Jan 1956 Fitch 55-56 Mule in SI mag

[Dick W.]

Re: How does the 55 at B.McDorman figure in?

Geoffrey, the '55 at McDorman's is W.O. # 5951 I believe. See the article that was published in the Restorer some years ago. Do a search on 5951. According to Zora's leatherbound log book, this was the car that they ran at the Phoenix proving grounds in fall of 1955. Ran something like 161 mph. Supposedly the mule was used for the development of the 097 cam. The fin was bolted on, not glassed on. Car had evidence of a belly pan at some point prior to 1957.

Also do a search for the article that I wrote for the Restorer on the history of that car.

The car resided near me from late 1957 until sometime in the very late '90's. Originally bought from the promoter at Bowman Gray Stadium.. He had gotten the car from NASCAR. Was a terror on the local drag strips with various engines. The engine I remember the best is the 301 ci with a Latham blower and 5 carbs. Built by Joe Wolfe in Reading, PA. Clem probably remembers Wolfe.

The log book was very fascinating. I had it in my possession one day and called John Amgwert. Told him what I had, and he said "wait a minute". In a few minutes he came to the phone and he had a copy of the book. Line for line.

[Alan T.]

Re: 3 - 4 events to keep in mind

Joe, from your post it seems that you have not seen the photo I am referring to. It is the photo that Doc posted the link to in a prior message above, its the second link and is of the Hemmings ad seeking info on the 1955 #5 race car. Thats the photo I saw but it was a large blowup. Have you seen it? I have never seen it anywhere else in any magazine or book. I can't identify who is at the wheel and in the passenger seat (from what I remember they don't appear to be racers) but maybe someone else can.

[Alan T.]

1955 vin #005 Daytona car with number 1

Loren, when you say racer #1, do you mean with the number 1 on the sides/front of the car? If so, then if you look at the link Doc posted to the Hemmings ad seeking info for the 1955 vin 005 car, that car also has the number 1 on the side and front. I'm assuming this is not the car you refer to, as you say it had a 1956 body, but what about this 1955 vin 005 car that has 1 on it sitting on the beach at Daytona with either Yunick or Duntov standing next to the car? Any idea about the history of this car or how it fits into Daytona?

[Joseph T.]

Hemmings photo

Alan..I don't recognize the car in the Hemmings photo or the location the picture was taken. Maybe if Doc e-mailed me a jpeg of the Hemmings ad that I could enlarge and review..I might be able to see something better.

I see it has a #1 on it..but I am sure Loren is talking about the #1 Real McCoy 56 bodied car at Sebring 1956...not this car marked as #1.

Bill France the founder of NASCAR was the go to guy for Ed Cole to get Chevrolet involved in stock car racing and it really got going Chevrolet at Darlington in 1955...with Smokey.

After my car was on display at Bloomington Special Collection in 2004..I got a call from GM. During that conversation..I was told they looked all over for the 1955 Darlington race car and could not find it so they made a clone to celebrate the 50th anniversary...of that event.

As I always say..if we can figure out what Egyptians did 5000 years ago..we can figure out what Chevrolet did 50 years ago. Just keep digging. Everyone likes to talk! Its human nature.

Does the car being restored in Texas..have the front fender fiberglass repair birthmark?

Joe

[Loren L.]

The first car pictured by Doc is '55 #1399

which was an Engineering test car, along with a 1953, that was given to NASCAR at Daytona Speedweeks in 1956. Both cars were there with 1956 vintage V8s and three speeds and made runs, however unofficial. They later were raced in the relatively shortlived NASCAR Sports Car circuit.
55 #1399 was rebodied just before 1956 Speedweeks with the body from Engineering # 5951, the car that made the speed runs at the Desert Proving Ground. The body was MINUS the fin and minus the bellypan when installed on #1399.
Both of these cars were sold off by NASCAR circa 1958 - the '55 for $700 & the '53 for $350 because of damage. The sports car racing dream was over for NASCAR.
'56 Car #1 (Sebring) was an Engineering Department creation - the prototype '56 body (no fender scoops) on a tweaked '55 chassis. It carried an oversize motor and was finned for the runs at Daytona.
There is no record available to me that indicates '55 #5 was ever at Daytona/Sebring. I don't know if there is anything available to say that the car pictured is even #5.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1955 vin #005 Daytona car with number 1

Alan, I need a far better copy of that picture than I have - are we even sure that it is at Daytona? Could it be at the Salt Flats? What year?
The seven page PR document that Chevrolet issued as "Official Results"
of Daytona Beach does NOT list a 1955 Corvette ANYWHERE.

[Clem Z.]

at the beach time trials we would loosen

the fan belt so it would not turn the water pump and generator to get more speed BUT NASCAR got smart and if you did not have your fan belt on at the end of the course they would not count your speed.

[Eric J.]

