I have recently been told that Kenneth Kayser, writing in the December 2005 issue of Vette Vues, identifies 1955 Corvette VE55S001399 as "Zora
Duntov's High Finned Race Car at Daytona 1956".
This will undoubtedly come as a surprise to Bob McDorman, who purchased 1955 # 1399 at a Mecum Auction last year, where it was presented as the car that Zora exceeded 150 MPH at the Desert Proving Grounds. Bob is probably wondering why he did not receive the 1956 body with the car.
Then there is, as Paul Harvey is accustomed to saying, "The Rest of The Story."
When Eng. # 5951 returned from the DPG after attaining 150+ mph with a fin, full belly pan, modified engine, etc., etc., it was directed that the BODY of #5951, minus the belly pan, minus the head rest & fin, etc. be removed and attached to the chassis of '55 #1399, which along with a 1953 body had been equipped with new motors, three speeds, shimmed
front suspensions and were shipped with Engineering #6901 to Daytona
Beach. The '53 and the '55 were to be at Daytona Speeweeks for PR purposes and then be donated to NASCAR for participation in its new "Sports Car" racing category.
Prior to its shipment to DB, #6901 had all the "excess" material removed from its 1956 prototype body - windshield, side door glass (and mechanisms), door posts, radio and antenna, wipers and mechanisms, both mirrors, RH passenger seat, power top and all instruments except ammeter, fuel gauge and clock.
The engine from #5951 was removed and installed in #6901, along with the precision tach (Speedo converted into a 7000 rpm tach), the close ratio transmission, gauges, etc.
On January 17, the chassis of #5951 was directed to be assembled as a Proving Ground demonstrator. It would receive a new 1955 body (from one of the OTHER cars that would race at Sebring as a 1956), a 3 speed, a 1956 front suspension, etc.
I suspect that the above will result in still more questions, but ID's as noted in Vette Vues need to be corrected as soon as possible.
Duntov's High Finned Race Car at Daytona 1956".
This will undoubtedly come as a surprise to Bob McDorman, who purchased 1955 # 1399 at a Mecum Auction last year, where it was presented as the car that Zora exceeded 150 MPH at the Desert Proving Grounds. Bob is probably wondering why he did not receive the 1956 body with the car.
Then there is, as Paul Harvey is accustomed to saying, "The Rest of The Story."
When Eng. # 5951 returned from the DPG after attaining 150+ mph with a fin, full belly pan, modified engine, etc., etc., it was directed that the BODY of #5951, minus the belly pan, minus the head rest & fin, etc. be removed and attached to the chassis of '55 #1399, which along with a 1953 body had been equipped with new motors, three speeds, shimmed
front suspensions and were shipped with Engineering #6901 to Daytona
Beach. The '53 and the '55 were to be at Daytona Speeweeks for PR purposes and then be donated to NASCAR for participation in its new "Sports Car" racing category.
Prior to its shipment to DB, #6901 had all the "excess" material removed from its 1956 prototype body - windshield, side door glass (and mechanisms), door posts, radio and antenna, wipers and mechanisms, both mirrors, RH passenger seat, power top and all instruments except ammeter, fuel gauge and clock.
The engine from #5951 was removed and installed in #6901, along with the precision tach (Speedo converted into a 7000 rpm tach), the close ratio transmission, gauges, etc.
On January 17, the chassis of #5951 was directed to be assembled as a Proving Ground demonstrator. It would receive a new 1955 body (from one of the OTHER cars that would race at Sebring as a 1956), a 3 speed, a 1956 front suspension, etc.
I suspect that the above will result in still more questions, but ID's as noted in Vette Vues need to be corrected as soon as possible.
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