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I found a burnt '61. The body and some under hood items are on a trailer and I snapped a pic of the vin tag on the column. #9,654.
The chassis has non original wheels, and I didn't get to spend a lot of time with it today, but I'm going back later. The rearend is a 812 p case. I'll try and look for stampings, but not in the rain.
My question is, can you tell anything from the pics to determine original engine configuration such as FI vs. dual 4's vs. single 4 carb?? Is there something I can look for to help determine this? It seemed like the brake drums were huge, but I don't know what to look for other than overall size. Any help is appreciated. I might be back there today if the rain quits.
Dave.
I don't think there is much that you can tell to determine what it might have had for an engine. A couple of good clues that it was something special would have been vented drums and a quick steer adapter, but they aren't there in your pics.
It was a manual car with a posi rear, thats about it. Nice enough looking chassis though from what I can see.
Also, that vin shouldn't be riveted to the column....someone else did that. They were spot welded and sometimes broke free however.
X2 on the VIN plate being re-installed with rivets. Should be spot welded. Wonder if it matches the VIN stamped on the frame rail?
I will let you know, Monday. Very curious myself.
I'm going to try 1 more time to get parts, but someone has already filled his head with large numbers, as is. I have no affiliation with him, other than a recent purchase, it's how I found this chassis. I'm on thin ice as it is, so I don't want to represent a sale of any kind, or a seller, just looking for info on a rare piece.
Thanks for the info above. I checked the registry and it isn't listed. Would've been cool to figure out the engine package. Not many to choose from other than "awesome".
I'll go easy cleaning the frame rail, I've heard some of these stamps can be pretty light.
I would consider it as is, just to restore what's there, not to finish a total build but, I'm thinking that's how they all start out, and before you know it...
I made it back today. I couldn't find the vin on the frame rail, but it might be under a built up spot of rust..see pic. I stopped looking when he told me he had the title. So, I moved on to the rearend. I found those numbers and stampings, late '61 with the 812 p case which we already knew. The interesting discovery (for me anyways) was the rear axle code. I believe this was a special car, or at the very least, a "very low production numbers" car based off this info and it having a close ratio 4-speed. Probably not a lot of '61's running around with factory 4.56 gears. (AQ code) He won't part it out and I understand that. The frame is straight and has a lot of the "bolt ons" still there. If someone seriously needs this, I will get you his contact information.
Again, I have no connection with him other than a separate purchase.
Dave. Stamp may be under this patch of rust?? AQ code 4.56 gears.
4:56 gears were not that rare and ordered with hi-po cars as a rule but that really doesn't mean much with regard to this chassis. Someone could have swapped the diff. Who knows. We used to do that on a weekly basis back in the 60s.
Regarding the value, I doubt there is much. I have a friend who is making a '60 resto and has the rolling frame available to sell at $2,500 and, still, no takers. It is a base model car but everything is there and in good shape (lines, brakes/hardware/wheels/tires/hubcaps/steering). The motor comes with the car but, I think, it is NOM. We may buy it for the Museum to use as a display.
The rolling chassis used to command a better price but with so many being converted to resto cars, there is a surfeit of them on market with little demand these days.
Thanks for the info Dan. I would've never associated 4.56 gears with a Saginaw 3 speed either, but they're out there. FYI, he's gonna have it for a while at $4,000 lol. Time to move on..
Thanks for the info Dan. I would've never associated 4.56 gears with a Saginaw 3 speed either, but they're out there. FYI, he's gonna have it for a while at $4,000 lol. Time to move on..
Like I said Dave, there is no guarantee that the diff was original to the car. That is a 45-minute swap on a good day.
Does he still have the transmission? I didn't glean that from your post. If you can snap that up cheap, the synchronizer unit (if good) is as scarce as hen's teeth these days. I just purchased an entire transmission (fully functioning) just for the synchro.
$4,000K???? I guess there is a dreamer in every crowd.
Last edited by Dan Hampton; Jul 20, 2021 at 10:16 PM.
'61 chassis
