209TIME!!!

hi guys i really do not come to this section much, but this past weekend i went to a show in Lake Tahoe NV, and I took pictures of this car, so i just thought I would share them with everyone.

209TIME!!!

sorry guys i should have just posted all the car show pic's....i will just add these to the thread

209TIME!!!

C6 Z06 63 conversion ^^^^

Dan Hampton

The car in question--the first pic--is the '56 Harley Earl SR 2 owned by Rich Mason of Carson Ciry, NV. It has a dual meter FI unit. I have driven this car through the canyons of Lake Tahoe. An outstanding drive--even with the Porsche seats. One of a kind.

csherman

Green one is ...............well...green

66jack

Oregon car...seen it in Medford, OR, 2 years ago, "as far as i know", when he first started showing it.

Yes it IS GREEN

DZAUTO

Yep, and here is the dual air meter FI setup on Rich's SR2. That car IS NOT a custom job done by a previous owner, that's a GENUINE Chevrolet engineering/styling effort. There was originally a plan for a Corvette SR program, but it got cancelled after only six 56's were built and three 56's were modified by Chevrolet and one modified/built from left over SR parts by Bob McLean (head of Experimantal Styling) after the SR program was cancelled. Two of the 56 SR1s are known to exist and all 4 of the 56 SR2s are alive and well.





Here is one of the (FACTORY built) 56 SR1s



And here is all 4 of the SR2s and current owners.
Rich Mason


Bill Tower


Richard Fortier (originally built for Harlow "Red" Curtis)


John Neas (McLean built SR2)


Tom Parsons

DZAUTO

No question, there is a TON of craftsmanship, and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, in the green car-------------------------------------------------it's just not my cup of tea.

Tom Parsons

DZAUTO

AND----------------------- since we're on the subject of the early SR cars, MANY, MANY people are not very familiar with the early efforts by GM to develop the Corvette into a genuine competitive sports car (of course, stagnated and killed by the bean counters). Too many people believe that the 56 Sebring race cars and the SR cars are one and the same--------------THEY ARE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! They were 2 cars/2 efforts.
The 56 Sebring race cars were genuine engineering efforts to build a competitive car SPECIFICALLY for the 1956 12hr Sebring race (thus, many people think SR meant Sebring Race car-----------NOT). Several of the modifications that were done to those cars for the 56 Sebring race were improved and incorporated into the St. Louis assembly line built 1956 SR cars (at the time they were NOT called SR1s, that term was dubbed later on). As best as is known today, only six 1956 SR cars (built in the May-June time frame) were built at the St. Louis Corvette plant.
Later on, when the engineering/styling boys modified three 1956 PRODUCTION Corvettes into the SR2 cars, then the 56 production SR cars got dubbed SR1s. The rest is history.

John Neas, who probably has the most complete information and documantation on these early special performance Corvettes, also owns the copper 1956 SR1, the McLean SR2, a very early Airbox 57 that was purchased and specifically modified from day one as a race car and has NEVER been a street car, as well as other performance Chevys to include the Beach Boys icon (Four speed, dual quads, positraction, 409). And he is probably one of the finest, down to earth people that I could ever call a friend.

Tom Parsons

jimgessner

Generation: C1
Year: 1956
VIN: E56F1002522
Race Numbers: 144 SR-2
Ownership: Jerry Earl, Jim Jeffords, Bud Gates, Vern Kispert, Jerry Mansfield, Gene Marquis, Rich and Shar Mason
Sponsors:
Drivers: Jerry Earl, Dr. Dick Thompson, Jim Jeffords, Bud Gates. Bob Spooner drove it for Gates at one time. Drag raced by Vern Kispert. Rich Mason.
Status:


Original Color: Blue
Tires/Wheels: 15x6 SPECIAL HALIBRAND
Engine: 283/ 2X4 , then 283 fuel injected, then 307 special duel meter fuel injection.
Driveline: 3 speed, then 4 speed
Top:
Interior: special
Condition: restored to race condition
URL: http://registryofcorvetteracecars.co.../view_cars/130

Unique Characteristics: Shop Order: 90090 Jerry Earl, son of Harley Earl was racing Ferraris in SCCA and GM officials told Harley to get him in a Corvette. So Jerry owned and raced this car at Road America in June 1956. Dick Thompson drove the car on Sunday. Jim Jeffords purchased the car in the fall of 1957, after the driveline was improved to 283 fuel injection, added 4 speed the ''big fin'' replaced its original small fin. Jeffords presented the car to Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago and said '' If you sponsor me I will bring you the SCCA National Championship.''

