Tyler Townsley

As I said the car was NOT completely done but since the theme was 57's and it was a special car they brought it. I expected some one else to post some pictures taken there as there were a LOT of people who saw it. Bloomington may have a lot of fluff about it but Bill Locke gets special cars and this year was one of those. Unfortunatly this next year (Celebrating L88s) will be the last year of a special collection since it brings in no revenue.

Tyler

john neas

There were a number of these race option 57s ordered with both tops. The car was bought new picked up at the factory by a Chevrolet dealer and his intent was to race the car in 57 and then sell it. A two top car might have been easier to sell. The car I have is similar ie two tops and it was a sold unit probably before it ran its last two races (Watkins Glen and Bridgehamton). I believe the sales invoice called for Rosenthal Chevrolet to fix cracks. I dont believe the soft top ever made it back into the car.
Regards

john neas

There may only be one of these fairings to start with. I think that Joel and Bill may have had it in the junk pile until Ken Kayser told them that it belonged on the car.
Regards

john neas

Please note the bolts and spacers through the clamps on the RPO684 five leaf springs. This was only on the early cars. On the later cars the clamps were folded over and the bolts and spacers were gone.


Regards

L78racer

in the film clip showing the car pulling out of a building; it appears the fairing is not there. just a quick glimpse, you see the silver outer tach head.

john neas

Mistake. The fairing was vinyl. The owners have pictures when the car was new. The fairing was under the farmers bed when they purchased the car. If you want to talk to one of the owners this evening call.
Bill Connell before 11.00 pm EST 12-18-07
513-281-0678

L78racer

not disputing it. just don't see it in the film clip.

bill connell

Bill Howe took delivery of the car with the soft top, courtesy light and whitewall tires, which are clearly shown in period photographs of the car being delivered at the factory on 5/16/57 The "frills" however were removed prior to the car's first race at the Cumberland National SCCA event on 5/19/57. Bill was a Chevrolet dealer, and ordered the frills to make the car easier to sell off his lot at the end of the race season.

bill connell

Given Ken Kayser's belief that the 4007 car was the pilot for subsequent RPO 579D production, he believes the fairing was a "one off" out of GM Engineering (as are other parts on the car), and was simply discarded from later production cars for cost and line effeciency reasons. He identified similar fairings on various race and show cars built in the Engineering shop. We have period photos of the fairing on the car at time of delivery, during later races, and at the time the car was removed from the barn over forty years later

bill connell

[Tom,

Being a bit of a techniphobe, this is my first venture into a chat room. Indeed, I really didn't know what a chat room was until John Neas called me Sunday morning to tell me that 4007 was a popular subject of discussion! John was then kind enough to take me by the hand and lead me through the process of finding you guys.

Now,as to pictures, I don't have a clue as to how one goes about putting photographs on a computer. There are however a ton of pictures of the car already circulating from Bloomngton and Carlisle, not to mention last Sundays' news story.We are hopeful that we can finish the car within the coming year,and look forward to the time when everybody can see it in real life.



QUOTE=DZAUTO;1563235599]Hey Bill,
Great to see you here!!!!
Now, on with the details about 4007!
Oh ya----------------AND MORE PICTURES!!!
Since a picture is worth 1000 words, and if you post 100 pictures, then you won't have to say much! [/QUOTE]

DZAUTO

I fully understanding EXACTLY what you mean by posting pictures. When I first started trying----------------AND I MEAN TRYING------------------to post pictures, I became very frustrated! But, finally, after a while, I got it figured out and now I can post pictures with no difficulty.

62Jeff

Welcome Bill, this place is full of nice and helpful people. Looks like you have a great car there.

Jeff

LouieM

Do you have a complete reference to this book? I've not heard of it and just did a quick google search and couldn't find it. Thanks.

bill connell

Louie,

To see the Kayser book, go to
tachometerpress.com. Their web page shows a table of contents, and provides order forms for both the soft cover and the hard cover----but somebody told me the hardcover limited edtion is sold out.

LouieM

Bill, thanks for the info, I'll go look it up. Thanks also for your diligence in tracking down 4007. A favor to all of us! How exciting you must have been to get hold of it and to see it emerging from its burial in dust and time.

Lou

bill connell

tom,

I don't know how to post photos yet, but if you would like a picture of the fairing, I'd be happy to mail you one. Just e-mail me your postal address, and I'll send you one. My e-mail address is wbconnell@cinci.rr.com. You can also feel free to call me at (513) 281-0678.

Bill

scotty t

naaah he's going to restore it some day!

vettecityman53

Airbox cars, or 579E's (or, 579D's??) have always fascinated me. I remember many years ago when one appeared, in full-restored form at Cypress Gardens (mid-1080's???). This was the first one to be seen restored. I don't remember who owned it, but I do remember he actually had two of them. The first restored car got a top-flight and was later sold. It was white with a red interior with silver coves. I also believe it was on a cover of "Vettevues." I also remember a very late 1957 that appeared for sale in the late 1980's in California, Missouri. It was a 270 horse car with the RPO 684 brake option. This guy couldn't commit to sell it.....first he wanted to sell, then later he wouldn't. I tried to buy it for years and the got tired of calling him (nagging him...). Later, I heard he had either sold it or traded it for a mid-year big block.

This thread is bring back to life my interests in these "airbox" cars. I consider these to be the first REAL public attempt to enter the racing scene by Chevrolet...thus the first real racing Corvettes.

I am wondering about the information about airboxes being installed on "other" Corvettes. As I understand it, the airbox cars were built without the metal reinforcements in the rocker panel areas. These metal reinforcements appeared in mid-1957 and appeared before airbox cars were built. These were eliminated for the RPO 684 option, which appeared on all 43 airbox cars. The RPO 684 option appeared earlier in the production year, before the reinforcements were in place. I am just wondering this; is there the possibility of a 1957 existing with the airbox but without the RPO 684 brake and suspension option??? I know the official airbox offering was the fuel injected motor, heavy duty brakes/suspension, radio and heater delete. It would be fascinating to know if there is an airbox car without the heavy duty brakes and suspension (and body modifications), and only having the airbox as a body modification.

Further, there is a registry for corvette race cars......fascinating reading...and sheds more light on this topic...


http://registryofcorvetteracecars.com/ee/index.php

vettecityman53

.....for those of you who don't want to read through my previous long-winded pondering....look at this registry link...

http://registryofcorvetteracecars.com/ee/index.php

Paul Borowski

...I can understand this as the 579"D" probably stood for "Ducts"...

...the 250hp/PG AirBox car is the one I'd want. Probably ONE OF ONE.