1957 air box car info - NCRS Discussion Boards

1957 air box car info

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Darryl D.
    Very Frequent User
    • February 6, 2017
    • 386

    1957 air box car info

    I resurrecting this old thread on the Corvette forum and decided to post it here as well.
    C1 & C2 Corvettes - 1957 "Airbox" Corvette - What is it? - I came across this article tonight and have never heard the airbox term. Can anyone fill me in on what it is? Thanks, Keith ---------------- http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/16/mj121607corvettea1.html Sunday, December 16, 2007...


    Reading this
    about the first page NJ found air box car reported to be the "prototype" Makes
    me wonder what has been learned and proven since my experience with these cars
    from back in the late 70s.
    My name is Darryl Dayton my phone number is
    928-239-0017 for anyone that wants to talk about MY old car.
    Much of this below info
    is copied and pasted from emails I have saved from years past communicating with
    several knowledgeable people on 1957 racers. It is old info and there certainly
    may be new info that contradicts what I am saying.

    About 1976
    myself and partner Jerry Gendreau purchased V.I.N. 834 from a garage very close
    to the Mississippi river outside of Savanna Illinois. The car was in very poor
    condition as it had been partially under water in the big 1965 flood of the
    river. After talking to several "Corvette guys" that were far more
    knowledgeable about air box cars then us (which did not take much as neither one
    of use had ever heard of one) at the urging of Mike Hunt we took the car to an
    NCRS meet in Rockford Ill. around 1977. It was inspected by Mike Hunt and many
    others there and was photographed by and later pictured in Nolan Adams first
    book showing the engine compartment. The caption for the picture was "would you
    buy this mess?" as the car was as found and we only had limited info as to what
    we actually had at that time. See the NCRS RESTORER magazine Vol 5-4 and 13-2
    for Mike Hunt's stories on the car back in the day. Mike pasted away in July
    2007, but his research is still being treasured by Ken Kayser, and other 57
    history freaks. Back in those days, Mike had 17 "air box" cars identified
    (today there are 29 of the 43 made), and this car was one that he felt was legit
    even though the air box cars production fall into the vin number 3950-6339
    ranged of May 57 production and later. The late Mike Hunt, the authority at that
    time on these cars said it could only be the mule car for the Sebring cars with
    as early a V.I.N. as it had. I hope to hear if this is still thought of as true
    and any other documented updated info about all of this. According to Mike Hunt
    at that time it was the first factory 57 Fuel Injected car built in late
    1956 and had the famous cold air box, big brakes and suspension. It like the
    rest car for the Sebring racers was supposed to have been recalled to GM
    and destroyed when they banned factory sponsored racing, however as was the
    custom back then it "slipped out the back door" later to show up at Elkhart Lake
    racing. My research indicates the car was raced by Jim Jeffords at Elkhart Lake
    and sold there to the owner prior to the owner we bought the car from. Jerry and
    I both knew this man as well as he lived only about 14 miles from us.

    I
    sold my interest in the car to Jerry early on around 1978. The car was missing
    many of the rare parts and over the course of several years he managed to locate
    most of them. He later sold the car and parts as a basket case to Tim Partridge.
    Tim restored the car and painted to appear as a Sebring racer and offered for
    sale. At one of the CORVETTES AT CARLISLE's recent RACE CAR REUNION, which
    occurs every five years,Tim Partridge was present with vin #832, (this may be a
    typo on the V.I.N.) which is his TRIBUTE #P3 race SEBRING car. At some point Tim
    sold the vin #834 car to I believe Jim Jeager past
    CEO Cincinnati Microwave inventor of the Escort radar detectors--current owner
    of our old Corvette V.I.N.834 air box car

    This will make all of
    you chuckle. We paid $2000. for this car when we found it. LOL! Can only guess
    what the value of this car is today.


    Much of the info gathered and shared here is OLD
    from around 2009 from conversations with the two below people.


