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Might buy a 56

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  • Jim G.
    Expired
    • June 7, 2017
    • 14

    #16
    Re: Might buy a 56

    When I originally met the man that has the 56 for sale, he said it is a special car. Unfortunately he did not have the specific knowledge to elaborate on what was so special about it except for one huge detail. As I said, I was not able to see the car at that time, just a short video. So I went home with this information and started my own research. 20170621_191009.jpgNot being able to find any information on the "huge detail" he shared with me, led me to join the NCRS. For the short period of time I have been a NCRS member, it has been very eye opening as to the wealth of knowledge gathered here. So, I have recently had the opportunity to see the car and very conveniently he had a NCRS member there with him. ( Very low member # by the way). I have submitted two pictures. One is the layers of paint on the original tank cover that I talked about earlier and the second one is of the "huge detail"..... Someone out there has to know about or know how to find the original build sheet on this car, when they took it off the production line, and made it a "shop order" car. How did this car leave the factory and possibly for whom???? It seems that I might have stumbled on to a piece of lost history. The owner has had a long life with many cars and no longer has the drive to pursue the real story behind this car. My goal is to pick up where he left off and finally solve this mystery..... Thank you for taking the time.

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    • Jim G.
      Expired
      • June 7, 2017
      • 14

      #17
      Re: Might buy a 56

      I had a problem posting pictures here is the layers of paint on the tank cover20170621_192123.jpg

      Comment

      • Garry B.
        Very Frequent User
        • January 1, 1991
        • 660

        #18
        Re: Might buy a 56

        Jim, there will possibly be others with comments on the pictures you have provided, but to kick things off ; does the owner have any further documentation or details of a "story" of sorts about this car? That would be helpful. Secondly, are there other "one-off" aspects of this car that have been pointed out to you? These could be anything related to the drive train, interior features, body configuration, etc.? Do you have a photo of the engine stamp pad? Should be some good discussion up coming.

        I see that the SR-2 was pulled from production and was assigned SO 90090 in May of 1956, so the SO 90074 dated April 11th plate has some merit. Someone out there will know more.
        Last edited by Garry B.; June 25, 2017, 04:45 PM.
        Garry Barnes #18531
        '67 Lynndale Blue Coupe- National TF, BG
        ​'67 Sunfire Yellow Coupe- 4 Star Bowtie,


        Comment

        • Steven B.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • June 30, 1982
          • 3989

          #19
          Re: Might buy a 56

          There are some great and interesting S.O.'s including the Super Sport with Rich's great pics on the TDB and Bob Wingate's '67, etc. Jim, it is well worth learning the history of this car. Congrats if you buy it.

          Comment

          • James G.
            Extremely Frequent Poster
            • May 31, 1976
            • 1556

            #20
            Re: Might buy a 56

            I am looking at some FACTORY paperwork trying to see if the car is in file. I will advise.
            Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
            Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COM

            Comment

            • Jim G.
              Expired
              • June 7, 2017
              • 14

              #21
              Re: Might buy a 56

              Garry, The only bit of info I have at this time, is the original tankcover shows it had a power top.

              Comment

              • Garry B.
                Very Frequent User
                • January 1, 1991
                • 660

                #22
                Re: Might buy a 56

                Jim, I have a question. If this car is for sale and you are interested in buying it, why is the seller withholding information (or at minimum, teasing you with information) on what he knows about the car? Am I missing something here?
                Garry Barnes #18531
                '67 Lynndale Blue Coupe- National TF, BG
                ​'67 Sunfire Yellow Coupe- 4 Star Bowtie,


                Comment

                • Jim G.
                  Expired
                  • June 7, 2017
                  • 14

                  #23
                  Re: Might buy a 56

                  Garry, To answer your question in general, my understanding of a "shop order" car is one that was pulled off of the production line, taken somewhere else so that different, rather than typical applications could be made, whatever those applications might be, experimental engine, race technology, etc. The car's current condition is that of a typical nice 56. If I understand this correctly, a perfect, original, matching #s 56 is one thing, but a shop order 56 with a great story of how it built and why, is a whole other thing. The build sheet should say it all.

                  Comment

                  • Garry B.
                    Very Frequent User
                    • January 1, 1991
                    • 660

                    #24
                    Re: Might buy a 56

                    I certainly agree with that. Does it also have a regular VIN tag along with this SO tag? Where is the SO tag attached?
                    Garry Barnes #18531
                    '67 Lynndale Blue Coupe- National TF, BG
                    ​'67 Sunfire Yellow Coupe- 4 Star Bowtie,


                    Comment

                    • Jim G.
                      Expired
                      • June 7, 2017
                      • 14

                      #25
                      Re: Might buy a 56

                      Garry, the S.O. plate is on the fire wall on the passenger side.

                      Comment

                      • Loren L.
                        Extremely Frequent Poster
                        • April 30, 1976
                        • 4104

                        #26
                        Re: Might buy a 56

                        "Shop" orders were also "Styling" orders per the late Chuck Jordan. The 2 SR2s that raced were "not pulled from production" but were built cars at Detroit area dealerships before being "bought back" from the dealers for conversion. Paint layers can become suspicious clues after 61 years.

                        Comment

                        • Jim G.
                          Expired
                          • June 7, 2017
                          • 14

                          #27
                          Re: Might buy a 56

                          Loren, Thank you for your insight. The acquisition of the SR-2s is a great story that I was not aware of. "Styling" order in opposed to "shop" order makes perfect sense because of the power top control that was on the original tank cover I discussed earlier. Speaking of which, the NCRS member that was there when I saw the car, made mention of the colors on the tank cover. He believed the layer of white paint would have been the exterior color of the car but was very intrigued by the tone of the white noting the blue hue the white paint had. He thought that it was possibly a special color rather than the standard factory white. Once again, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

                          Comment

                          • Loren L.
                            Extremely Frequent Poster
                            • April 30, 1976
                            • 4104

                            #28
                            Re: Might buy a 56

                            Jim, for a good portion of the model year, there were certain "mandatory" options that had to be ordered or the order would not be accepted. The power top was one of these. There were 2,682 PT sold in 1956 MY, so be sure you get whatever parts have been removed from the car

                            Comment

                            • Garry B.
                              Very Frequent User
                              • January 1, 1991
                              • 660

                              #29
                              Re: Might buy a 56

                              I agree with Loren. Early '56 model year corvettes received the power top as a factory equipment (not option) , but as production went on the power top became an option. My early April '56 model corvette was equipped with the factory power top, but the best information available indicates that by this time the PT was an option. I believe this would also be true for your SO car at least based on when it was dated.
                              Garry Barnes #18531
                              '67 Lynndale Blue Coupe- National TF, BG
                              ​'67 Sunfire Yellow Coupe- 4 Star Bowtie,


                              Comment

                              • James G.
                                Extremely Frequent Poster
                                • May 31, 1976
                                • 1556

                                #30
                                Re: Might buy a 56

                                I have tried to find S.O. 90074 dated 4-14-56. No luck. The Mike Hunt Survey in the early 70's showed vin # 1702 thru 1733 were made on that date. [Cars # 702-733 ].

                                The 56 Blue SR-2 originally raced by Harley Earl's son, Jerry was built in early May 1956 on production number 2522. It has a S.O # 90090.

                                David Bartush and John Neas and John Baldwin may have info on this Styling SO #90074 and what car had that special treatment. They have owned S.O. 56 Corvettes in the past.
                                Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
                                Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COM

                                Comment

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