They did, and this was the first "Purple People Eater" The car raced at Sebring March 58 in ''PURPLE'' with Jim driving and Auggie Pabst back up driver. Jim sold the car to Bud Gates, INDY Chevrolet dealer in 1959 who owned and raced it until 1961. Vern Kispert then owned it and drag raced the car. Jerry Mansfield sold to Gene Marquis. Both were collectors from Terre Haute, IN.

Rich and Shar Mason bought it in 1986 and have vintage raced it around the USA since.
Modifications:
Notes/Race History: The unique vin number is E56F1002522. Note the letter "F" for Flint Michigan where the car was rebuilt to SR-2 specs. To this day the ''F'' letter is a mystery.
Registry ID Number: 130

GreaseMonkey

If I remember correctly, a number of years ago the SR-2s were at Carlisle. I may be wrong though

jimgessner

Generation: C1
Year: 1956
VIN: E56S1002532
Race Numbers: 56 SR-2 , #45 and #2
Ownership: Bill Mitchell, Ebb Rose, John Mecom, Bill Tower
Sponsors: Owned by Bill Mitchell, actually entered in 1957 SEBRING by Lindsley Hopkins of Miami. Sold to Ebb Rose of Houston at the end of 1957 Sebring, then to John Mecom. Chevrolet built it at the tech center for Bill Mitchell. Completed in September 1956.

Drivers: Betty Skelton and Buck Baker at February 1957 DAYTONA Speed Week, and SEBRING on March 22-24, 1957 with Mitchell hired drivers Pete Lovely, and Paul O'Shea. The car finished 1st in C/M Class and 16th OA.

New owner Ebb Rose from Houston, Texas raced the car at Eagle Mt. Naval Air Station near Ft. Worth, Texas in May 1957 and other tracks in the South Texas area. At some time John Mecom from Houston bought the car. Current owner Bill Tower needs to bring the history to date when bought the car in the early 1980's
Status: RESTORED


Original Color: RED
Tires/Wheels: 15X6 Special Halibrand
Engine: 366 inch, 325hp 2x4 carb, then fuel injected in Feb 1957.
Driveline: 3 speed, special SEBRING suspension, metallic brake shoes, magnesium special Halibrand wheels
Top: NA
Interior: In only 14 days, Chevrolet added to the front body almost 15 inches, modified greatly the exterior of a stock 56 by adding side scoops and a stainless side cove over the original fiberglass cove. A large rear fin was added behind the driver seat down the rear deck lid. Interior had a special teak wood wheel on the special shortened steering column. A Large Smith tachometer and a special set of fuel, amp, oil pressure, and temp gauges to match is a special spun tuned center dash. Two curved windscreens gave driver and passanger a little 'bug' cover prevention. Seats were a special red leather covered 'race seat'

Condition: Restored by Bill Tower in 1986 to Daytona 57 livery. Originally a 336 Special V-8 with 2x4 carbs, it was upgraded with fuel injection in December of 56.

URL: http://registryofcorvetteracecars.co.../view_cars/138

Unique Characteristics: Many, see script.
Modifications: 336 inch engine with Rochester Fuel Injection, four speed trans

Notes/Race History: Car was finished in late September 56. Raced Waterford, MI in the fall under race # 100. Then fuel injection added and raced Daytona Speed Week in Feburay 1957 at New Smyrna Beach Airport. Buck Baker set a one way average of 93.047mph, and 152.866 flying mile average two way speed. At the 12 hour SEBRING RACE on March 22-23, 1957 Peter Lovely and Paul O'Shea drove the car to 16th place overall, and FIRST IN CLASS.
Registry ID Number: 138

Dan Hampton

Minor correction, Tom. The dual meter system on Rich's car was developed by Gene Smith, originally from Houston, Tx. He was a Master Tech in Houston, back in the day, and was sponsored by three major Chevrolet dealerships in Houston and was sent to Rochester Products for advanced technical training on the FI system. He eventually moved to Nevada where he and Rich hooked up.

Chris Wickersham, of Devin SS fame, has been the master tuner on this unit for the past twenty years or so.

Sky65

Thanks for the pics. Enjoyed them.

DZAUTO

Sorry, I should have been more clear-----------------I MEANT the car, NOT the dual FI air meter unit. I can see where my intent was misinterpreted.