Re: The first car pictured by Doc is '55 #1399

Loren, I am following up on your post about the 55 "Mule" I just re-read Ludvigsen's 'Star-Spangled Sports Car' it states on Page 50 that on Feb 18 1956 Fitch was hired to "boss the effort" at Sebring. "To begin with, however, all Fitch had was the prototype with the OLD BODY (emphesis mine) that Duntov had used for his speed tests in Phoenix." Is this #5951 with th #1399 body? or was Ludvigsen incorrect? Eric

[Eric J.]

Rare archive photo of possible 53 Mule at DPG

Here is a photo the Proving ground guys gave me in 2003 of a 53 being tested in 53. It is possible that this went on to be the "Mule" I am unsure who is is in the photo. Eric.

[Loren L.]

Re: The first car pictured by Doc is '55 #1399

YOur premise MAY be the worst starting point possible for this topic. First, the picture printed "from the proving ground" has nothing to do with Sebring.
Fitch was appointed much earlier than that, basically because Duntov ran off at the mouth and told Ed Cole that they should NOT go to Sebring - remember it was just 7 months before that M-B had gone into the crowd at Le Mans and killed 55. Zora seriously "misread" the audience and was told then to stay in MI, that Rosey Rosenberg would lead and that Ed had better not hear that Rosey had called for something that was not on the plane to Florida the next day.
Now, we can recreate, but not in detail.
Somewhere between 1955 #150 and 200 (other sources allege that #194 IS the number), Engineering got a 1955 from St Louis. After various modifications - over a number of months - this chassis was fitted with the "PROTOTYPE" 1956 body that Styling had (easily recognized by its lack of front fender scoops)and was assigned Eng #6901. This car would end up as the FINNED Daytona Beach MODIFIED car and as Sebring #1, running in B-Modified.
Late in the 1955 model year - somewhere between #650 & 700 - two MANUAL transmission 1955s would be ordered and brought to Engineering. The bodies were removed and the chassis were tweaked to the Eng #6901 standards. These two cars were assigned Eng #6903 & 6905. One of these bodies MAY have ended up on EX-122 in 1956.
Now we'll go back to the car that you inquired about - Eng #5951. This was the car that Zora, with a fin, with a full belly pan, a modified motor and the "Duntov" camshaft got somewhere over 150 at the DPG.
Chevrolet had two other Corvettes - a '53 & a 55 - back at the MPG being used for some testing - but SCHEDULED to be DONATED to NASCAR for its "Sports Car Racing" series coincidental with 1956 Daytona Speedweeks. The car were apparently something less than pristine.
#5951 returned to MI - LOST its body to 1955 #1399 (but NOT the fin or the bellypan); lost its ENGINE & various GAUGES to #6901 before it went to Florida on January 11, 1956. #5951 was then REBODIED (with the other recently received 1955 body??) and re-equipped as a proving ground "demonstrator".
The 1953 going to NASCAR received a new body from another source before it went to Florida.
Early in 1956 production, St Louis got an order from Engineering to build 2 1956 BODIES WITHOUT WINDSHIELDS, DOOR POSTS, SIDE WINDOWS, HEATERS, RADIOS, ETC. AND SHIP THE BODIES TO MI. These 2 bodies were placed on the 1955 Chassis now labelled as Eng #6903 & 6905. These two cars, plus the rebodied 1953 and 1955 (also with 1956 Engines and driveline)were shipped to Florida o/a February 3, 1956.
Subsequent to this, it was realized that they had enough parts to create another car - a black/silver on red manual transmission car (#1009) was at Don Allen Chevrolet in Miami. Chevrolet bought it back, got a hardtop for it, bought a beige interior & steering wheel and painted it white. This car became #7 at Sebring and Eng #6911.
The changeovers from Daytona to Sebring trim were all done at Smokey's.
In short, Ed Cole knew he was going racing - from the preliminary work order to prepare #6901 in January 1955 to his request in the same month for preparation of a 36-39 gallon gas tank for the Corvette.

[Eric J.]

Re: The first car pictured by Doc is '55 #1399

Loren, Thank you for the clarification. Sorry about the bad premis. Just an intersting quote I had not read (or even remembere if I ever read) in a very long time. I will leave it to those that are much closer to the sources to surmise the facts. See you At B-J Eric

[Eric J.]

Photo is of Mauri Rose at DPG/MPG

After some further digging on this photo. I found it in a previouse 'Restorer' (although mirror imaged) and it is credited to be Mauri Rose.

[Chris H.]

Re: Rare archive photo of possible 53 Mule at DPG

Just a quick note. GM just sold the DPG to a house developer. GM has three years to find and set up a new facility. It was a wonderful place to wirk in the winter but it sure has changed. Used to be out in the desert surrounded by cow farms. Now lots of housing and retail.

[Eric J.]

I Will work for free as a .....

Back hoe operator there. Rumor has it after they crushed their test cars they burried them on the site somewhere. Can wait until the developer finds out where. Eric

[John H.]

Re: Rare archive photo of possible 53 Mule at DPG

They got $265 million for 3,200 acres.