Racing history of this C1

[Michael J.]

Anyone know anything about this '59 displayed in the Peterson Auto Museum? It says it was driven by Bob Bondurant and sponsored by Washburn Chevy from Santa Barbara. Sounds like it has much more of a story than the small sign gave. I guess the photo will not upload, it has #614 on it.

[Jim L.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Bob Bondurant was a "hired gun" for Washburn Chevrolet when he drove the '59 #614 as well as the '63 #614.

The '59 #614 is currently owned and vintage raced by Steve Earle, the gentleman who created the Monterey Historics and developed that event into the world-class event it had become.

This '57 is the only Corvette Bob Bondurant ever owned and raced:


It is privately owned and has had the same owner for nearly 50 years.

Jim

[Bill M.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

from Wikipedia:

"Santa Barbara Chevrolet dealer, Shelly Washburn hired Bob in 1961 to drive his #614 sponsored 1959 Corvette. Some of the best Corvette racing duels were between Bob and David McDonald on the west coast during the early 1960s. At the LA Times Grand Prix in October 1962, Bob began racing Washburn's new 1963 Corvette Z06 Sting Ray. Between 1961 and 1963, Bob won 30 out of 32 races in Washburn's Corvettes."

I think Corvette Fever did a spread on the '59, but I can't find it.

[Michael J.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Good to know, thanks for the info guys.

[Mike G.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

looks like the 57 has done some bump drafting too.

[Alexander C.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Has that '57 been restored to it's as-raced condition or otherwise? Sad to see it just sitting there broken

[Jim L.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Has that '57 been restored to it's as-raced condition or otherwise? Sad to see it just sitting there broken

The Bondurant '57 has been actively vintage raced since '87. It sat looking as you see it from 1966 until '87 when the owner put it back together in time for the '87 Historics when Chevrolet was the featured marque.

It is an astoundingly original car. While the original engine is long gone, it retains all its original RPO 684 hardware. It still runs the same metallic shoes that were on it in 1962 when the current owner bought the car. All of the finned drums are the unique '57 variety. At the NCRS Anaheim convention, the owner aired-up his set of vintage Bruce's Recaps (the tire of choice in the '60s) and displayed the car with them.

The car is, in my not always humble opinion, the most historically authentic solid axle Vette being vintage raced.

Jim

[Bruce T.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

There are multiple photos and mentions of this 1959 Corvette in the book "California Screamin' The Glory Days of Corvette Road Racing".

[Bill M.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

There are multiple photos and mentions of this 1959 Corvette in the book "California Screamin' The Glory Days of Corvette Road Racing".

I found the book (Michael Antonick author) on Amazon, but couldn't find the VHS tape, narrated by Jim Gessner. NCRS currently offers a DVD that includes the content of the VHS tape (including some fun movies of early racing Corvettes) and expanded restoration material.

[Loren L.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

from Wikipedia:

"Santa Barbara Chevrolet dealer, Shelly Washburn hired Bob in 1961 to drive his #614 sponsored 1959 Corvette. Some of the best Corvette racing duels were between Bob and David McDonald on the west coast during the early 1960s. At the LA Times Grand Prix in October 1962, Bob began racing Washburn's new 1963 Corvette Z06 Sting Ray. Between 1961 and 1963, Bob won 30 out of 32 races in Washburn's Corvettes."

I think Corvette Fever did a spread on the '59, but I can't find it.

Wikipedia's recital is correct; Bob first appears in the car in 1961; he was preceded for 1960 in the driver's seat by one Buford Lane, while Bob was still in his '57. Bob later stated that when he beat Jim Jeffords (BP Natl Champ in '58 & '59) at Riverside was when strange heavy packages started showing up - all from Michigan.

[George J.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

The Bondurant '57 has been actively vintage raced since '87. It sat looking as you see it from 1966 until '87 when the owner put it back together in time for the '87 Historics when Chevrolet was the featured marque.

It is an astoundingly original car. While the original engine is long gone, it retains all its original RPO 684 hardware. It still runs the same metallic shoes that were on it in 1962 when the current owner bought the car. All of the finned drums are the unique '57 variety. At the NCRS Anaheim convention, the owner aired-up his set of vintage Bruce's Recaps (the tire of choice in the '60s) and displayed the car with them.

The car is, in my not always humble opinion, the most historically authentic solid axle Vette being vintage raced.

Jim

Jim,
Thank you for the history. Do you have any pictures of the car as it exists today?

George
31887

[Jim L.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Jim,
Thank you for the history. Do you have any pictures of the car as it exists today?

George
31887

Strange as it may seem, George, no I can't find a single picture of the car on this computer. But.... years ago I uploaded a picture to an old race car site and you can see that picture as well as read more about the car here:

http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/CorvetteSurvivors2.html

The car is simply a time capsule.

Jim

[Jim L.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Another thing..... actually related to the 614 car which was the original subject of this thread:

Some period pictures of the car in action are here:

http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/BobBondurant.html

Jim

[Steven B.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Strange as it may seem, George, no I can't find a single picture of the car on this computer. But.... years ago I uploaded a picture to an old race car site and you can see that picture as well as read more about the car here:

http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/CorvetteSurvivors2.html

The car is simply a time capsule.

Jim

IIRC Paul Reinhart told me decades ago (when the Daytona Blue Z-06 was on display at Bloomington) that the car was used by American Racing to design the original TT's for Corvettes. That was back "in the good old days" when you could rent a room at the university during BG.

Steve

[George J.]

Re: Racing history of this C1

Strange as it may seem, George, no I can't find a single picture of the car on this computer. But.... years ago I uploaded a picture to an old race car site and you can see that picture as well as read more about the car here:

http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/CorvetteSurvivors2.html

The car is simply a time capsule.

Jim

Jim,
thank you! Was the car raced, in period, as white or red?

George
31887