1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

[Tom P.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

John,
When in June are you going to Bowling Green?

[Tom D.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Contact Ken K. in Flint. Tell him I made the reference.

Tom D.
4889

[John N.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

John,
When in June are you going to Bowling Green?

Tom
2010 Holley National Hot Rod Reunion, June 17-20. Bring your ear plugs!
Regards

[Tom W.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Loren, allow me to address your reply...When Steve Brohard submitted the info on available wheels and axels, John Neas hadn't posted his quote regarding their suitability for a Sebring Car.He presumed that it may be a correct set of parts. Additionally, the premise was that these would be expensive even if they might be correct. Since it's generally the concensus that car #5 is still unaccounted for, my reply simply stated that if they were the correct wheels/axels for a real 1956 Sebring racer, that the $80,000 price may be a bargain. For a qualified opinion of value, you'd have to ask Harry Yeagy, John Baldwin, or John Neas what they'd pay for something like that if it was the correct part for their car and they needed it.
As far as the post being BULL**** in your opinion, all I can ask as a Corvette hobbyist is that you consider the rules for a technical post ( This site is reserved for technical or judging issues related to the Restoration, Preservation,History and Enjoyment of the Corvette Automobile).
John Neas,Joe Trybulec, John Baldwin, and Steve Brohard have all been immeasurably helpful in contributing technical information that allows me to enhance my effort to learn the history of these cars and satisfy my enjoyment of the Corvette automobile.
Hopefully,now you won't be "confounded ".
In addition, it may interest you to know that although I do know that the cars would not have had a tag/code on the car, my request was simply for a paint code for the blue used on the stripes/coves. Two answers have been submitted. One was "Bahama Blue" a 50's Chevy color. The other ( not Bahama Blue) was a selection by the owners of the cars to assure uniformity if they ended up on the same show field. That's good thinking for the hobby. My review of component changes was made in an effort to share details that came from hours of phone interviews with car owners. Not all of our members have read past articles, and many of those articles are aged and lacked specific details.
As member 1232, I've been around for a while, but rather than profess that I'm an expert, I choose to take every opportunity to learn.
So I'm just an old dog trying to learn some new tricks. But you know why everyone likes a dog?...because he wags his tail instead of his tongue. While your opinion on technical issues is welcome, your criticism of another member's intent is not. Since you asked, I hope that educates you on your error.
Thanks for your contribution.

To me, only if you could prove that those particular wheels were on the car - then, If I'm really honest with myself - not at that $$ - I'll keep your address and tell the buyer where to find the fellow that claims to have the wheels. (please see Neas' note about the wheels.)

But I must insist that my initial reaction is that this is a BULL**** post, that has no meaning except to confound. Surely Member 1232 knows that there is no tag/code showing a blue racing stripe and coves. Why build a "Tribute" car when it appears reasonable to suppose the original exists?

With a #1232 membership #, have you not read the articles regarding
these cars? "Hardwear cloth" replaces the grill? "No door handles"?

In this case, the "Tribute" factor would include so many hand-built, unduplicated parts, etc. that would prohibit this build.

By the way, if you proceed, be sure you start with a 1955 Corvette frame.

Educate us with our errors.

[Tom W.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Apology accepted. From what I've heard, your knowledge is well respected in this field. Furthermore, I understand your concerns.
Unlike many of todays profiteers, I restore cars for my enjoyment. You won't have to worry about me trying to pass this car off as anything but a labor of love.

[Robert I.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

"This evening I had the pleasure of reading my friend John Fitch's book "Racing Corvettes, The Early Years".

Thank you for posting this. I have the book and last fall, I had John autograph my Corvette's air cleaner.

But I never noticed that the #1 car lacked the air scoops. I never noticed it didn't have a grill. I'd never seen a picture of the interior before.

All very interesting.

Now that I look at the book again, the #1 car's front end seems to be higher. Drag racers used to do this for weight transfer. If the front end was indeed higher, was this done for the same reason?

I saw what I suppose is a 56 big brake clone at a show in 08. The front end was also raised. Maybe that's the way it was done?

[Tom W.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Hi Robert
I can only speculate that a couple of weight saving changes ( no grille,no bumpers,no bumper brackets,moldngs removed) and perhaps stiffer springs resulted in the higher front end appearance. As you read Fitch's strategy for the race, keep in mind that the #1 car was going to be run flat out to keep pace with the Jags and Ferraris. That would have required stiffer springs to corner at higher speeds. Keeping the nose from diving too much when braking hard would avoid undesired suspension geometry. If someone sends me info on the springs, I'd guess that's where your answer will be.

"This evening I had the pleasure of reading my friend John Fitch's book "Racing Corvettes, The Early Years".

Thank you for posting this. I have the book and last fall, I had John autograph my Corvette's air cleaner.

But I never noticed that the #1 car lacked the air scoops. I never noticed it didn't have a grill. I'd never seen a picture of the interior before.

All very interesting.

Now that I look at the book again, the #1 car's front end seems to be higher. Drag racers used to do this for weight transfer. If the front end was indeed higher, was this done for the same reason?

I saw what I suppose is a 56 big brake clone at a show in 08. The front end was also raised. Maybe that's the way it was done?

