1956 SR1..Anyone recognize this car?

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1956 SR1..Anyone recognize this car?

Joe,
It's CLEARLY 117 in that picture, BUUUUUUUUUUUT---------I'm also skeptical.

Tom

I defer to your expertise in the matter of NHRA records...and the timing devices used in 1957 and a sign in a 52 year old picture.

My sole interest is in the rarity of that car.

With only 6-7 1956 SR1's reported to have been built and only 2 known to exist..we are fortunate to have this photo emerge taken in 1957.


I am learning more about the car each day. Wouldn't it also be neat if the sign were to be accurate ( I'm checking ). I agree the MPH in a standing start 1/4 mile sounds like a tall order for March 1957 and it is no real comparison but check out what Don Garlits was doing in 1955/56 & 57 and 55 in particular with a flat head.

The owner of the Corvette was a reputable known racer who prepared Ferrari's, Maserati's, Jags, Porsche's etc... during that time frame. The reason the Corvette was entered for an official run was because an earlier run made for grins beat the existing record while at the track for the purposes of testing a Porche 550.

More to come.

All the best.

Joe

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1956 SR1..Anyone recognize this car?

Joe;

I'm sure we all appreciate what your interest is in this car and we share it. But trust us old farts who lived through it, there is no way a stock or even slightly modified 56 Corvette could post a 117 mph standing start 1/4 mile time like that - flying 1/4 at best with the right gearing. I tried my 57 post w/ M&H slicks and a 5.12 rear end to get into the high 12's ET and barely saw 112 mph @ about 6800 rpm at the lights. There have been a lot of improvements in technology since and I'm amazed at the times they are posting these days (actually can't figure it out either), but back in the day - No Way!

Thanks for posting this though as it sure is an interesting piece of Corvette history, and perhaps some one can shed a little more light on this to clear up the mystery.

Stu Fox

[Jim L.]

Re: 1956 SR1..Anyone recognize this car?

OK, new thought..... The speed listed on the sign is actually correct, but it's the distance that's wrong. Seems to me that 117 MPH at the end of a 1/2 mile from a standing start would be about right for a '56.

Jim

[John H.]

Re: 1956 SR1..Anyone recognize this car?

OK, new thought..... The speed listed on the sign is actually correct, but it's the distance that's wrong. Seems to me that 117 MPH at the end of a 1/2 mile from a standing start would be about right for a '56.

Jim

I agree. When I ran my '53 "Woodward Car" Corvette (lightened, 6-71-blown 370-inch '57 Buick "nailhead" V-8 with dual WCFB's, Harman-Collins roller cam, 4.11 axle) at all the strips in the Detroit area in 1960, it ran 12.20's at 115-116 on slicks. There's no way a normally-aspirated small-block could run 117mph in the 1/4-mile.

Neat car, though.

[Cecil L.]

Re: 1956 SR1..Anyone recognize this car?

Check this close up of sign from 1957.

If you look at the enlarged pic, it looks like something else written after the "New Worlds Record" that is really faded out. It looks like it could be something like "mi .5"? The 2 lines below that are "Prospect Field" and "Ft. Lauderdale, Fla." Prospect Field was an old Navy training field from WWII and was transferred to civilian hands in 1947. It's now known as Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport.

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1956 SR1..Anyone recognize this car?

If you look at the enlarged pic, it looks like something else written after the "New Worlds Record" that is really faded out. It looks like it could be something like "mi .5"? The 2 lines below that are "Prospect Field" and "Ft. Lauderdale, Fla." Prospect Field was an old Navy training field from WWII and was transferred to civilian hands in 1947. It's now known as Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport.

Cecil

It says March 3, 1957

The event was the NHRA Florida State Championships..held either at Prospect Field or Amelia Earhardt Field.

So I am told!

The standing start MPH sounds doubtful but I suspect has an element of truth. I don't think the people involved with this car who were also involved with major player European race car owners would risk their reputation.

But then I tend to trust people.

Joe