1957 Barn Find

[Gino B.]

1957 Barn Find

This car has been in a barn in central Illinois since pre 1970. It is believed that the car has spent its entire life in the Chicagoland Area. VIN #: E57S101165. Please view photos posted with this link. Does anyone recognize the special components on this car? What are the thoughts of this forum relating to these components and their photographs?

Photo1 - Shortened Steering shaft, Insulated Floor & Tunnel, Specially Fabricated Panel on Driver's Side, Quick Release Seatbelts.

Photo2 - Specially Fabricated Interior Trunk Bracket with Fabricated Support Boxes, Trunk Light for Night Viewing of Bracket Area.

Photo3 - Fabricated Differential Access Panel located on the front area of spare tub.

Photo4 - Spare Tire Cover is a meticulously Fabricated Metal Spare Tire Cover instead of wood. Possibly to accommodate a wider wheel?

[Dick W.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Gino, I would contact John Neas, Jim (James) Gessner, Loren Lundberg, etc. They all have messed with early race cars and have quite a bit of collective knowledge of them

[Loren L.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Can we assume that it is/was an FI car - or at least had an FI on it at one time? First issue is "when" was this "stuff" done? It would appear to be filled with "time-saving" panels designed to provide "access" to components, especially in endurance racing. Think Sebring.
Legend has it that there were two "P" practice cars at Sebring. Any signs on the RH rear fender of a gas fill access - either on the outer fender or in the top well?
Initial color?
57s provide a specialized problem - because of their lighter weight and ability to assimilate later, improved components - their effective SCCA class racing extended their component racing life to a much longer period than most.
There are also a number of names to add to Dick's list: Rich Mason, Joe Trybulec........hell, the list is a long one. Take lots of pictures and don't CHANGE ANYTHING!

[Tom H.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Looks interesting, Gino. Hope you find some clues about the history of it. Does the current owner have any information to get you started ?

[James G.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Need more photos Gino. As Loren said, get us as much info as possible. Seat belt looks like a DYICO, 1970's issue.

[Gino B.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Loren, I will post a few more pictures today. The car is currently painted copper. It has a red interior for sure. The exterior color looks to have been white or red. There are some traces of black but looks like accent stripping. I would say white then red then copper.

Can we assume that it is/was an FI car - or at least had an FI on it at one time? First issue is "when" was this "stuff" done? It would appear to be filled with "time-saving" panels designed to provide "access" to components, especially in endurance racing. Think Sebring.
Legend has it that there were two "P" practice cars at Sebring. Any signs on the RH rear fender of a gas fill access - either on the outer fender or in the top well?
Initial color?
57s provide a specialized problem - because of their lighter weight and ability to assimilate later, improved components - their effective SCCA class racing extended their component racing life to a much longer period than most.
There are also a number of names to add to Dick's list: Rich Mason, Joe Trybulec........hell, the list is a long one. Take lots of pictures and don't CHANGE ANYTHING!

[Gino B.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

1957 Barn Find

This car has been in a barn in central Illinois since pre 1970. It is believed that the car has spent its entire life in the Chicagoland Area. VIN #: E57S101165. Please view photos posted with this link. Does anyone recognize the special components on this car? What are the thoughts of this forum relating to these components and their photographs?

Photo1 - Shortened Steering shaft, Insulated Floor & Tunnel, Specially Fabricated Panel on Driver's Side, Quick Release Seatbelts.

Photo2 - Specially Fabricated Interior Trunk Bracket with Fabricated Support Boxes, Trunk Light for Night Viewing of Bracket Area.

Photo3 - Fabricated Differential Access Panel located on the front area of spare tub.

Photo4 - Spare Tire Cover is a meticulously Fabricated Metal Spare Tire Cover instead of wood. Possibly to accommodate a wider wheel?

Photo5 - Show notches cut out in the oval part of the grill possibly for running lights

Photo6 - Is a front shot of the car in the barn

Photo7 - Is the rear shot in the barn

Photo8 - Is the loading of the car

[Bruce B.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Gino,
How about some simple clues to it's past such as,
Quick steering adapter?
FI fuel linkage on firewall (round rod)?
Brake drums and backing plates?
Etc.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Yesterday I "Googled" the VIN and got led to your post on the Forum and saw most of the pictures there.
The "quick access" panels - especially when added to the extended "lip" over both rear wheel wells and today's shot of the air cleaner hole in the hood - would also fit in with yet another, perhaps less exotic racing - 1/4 mile at a time.
Does the rear axle show signs of traction bars, etc? Check the differential - should probably be a posi, with at least a 4.11. Any hold down brackets welded in front and rear for chains (or ?) to lash it down to the trailer? Rear battery mount?
The search is on. Good luck.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Gino, has this car spent anytime in NE Indiana sometime in the '65-'69 timeframe? I knew a fellow with very similiar mods to his '57 who used to race at Avilla drag strip (1/8 mile), Avilla, IN. and street race in Ft. Wayne.

Steve

[Gino B.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Steve, I don't have that info yet. What color was the car then?

Gino, has this car spent anytime in NE Indiana sometime in the '65-'69 timeframe? I knew a fellow with very similiar mods to his '57 who used to race at Avilla drag strip (1/8 mile), Avilla, IN. and street race in Ft. Wayne.

Steve

[Gino B.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Loren, You will be getting additional photos from FEE tonight. He examined the car yesterday and has some ideas on what it might be. Gino

Yesterday I "Googled" the VIN and got led to your post on the Forum and saw most of the pictures there.
The "quick access" panels - especially when added to the extended "lip" over both rear wheel wells and today's shot of the air cleaner hole in the hood - would also fit in with yet another, perhaps less exotic racing - 1/4 mile at a time.
Does the rear axle show signs of traction bars, etc? Check the differential - should probably be a posi, with at least a 4.11. Any hold down brackets welded in front and rear for chains (or ?) to lash it down to the trailer? Rear battery mount?
The search is on. Good luck.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1957 Barn Find

Steve, I don't have that info yet. What color was the car then?

Gino, the car was solid red with a red interior. The paint was worn in many areas and had almost no shine. The red interior was also very worn and torn/cracked. A fellow who worked at International Harvester in Fort Wayne owned the car, but I don't recall his name. I never saw it with a hardtop and don't recall if it had one. Back then the car ran a 4 speed and a 327 with dual 4BBL's.

Steve