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Loren, allow me to address your reply...When Steve Brohard submitted the info on available wheels and axels, John Neas hadn't posted his quote regarding their suitability for a Sebring Car.He presumed that it may be a correct set of parts. Additionally, the premise was that these would be expensive even if they might be correct. Since it's generally the concensus that car #5 is still unaccounted for, my reply simply stated that if they were the correct wheels/axels for a real 1956 Sebring racer, that the $80,000 price may be a bargain. For a qualified opinion of value, you'd have to ask Harry Yeagy, John Baldwin, or John Neas what they'd pay for something like that if it was the correct part for their car and they needed it.
As far as the post being BULL**** in your opinion, all I can ask as a Corvette hobbyist is that you consider the rules for a technical post ( This site is reserved for technical or judging issues related to the Restoration, Preservation,History and Enjoyment of the Corvette Automobile).
John Neas,Joe Trybulec, John Baldwin, and Steve Brohard have all been immeasurably helpful in contributing technical information that allows me to enhance my effort to learn the history of these cars and satisfy my enjoyment of the Corvette automobile.
Hopefully,now you won't be "confounded ".
In addition, it may interest you to know that although I do know that the cars would not have had a tag/code on the car, my request was simply for a paint code for the blue used on the stripes/coves. Two answers have been submitted. One was "Bahama Blue" a 50's Chevy color. The other ( not Bahama Blue) was a selection by the owners of the cars to assure uniformity if they ended up on the same show field. That's good thinking for the hobby. My review of component changes was made in an effort to share details that came from hours of phone interviews with car owners. Not all of our members have read past articles, and many of those articles are aged and lacked specific details.
As member 1232, I've been around for a while, but rather than profess that I'm an expert, I choose to take every opportunity to learn.
So I'm just an old dog trying to learn some new tricks. But you know why everyone likes a dog?...because he wags his tail instead of his tongue. While your opinion on technical issues is welcome, your criticism of another member's intent is not. Since you asked, I hope that educates you on your error.
Thanks for your contribution.

PS..My Nassau car still has the original blue stripes on the car..although mostly covered from a repaint in 1961. The blue stripes are clearly visible on the rear lower valance and on the inserts where the repaint has chipped or worn off.

After 40 years in this hobby..I don't know of another survivior 56/57 factory race car still wearing its original blue stripes.

If another example still exists please let me know.

I have not done it but I suspect the original blue stripes on my Nassau car could be scanned in order to reproduce the color.

My guess is that several colors of blue were used from 1956 to 1962..just thinking about the various events rushed car updates, and location of where the stripes were added. For example at Sebring 1957..the white production body cars arrived without stripes ( verified from color film available ) and the stripes were painted on location.

One will find the owners of these cars today to be careful about what they know and what they think as more details surface.

Joe Trybulec

[Tom W.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

This is an interesting perspective. It could be that each car, or each series of cars may have had completely different colors. Based on the many factors involved with race cars versus design cars, repaints were likely necessary as the cars were "refreshed" for the next event. Chances are in some cases the old factory pack paint kits were not available.
I was wondering if at any time there was a specification in print that defined the finish just as an A.I.M. would do for the cars components? Are you aware of such specifications for any of the factory C1 racers, regardless of vintage?

PS..My Nassau car still has the original blue stripes on the car..although mostly covered from a repaint in 1961. The blue stripes are clearly visible on the rear lower valance and on the inserts where the repaint has chipped or worn off.

After 40 years in this hobby..I don't know of another survivior 56/57 factory race car still wearing its original blue stripes.

If another example still exists please let me know.

I have not done it but I suspect the original blue stripes on my Nassau car could be scanned in order to reproduce the color.

My guess is that several colors of blue were used from 1956 to 1962..just thinking about the various events rushed car updates, and location of where the stripes were added. For example at Sebring 1957..the white production body cars arrived without stripes ( verified from color film available ) and the stripes were painted on location.

One will find the owners of these cars today to be careful about what they know and what they think as more details surface.

Joe Trybulec

[Steven B.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Please note the preproduction horn button. Who can identify the guage in the normal tach location?
Regards

Without glasses and magnifying glass I am going to say a clock.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

This is an interesting perspective. It could be that each car, or each series of cars may have had completely different colors. Based on the many factors involved with race cars versus design cars, repaints were likely necessary as the cars were "refreshed" for the next event. Chances are in some cases the old factory pack paint kits were not available.
I was wondering if at any time there was a specification in print that defined the finish just as an A.I.M. would do for the cars components? Are you aware of such specifications for any of the factory C1 racers, regardless of vintage?

This is only repeating what an older gentleman who worked at a Chevy dealership body shop told me years ago about his visit to Sebring. He "recalled" that the blue stripes and coves looked like the dark blue on '56 Bel Airs. In reality fact---???

[Tom W.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Makes sense since this was a 12 hour race that ended in the dark...however I was told by a reliable source that this was a second tachometer (electric). If you look at the other cars, at least one has an old Sun tach attached to the steering column.

Without glasses and magnifying glass I am going to say a clock.

[Tom W.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Don't know, that's why I hoping someone has GM spec.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Makes sense since this was a 12 hour race that ended in the dark...however I was told by a reliable source that this was a second tachometer (electric). If you look at the other cars, at least one has an old Sun tach attached to the steering column.

Tom, does the picture show 2 hands on the instrument? It looks like it to me but I can't be certain.

Let us know your progress on building the car.

Steve

[Art A.]

Re: 1956 Sebring Corvette #1 Details

Tom, the 1956 Stock Car Activity Chevrolet Engineering Work Order 17725 indicates that the cars were to be ordered with the standard (exterior) production white paint. There is no mention of the stripe paint color.

This is an interesting perspective. It could be that each car, or each series of cars may have had completely different colors. Based on the many factors involved with race cars versus design cars, repaints were likely necessary as the cars were "refreshed" for the next event. Chances are in some cases the old factory pack paint kits were not available.
I was wondering if at any time there was a specification in print that defined the finish just as an A.I.M. would do for the cars components? Are you aware of such specifications for any of the factory C1 racers, regardless of vintage?