C1 factory roll bar drawings

[Jerry G.]

I seem to remember a "how to" article in an old( late 50s early sixties) Corvette News about C1 roll bars. Anybody remember this or have an old C1 roll bar or drawings? Jerry

[John N.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Theres six pictures of the Frank Burrell designed roll bar which went into Chevrolet Engineering #6913 in Ken Kaysers book "The History of GM's Ramjet Fuel Injection on the Chevrolet V-8 and it's Corvette Racing Pedigree". This is the Dick Thompson driven 56 Corvette which he possibly drove at Pebble Beach and Elkhart Lake. By memory there may have been a good article by GM around 1959 on preparation of Corvettes for racing. Might have been in Corvette News.
Regards

[Gary C.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

John, there's a Chevrolet 23 page booklet titled "Corvette Sports Car Equipment Guide" published in 1959 on 57-9 racing prep. Don't recall if it has the roll bar in it or not. Gary....

[Jerry G.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

I'm particularly interested in the frame attachment details. Anyone able to send me an electronic file photo of drawing 6913?

[Gary C.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Sorry couldn't find anything on the roll bar for you after checking all of my Corvette racing literature. Gary....

[James G.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Loen Lundberg may have drawings. He keeps stuff like that. I have most all Corvette News and will take a look time permitting.

The 1973 Clymer Publication "CORVETTE V8, 1953-1962, COMPLETE OWNERS HANDBOOK" has lots of neat stuff on racing and race prep. Written by BILL THOMAS and OCEE RICH, there are lot's of ideas given that Thomas used in preping DAVE MACDONALD'S cars at Don Steve's Chevrolet.

No roll bar stuff however. I believe the GCR section of SCCA for the year given will have more definative information than any GM drawing. I never remeber any Corvette showing up with a roll bar designed by Chevrolet or approved by them.

[Loren L.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

JG:
A preliminary run through the papers shows a mention of the rollbar for Eng. #6913 (Thompson's '56) in the list of repairs to be made to it after Pebble Beach (ie, we're talking May '56), but at least to this point, we can call it "Suspicions Confirmed"; "Special Instructions" on the WO call out

"Roll bars to be installed by OUTSIDE source." (my capitals).

This has to be at least somewhat in error, because item #13(same WO) reads:

"13. Install roll bars per instructions by Frank Burrell.".

This implies to me that Burrell had an outside source standing in the wings that could do it without internal wrangling about "how", "when", etc.

[Dennis C.]

C1 factory roll bar drawings

Just for fun, I will note that Moon Equipmet Co, designed and built a roll bar for C1's. I owned 2 (62) cars so equipped and have noted several other cars noted in California Scream'in fitted with the same roll bar. Is this of any significance...??? No clue. Just thought I'd bring it up. Best, Dennis

[Art A.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Loren, I would interpret the direction on #13
"13. Install roll bars per instructions by Frank Burrell.".............. as instructions to the Chevrolet ENGINEERING shop to see Frank for install instructions.

[Loren L.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Art, I have NO problem at all with your reading of the phrase; my issue is that it would appear that drawings/layout/plans exist OUTSIDE GM - at least at this time frame. Happy Florida to you and the "Boss".

[Art A.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Art, I have NO problem at all with your reading of the phrase; my issue is that it would appear that drawings/layout/plans exist OUTSIDE GM - at least at this time frame. Happy Florida to you and the "Boss".

Loren, I did some research on the "GM" roll bars for GM legal Staff during some litigation when I was a working stiff........now I'm just stiff!!

I was unable to find "GM" drawings in the GM system. And since roll bars were never intended to be a production item, we concluded that Frank gave verbal directions to our metal fabricating shop which was very capable of doing most any fabrication with out drawings.

[John N.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Jerry,

Here are some pictures I found on my desk.











Regards.

[Jerry G.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Your a good man. Thank you. Do you know whether this was a racers design or the old GM design. It looks too well thought out to be a GM backroom deal.

[John N.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Those are GM Media photos. I believe they are of the Frank Burrell GM Engineering #6913 car. Frank was a graduate engineer who worked his way through college by working in a salvage yard. He invented- designed a number of race parts for the Corvette. Its interesting in following a part from his rough sketch to the final GM blueprint. BTW do you have the Dave Morgan Delmo Johnson car which I believe was the best finishing Corvette at Sebring in 1961.
Regards

[Joel M.]

Re: C1 factory roll bar drawings

Looks like Burrell/GM preferred bolts to rivets for rebound straps in racing applications.