    Jim Gessner
    1346 Laurelwood
    Lane
    Mentone, CA 92359
    909-794-7905
    jim@vettefinderjim.com


    Dom
    Acquisitions
    & Historical Research
    Racing Preservation Museum "-Preserving the
    memory of those On the track, In the pits & Behind the scenes-
    "
    301.706.4855
    rpm57scca@aol.com
  • Bruce B.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • May 31, 1996
    • 2930

    #2
    Re: 1957 air box car info

    I thought that the first airbox car was vin 4007?
    Found in Trenton,Ohio a number of years ago.
    It was documented by Ken Kayser and MANY others.

    Comment

    • Darryl D.
      Very Frequent User
      • February 6, 2017
      • 386

      #3
      Re: 1957 air box car info

      Originally posted by Bruce Bursten (27670)
      I thought that the first airbox car was vin 4007?
      Found in Trenton,Ohio a number of years ago.
      It was documented by Ken Kayser and MANY others.
      From what I know of the air box cars is that there were pre-production cars with them and much later production cars with them. I THINK there were something like 12 pre-production cars built for testing, practice cars and racers for Nassau, Sebring, etc.
      Understand that my experience with these cars is only from my brief ownership 40+ years ago and knowledge of that car for a few years beyond that. I created this post to see what has come to light since my last communications with people in the know back about 10 years ago. The below info came from Jim Gessner about that time when he and I were discussing many of the early cars. I think all of this should answer your question.
      Another question that I found in some of my past saved info was when someone asked if the pre-production cars were part of the 43 built number that everyone knows of but I have never seen an answer to that either.

      "AIRBOX" cars have interesting history. The original Engineering drawing goes
      back to June 1956, and we believe they were tested in very early 1957 on cars
      that raced at NASSAU Dec 7, 1956 where the 'first' fuel injected Corvettes
      appeared in a competition event. We also know, that the 1957 SEBRING test car
      #P3 TESTED the air box and discovered that 80% of the cool frontal air was
      digested into the engine, and not thru the rocker panel to aid in cooling the
      left rear brake, so the actual raced cars (# 4 and # 3) did not used the air
      box. The red SR-2 Bill Mitchell Corvette that Pete Lovely and Paul O'Shea drove
      had the 'first' air box use. This car also raced Nassau in Dec 56 with the same
      set up.
      The fact that production models did not get the 'airbax' option until
      mid May 57 and later prevented many 57 Corvette drivers like Dave MacDoinald to
      use the item. It was to late to the game.

      Comment

      • Joseph T.
        Expired
        • April 30, 1976
        • 2074

        #4
        Re: 1957 air box car info

        I own of the three 1957 Nassau cars that introduced Rochester Fuel Injection st the Dec 7, 1956 Governors Trophy Race. To my knowledge this is the only 1957 true factory Corvette race car that still has the original Engineering engine and prototype Fuel Injection installed by Engineering at Warren,Mi. And yes it was a pre production Air Box test car. Two time Bloomington Gold Special Collection as an unrestored Car. RPO 581, Roll Bar, big brakes, Sun Tach and more.

        Joe

        Comment

        • Darryl D.
          Very Frequent User
          • February 6, 2017
          • 386

          #5
          Re: 1957 air box car info

          Originally posted by Joseph Trybulec (930)
          I own of the three 1957 Nassau cars that introduced Rochester Fuel Injection st the Dec 7, 1956 Governors Trophy Race. To my knowledge this is the only 1957 true factory Corvette race car that still has the original Engineering engine and prototype Fuel Injection installed by Engineering at Warren,Mi. And yes it was a pre production Air Box test car. Two time Bloomington Gold Special Collection as an unrestored Car. RPO 581, Roll Bar, big brakes, Sun Tach and more.

          Joe

          What is the car's V.I.N.?

