with the State of Michigan, on all it's company vehicles until it was sold or destroyed. The title work was then processed to the first purchaser, thru a dealer, as a new vehicle or Engineering notified the state of it's destruction.