There’s not much cooler scenario then when an old race car comes into the light of day after decades of being hidden and looks barn fresh. This 1957 Chevy has great drag racing history in the New England area and proves the point that lots of cars in the 1960s and 1970s led multiple lives in the sportsman drag racing ranks before everything became as specialized as it is today. For example, this very car competed in Jr. Stock, H/Gas, and Modified Production during a competition career that lasted some seven years. Originally built and raced by noted Pontiac specialist Steve Ames, the car was seen on the drag strips of New England from Epping, NH to Connecticut back in the day. We imagine visits to Lebanon Valley Dragway, Oxford Plains, Maine, and other stops were sprinkled in there for good measure.
The car has no engine of transmission it, but it does have the Dana 60 that was originally stuck under it in the late 1960s, it has the original paint job which has the classic Jr Stocker wagon roof striping job that many cars had back then. It is a timeless look and with some rubbing and loving we think lots of this paint could bounce back. The only spot that seems to have any “real” rust on it is the tailgate and even that isn’t bad. The shots of the interior and engine bay depict two areas that are perfectly sound and devoid of damage by the tin worm which is bad in New England. The car was found in Massachusetts and we hope it gets sold to someone up here who restores it back to racing condition. There’s a big question on that though.
Which of its various combos do you restore it to? We’d go with the modified production trim with a stupid small and very revvy small block hooked to a four speed. That way the thing would have some suds, probably pull the wheels, and cause spectators to go ape in their seats. Jr Stock and H/Gas would be cool, too but lots slower and less entertaining than the modified production tune up. As we write this the bidding is at $5,600 bucks and the reserve has not been met. Here’s to hoping that it doesn’t go to a paint daub guy who restores it to factory condition. The HORROR!
SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS AND THEN HIT THE EBAY LINK FOR EVEN MORE PHOTOS AND INFO!
eBay Link: A 1957 Jr Stocker/Gasser/Modified Production racer – Barn Fresh!
Cool old wagon. It would be nice to see some pictures of the coolest 57 Wagon ever, Ralph Truppi’s “Terrible Tangerine” if anybody has some out there. It was a New Jersey car out of the Truppi / Kling shop. To see the John Hoffman stockers and the Tony Feil cars would be nice too. I have looked on the net but found nothing. Brings back a lot of memories for an old man like me that grew up in that area.
Don-try the Hamb. There was a junior stocker post over there that seems like it had 2-3000 replys with a ton of pictures. That site has changed somewhat- and I can’t play there anymore so I’m not sure if post still exists-but it certainly had pictures of the cars mentioned. Lot of pics from the northeast.
Thanks. I’ll give it a try.