          Comment

          • Joseph T.
            Expired
            • April 30, 1976
            • 2074

            #6
            Re: 1957 air box car info

            Originally posted by Darryl Dayton (63266)
            What is the car's V.I.N.?
            #775 built early November and sent to Engineering in Warren, Mi. To be fitted with race parts, new engine and FI direct from Flint and Rochester.

            Comment

            • Darryl D.
              Very Frequent User
              • February 6, 2017
              • 386

              #7
              Re: 1957 air box car info

              Originally posted by Joseph Trybulec (930)
              #775 built early November and sent to Engineering in Warren, Mi. To be fitted with race parts, new engine and FI direct from Flint and Rochester.

              That is a little earlier than my V.I.N. 834and likely built the same week. I assume your car was built to RACE at Nassau as one of the factory team cars?
              Years ago when my car was first shown to the world as an early air box car Mike Hunt felt it was a "mule car" and thought it was probably built prior to the "team cars" for testing. Apparently that is incorrect information based on the V.I.N. of your car.

              Comment

              • Joseph T.
                Expired
                • April 30, 1976
                • 2074

                #8
                Re: 1957 air box car info

                Originally posted by Darryl Dayton (63266)
                That is a little earlier than my V.I.N. 834and likely built the same week. I assume your car was built to RACE at Nassau as one of the factory team cars?
                Years ago when my car was first shown to the world as an early air box car Mike Hunt felt it was a "mule car" and thought it was probably built prior to the "team cars" for testing. Apparently that is incorrect information based on the V.I.N. of your car.

                White Fuel Injected Cars were ordered by Engineering to be shipped from St.Louis to Warren, Mi. FI cars were in limited availability at that early date. Workorders were written to ship engines and FI units direct from Flint and Rochester to Engineering to be installed in the St.Louis cars. The airbox test came later after Nassau. This would allow time for 834 as well if in fact it was a test car. It is possible it could have been a retro fit as there were 150 sets of airbox parts made.

                joe

                Comment

                • Darryl D.
                  Very Frequent User
                  • February 6, 2017
                  • 386

                  #9
                  Re: 1957 air box car info

                  [QUOTE=Joseph Trybulec (930);840689]White Fuel Injected Cars were ordered by Engineering to be shipped from St.Louis to Warren, Mi. FI cars were in limited availability at that early date. Workorders were written to ship engines and FI units direct from Flint and Rochester to Engineering to be installed in the St.Louis cars. The airbox test came later after Nassau. This would allow time for 834 as well if in fact it was a test car. It is possible it could have been a retro fit as there were 150 sets of airbox parts made.

                  joe[/QUOTE

                  I am not sure what you mean time wise regarding a retro fit? The box was on the car when it was purchased out of Wisc. in the late 50s/early 60s it is speculated that the car was purchased from Jim Jeffords at that time.

                  Comment

                  • Joseph T.
                    Expired
                    • April 30, 1976
                    • 2074

                    #10
                    Re: 1957 air box car info

                    [QUOTE=Darryl Dayton (63266);840693]
                    Originally posted by Joseph Trybulec (930)
                    White Fuel Injected Cars were ordered by Engineering to be shipped from St.Louis to Warren, Mi. FI cars were in limited availability at that early date. Workorders were written to ship engines and FI units direct from Flint and Rochester to Engineering to be installed in the St.Louis cars. The airbox test came later after Nassau. This would allow time for 834 as well if in fact it was a test car. It is possible it could have been a retro fit as there were 150 sets of airbox parts made.

                    joe[/QUOTE

                    I am not sure what you mean time wise regarding a retro fit? The box was on the car when it was purchased out of Wisc. in the late 50s/early 60s it is speculated that the car was purchased from Jim Jeffords at that time.
                    I speculate that 834 ( could be a Nassau Car ). Unlikely in my view that it is one of the two cars made for Sebring 57 since those cars were ordered later and arrived late to the race. 834 could have been an air box test mule as Mike Hunt suggested or it may have been retro fitted with parts made from the original 150 sets of air box parts produced. Please post pictures of the engine compartment of 834 when you bought it. What was the location of the passenger side air tube bracket, what was the size of the inner fender holes that the air tubes went to? Did the car have FI when you bought it? Did it have a round throttle rod? Did it have any indication of ever having a 37 1/2 gallon tank? These could help identify. Any indication of ever having a right side gas filler neck?

