What is This Car? Salt Flats Racer? Or??

[clodzilla]

[color:\\"red\\"]HELP!!

I found this car in a barn and wonder what is??

It has a Chevy straight six, manual shift, leaf spring suspension, huge drum brakes and a steel body.

The former barn owner called it a "Mormon Salt Flats Racer".

The license plate on the car was from 1949. There is a number on the engine block next to a Chevy Bow Tie Symbol, Casting #836915 which according to Hemmings website, is a 1933 engine.

Dan from Hemmings added this info:[color:\\"red\\"]

"My first impression is that it's somebody's tribute to the Mormon Meteor race cars. The Mormon Meteors used Duesenberg chassis and engines and had different lines. This looks to be a chopped-down Chevrolet sedan or convertible from the 1930s with Meteor-like appendages grafted on, either for actual use on the salt flats (the first year for SCTA racing there was (1949) or just as a customizing job for the streets. Then again, there could be some grander story to it that I've never heard"

Hopefully somebody has more info about it and it's possible value...Thanks!!

[SolidAxle]

Does resemble the Meteor somewhat....

http://www.supercars.net/cars/2480.html

[alsancle]

Is there any evidence that the engine has been swapped out? It was not a racer with that motor in it. However, race engines have a way of getting blown up or used for another car. The dash looks really cool, any chance of getting a better shot? What history was given to you by the seller? Is there a plate on the car somewhere?

[av8ford]

I snagged this picture for my files several years ago. I liked the car for its ambitious build, and it looked to be well done. As best I recall the picture was from a magazine article in the '30s. I named the file "34 SPECIAL" which would indicate I knew of the year at the time I snagged the picture. Sorry I can't provide any meaningful info.

[Guest De Soto Frank]

Sure looks like the same car... "after" and "before"...

Those look like General "Jumbo" wheels...

I'm intrigued by the matching speedo & tach...

I wonder if that stove bolt was "worked" or "souped" for racing... it certainly wouldn't have been as durable as the later 216 Chevy or the GMC truck engines that became popular as salt racers...

Maybe Leno will have to acquire this to keep his "tank car" company... <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That grille looks pretty lethal...

[alsancle]

I think it's pretty cool. Sent you a pm.

A.J.

[Aanderson44]

I'm thinking that this car is simply someone's street "special", built in the 30's--not all that uncommon, even in the Depression era.

The engine might well be original to the car, but that Stovebolt is no performance engine at all--certainly not with battery-coil-generator igntion and electrical system, and definitely not with an asthmatic 1bbl carburetor.

Still, it's a neat little car!

Art Anderson

[1937hd45]

AV8, Great Photo! Welcome to the AACA Forum! That looks far better than the unrestored version. I'll second that General Jumbo wheel ID. Best wishes, Bob

[alsancle]

A thanks out to Randy Ema for sending this to me. This car was built by Vaudeville star Ralph Cook in 1932/33. The article appeared in the November 1934 Automobile Trade Journal. The alleged 96 mile an hour top speed makes me wonder what the original engine was.

[Dandy Dave]

96 miles an hour and 29 miles to the gallon just does not add up for a car of this vintage. Maybe the builder like to put it on a little thick. Dandy Dave!

[West Peterson]

Wow! Too bad Clodzilla has never returned. I wonder what he ever did with the car.????

[Jim Rohn]

George probably owns it now ... ;-)

[alsancle]

Wow! Too bad Clodzilla has never returned. I wonder what he ever did with the car.????

I swapped some email with him last week. The car was sold back around the time of the original post. Would guess someone saw it here and then contacted him off forum. I considered it myself until I came to my senses. Very cool car - hopefully originally powered by something a bit more exotic then the 6 banger in it now.

[1937hd45]

Did you use a stop watch to time that thought?

I considered it myself until I came to my senses. Very cool car - hopefully originally powered by something a bit more exotic then the 6 banger in it now.

[alsancle]

Did you use a stop watch to time that thought?

I'd like to think I'm more sensible the older I get

Restoration projects require very very careful consideration - although I almost fell for that 32 Hupp Victoria last year...

[alsancle]

From the Alex Tremulis collection, posted on the ACD forum: