1953 1954 ? Drag Car

[Ray C.]

I was at the nostalgia drag races today and thought some of you might enjoy this picture. I was told it is an original body.

Ray

[Ray G.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

Very Cool Ray;

What was the Chevrolet option number for the hood ?

Ray

[David G.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

I saw this car running last year at the Quarter Aces Dragway in Carlisle.
I spoke with the owners and was told that this was a 53 that had been a drag car most of it's life. Apparently it is quite well known by the name of "Tijuana Taxi" They told me that the sn was 1XX. I cant remember the last 2 digits.
It was a very cool gasser and would show lots of daylight under the front tires when launching.

Dave

[Ray C.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

Ray, my first thoughts were "When would we see this Corvette on the judging field as a matching number car".


Dave, the "53" was very quick; I know it won its first two races. There was a 57 MG that looked original from the outside, but there had to be something special under the hood, the 58 flew down the track. I wish I could have stayed for the finial races, I would have liked to see these two run against each other.

Ray

[Mark J.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

I wrote down somewhere that the owner told me it was #79

Englishtown, July 2006

(don't know much about 53s; someone noted the upsidedown motorama side trim piece)

[David G.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

I took a peek at the door jamb and there was no sn. tag present. When I asked about it, they said that it was is a safe place.
Dave

[Steven S.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

I've talked with the owner a few times, he has a love/hate relationship with the car . It's a fun car to watch. If I recall correctly, it was a drag car since the late '50's, and a very cool one to say the least!

Steve

[Al S.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

thought it might be of interest to some old timers that, for the past 12 years, my son and I have been vintage road racing a 1955 former drag drag car. In the 50's it was purple and carried the name "ME AND MY ARROW" (a semi popular song of the day).
If anyone recalls the car we'd appreciate a response.
We think it was an Eastern Pa. or New Jersey car.
It is now Harvest Gold with green trim campaigning mostly on the East Coast-Road Atlanta to Watkins Glen.
Al

[Tom P.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

I find it MOST refreshing that the NCRS folks are FINALLY acknowledging that "other" forms of Corvettes do, and have, exist besides the "perfect" nuts and bolts, numbers matching, correct date coded, Flight awarded versions of America's sports car.
Now, if we can just get the remainder of the snooty NCRS premadonnas to also acknowledge their existance, it will be a better world.

[David G.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

Al & Ann Schwacke (260);501502]thought it might be of interest to some old timers that, for the past 12 years, my son and I have been vintage road racing a 1955 former drag drag car. In the 50's it was purple and carried the name "ME AND MY ARROW" (a semi popular song of the day).
If anyone recalls the car we'd appreciate a response.
We think it was an Eastern Pa. or New Jersey car.
It is now Harvest Gold with green trim campaigning mostly on the East Coast-Road Atlanta to Watkins Glen.

My son and I have run with Al the the spring HPDE at the Poconos. I love watching that little 55 out there running with all of the later moder Corvettes. It more than holds it's own. When I learned that the 55 used to be a drag car, it reminded me about a 55 Drag car that I went to look at over 25 years ago. The car was in Mt Carmel, Pa. at a speed shop. At the time, I was looking for a car to restore, but was not up to the challenge of this 55 drag car. There was no SN plate with the car. While I was there, the owner showed me his 53 drag car, which he said he had run at the nationals several times. I asked about the SN of the 53 and he responded (#7)
The 53 was not for sale at that time.
Dave

[Brian G.]

Re: 1953 1954 ? Drag Car

Another picture...........