                    I talked with Mike Hunt many times. It was his view that the two 57 Sebring cars VIN range was in the 2000 range.

                    joe

                    Comment

                    • Darryl D.
                      Very Frequent User
                      • February 6, 2017
                      • 386

                      #11
                      Re: 1957 air box car info

                      I only have a few old Poleroid pics of the car and don't recall if there are any engine pics. Yes it had the round rod. I am in Mexico until after Nov. 1. There is a picture of the engine compartment in Noland's first book of the engine compartment that was taken of the car at the Rockford Ill. meet in the late 70s. The car was in rough shape at the time.

                      Comment

                      • Joseph T.
                        Expired
                        • April 30, 1976
                        • 2074

                        #12
                        Re: 1957 air box car info

                        Originally posted by Darryl Dayton (63266)
                        I only have a few old Poleroid pics of the car and don't recall if there are any engine pics. Yes it had the round rod. I am in Mexico until after Nov. 1. There is a picture of the engine compartment in Noland's first book of the engine compartment that was taken of the car at the Rockford Ill. meet in the late 70s. The car was in rough shape at the time.

                        Comment

                        • Joseph T.
                          Expired
                          • April 30, 1976
                          • 2074

                          #13
                          Re: 1957 air box car info

                          The History is in the details! Special cars have special parts and pre restoration photos examined by a knowledgeable person could help lead to better research.

                          Comment

                          • Joseph T.
                            Expired
                            • April 30, 1976
                            • 2074

                            #14
                            Re: 1957 air box car info

                            [QUOTE=Darryl Dayton (63266);840693]
                            Originally posted by Joseph Trybulec (930)
                            White Fuel Injected Cars were ordered by Engineering to be shipped from St.Louis to Warren, Mi. FI cars were in limited availability at that early date. Workorders were written to ship engines and FI units direct from Flint and Rochester to Engineering to be installed in the St.Louis cars. The airbox test came later after Nassau. This would allow time for 834 as well if in fact it was a test car. It is possible it could have been a retro fit as there were 150 sets of airbox parts made.

                            joe[/QUOTE

                            I am not sure what you mean time wise regarding a retro fit? The box was on the car when it was purchased out of Wisc. in the late 50s/early 60s it is speculated that the car was purchased from Jim Jeffords at that time.
                            Any title trail to Jim Jeffords?

                            Comment

                            • Darryl D.
                              Very Frequent User
                              • February 6, 2017
                              • 386

                              #15
                              Re: 1957 air box car info

                              Yes, there were stubs from a roll bar, evidence of a right side gas fill, no soft top, fast steering adapter, original H.D. suspension, no radio or heater and rocker ducting. The scoops, other brake parts and FI were gone when we got the car. If you read my opening post you will see I did not have the car that long but I don't recall my partner doing any title search for owners of it or Tim Partridge doing it either or it certainly would have been spoken of over the years.
                              My reason for the OP was to both address the info about car 4007 being the "first" air box car, the difference between pre-production cars and the later introduced OPTION of the air box.
                              No one has yet answered this question I have asked previously. "Another question that I found in some of my past saved info was when someone asked if the pre-production cars were part of the 43 built number that everyone knows of but I have never seen an answer to that either."

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              Searching...Please wait.
                              An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because you have logged in since the previous page was loaded.

                              Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                              An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because the token has expired.

                              Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                              An internal error has occurred and the module cannot be displayed.
                              There are no results that meet this criteria.
                              Search Result for "|||"