1956 240 hp engine production
In response to an inquiry from NCRS member Michael Horst:
The total production number of 111 for 1956 Engine Option RPO 449 (240 HP engines) is correct. However, that number also included 240 HP Passenger car engines with the suffix GT.
1956 GM Production records list the RPO 449 option quantity in the following manner:
Dual 4 Bbl. & Hi Lift Cam
449-A 46
449-B 65
TOTAL 111
In order to interpret what A & B meant it was necessary to have access to other '56 Production documents. Engine production records quoted in an earlier thread were from original GM records obtained in the early 1980s. I do not believe others reading the RPO 449 number used this information and consequently assumed the final total of 111 was for Corvettes only.
The 240 HP Passenger GT engine was built months before the Corvette GU engine. In addition, not all GT engines were actually installed on the Passenger assembly line. In early 1956, under a special Work Order a block of 240 HP GT engines were built and subsequently distributed to a select group of individuals. Consequently, the number of actual factory assembled Passenger cars equipped with a GT engine is extremely low. From this same Work Order group, a number (3) of these engines were also used at Sebring in 1956 during testing in February and March. As a result, the number of actual factory assembled '56 Corvettes equipped with RPO 449 engines would also be considerably less than previously reported.
The total production number of 111 for 1956 Engine Option RPO 449 (240 HP engines) is correct. However, that number also included 240 HP Passenger car engines with the suffix GT.
1956 GM Production records list the RPO 449 option quantity in the following manner:
Dual 4 Bbl. & Hi Lift Cam
449-A 46
449-B 65
TOTAL 111
In order to interpret what A & B meant it was necessary to have access to other '56 Production documents. Engine production records quoted in an earlier thread were from original GM records obtained in the early 1980s. I do not believe others reading the RPO 449 number used this information and consequently assumed the final total of 111 was for Corvettes only.
The 240 HP Passenger GT engine was built months before the Corvette GU engine. In addition, not all GT engines were actually installed on the Passenger assembly line. In early 1956, under a special Work Order a block of 240 HP GT engines were built and subsequently distributed to a select group of individuals. Consequently, the number of actual factory assembled Passenger cars equipped with a GT engine is extremely low. From this same Work Order group, a number (3) of these engines were also used at Sebring in 1956 during testing in February and March. As a result, the number of actual factory assembled '56 Corvettes equipped with RPO 449 engines would also be considerably less than previously reported.
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