Hitch for the C1'S

[Roy B.]

OK here is the Hitch I added to my 55 Corvette. Have had people asking how I did it. Cant imagine any one adding one to a Corvette.!
I thought I was the only odd person out, as you see I also added air shocks to aid the springs for any heavy load.It take a 2in. receiver curved to clear the body I also had made. The hitch comes off with two bolts and the wire harness comes out the rear body drain hole.
If your going to show NCRS be sure to remove it first and fill the two holes with pudgy and paint black.

[Roy B.]

Re: Hitch for the C1'S #2 photo

It also acts great as a rear bumper

[Gerard F.]

C2:67 Hitch, Ever see one of these

I put this on my '67 in '69 to trailer a 12' hydroplane from NYC to Norfolk, Va.
A couple of Seabees put it on for me in the battalion shop. It was light duty, great for a small boat or utility trailer. Max 100# tongue load. It bolted onto the rear bumpers (in between) with four bolts.

The last time I used it, was to make a small move in California in 1970. I took it off about 25 years ago, and it's been in kicking around the garage. The holes in the bumper are still there, protected with plastic plugs, in case I ever want to put back on, but I don't think so.

I thought about putting it on e-bay, but you know how you like to hold onto those Corvette things. It's probably worth more in memories to me then I would ever get for it.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Mike M.]

Re: C2:67 Hitch, Ever see one of these

gerald: i've seen a hitch similar to that which you posted. there was another c-2 otc hitch available in the late 60's-70's that didn't require drilling holes in the rear bumpers(it had brackets that sued the original bumper mounting fasteners. it also had a long piece of strap metal that went from the hitch , under the tire tub and fastened to the four botls holding the spring to the differential rear cover. they were capable of heavier loads than the one you have. i se them at carlise occfasionaly. i used one to pull a trailer from mdaryland to the bend, oregon nationals in the late 80's. mike

[Tom P.]

Re: C2:67 Hitch, Ever see one of these

If I had a digital camera (I have no good excuse why I don't), and knew how to post pictures here, I'd post a picture of the hitch that I made for my 56 about 25yrs ago. It consists of a long angle iron which fits up against the rear cross member and bolts to it. Then, there are other pieces of angle iron bolted to that piece. Last, a bumper hitch (I don't know what it originally fit) is bolted to those pieces of angle iron in 3 points. It is very sturdy. It all bolts to the cross member so that it can be attached/removed as needed. After I got it all fabricated, I had all pieces chrome plated. Almost looks as if it was an original aftermarket hitch made for a 56-7. I sometimes tow a small trailer (close to the size that Roy tows) with a pop up lid to out of town shows, or a jet boat to the lake.

[Mike McKown]

I have one of those and it has no sentimental valu *NM*

[Mike Cobine]

Re: C2:67 Hitch, Ever see one of these

Supposedly, this one you have, Mike, is known to break the differential housing. I guess if you tow a heavy load and stop suddenly or take off like a rocket, then you create enough stress on the spring mounting ears of the rear cover to break them.

I don't know anyone personally that did, but it had been reported as such on various boards long ago.

However, considering the metality of some people who tow things, like the guy I saw with a Datsun pickup loaded about three feet higher than the cab and a 24 ft travel trailer on the hitch with the hitch only inches off the pavement, I guess there are some who would tow a load so heavy it would break the rear.

I have one of these hitches also, but haven't ever pulled anything with it.

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: Hitch for the C1'S #2 photo

--------Years ago at the original BG fairgrounds on set-up day I turned around and saw a trailer travelling down an aisle about three rows away. It was about 22/24 feet long and had about 5ft high sides. It appeared as though there was no tow vehicle. Corvette parts were piled up about 2 to 3 feet higher than the side and loosely tied down. It was quite a sight moving along by itself until it got a bit further and there was a break in the view. I then could see that a 74/75 era Corvette was pulling the trailer. Trailer and load had to have run about 8000 to 10,000 lbs. It had loads of heavy stuff on it when I wondered over stupified by what I saw. No one who saw that combo that weekend could possibly forget it. Wish I had taken a picture...........Bill S

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Hitch for the C1'S #2 photo

Those were the days. I remember Corvette News used to have photos of how people used their Corvettes. One had a huge sailboat in tow. Another the guy crafted some elaborate upper deck to haul things on that bolted to the t-top.

People tend to forget, they were just cars back then. And if they were an old midyear, could often be had very cheaply.

A college friend told be about a guy in his town who was a painter. He hauled his ladders and stuff around on a '62 Corvette.

[Roy B.]

Re: Hitch for the C1'S #2 photo

Mike
Your right , they were just cars . When people see me driving my 55 pulling a 1947 tear drop trailer I just say the same thing. And I do feel the same way, it really is just a car.

[Gary Bishop]

BUT, A great car! *NM*

[Mike Cobine]

Re: BUT, A great car!

Of course! But we didn't baby them, or put them in a home that cost more than the one we sleep in. I didn't say we didn't love them, but we didn't exalt them to the level of king or god, which some seem to do now.

I had a '63 convertible I used to leave in the backyard with the top down at night. I drove all of mine in snow, and had a blast. We drove dirt and gravel roads in rallies and on dinner tours, if needed.

When taking the homecoming queen and her court for the various local high schools, we often used towels on the deck lids but as much for keeping the girls clean or preventing burned butts as to preventing scratches in the paint. Also, some dresses would slide right off a decklid but using a towel, they wouldn't fall off.

We raced them, we drove them, we ran them hard. Becasue they were a car to use, not an investment to lock up in a safe and watch increase in value.

Like a friend said at the Bloomington Gold Special Collection back around '85 when we saw the '66 convertible with some ridiculously low miles (like 1600 or so), "well, he really got a lot of enjoyment out of that car."