Former Drag Car! 1957 Chevrolet 210 4-Door
Some number of the original 1955-57 “Tri-Five” Chevrolets found themselves turned into drag cars. They were fairly light vehicles that were easy to modify. Such was the case with this ’57 210 which was a racer almost from the beginning. But those days have long since passed and the vehicle has been in storage for the past 40 years. It’s fairly solid for the age, but the engine and transmission have long since moved on. If you’re looking for a 1950s “Gasser” to bring back to life, how about this one? But, warning, it has four doors! Located in Assonet, Massachusetts this Chevy – once known as Stampede – is available here on eBay where the last bid cast was $2,650.
Per the VIN provided, it appears this Chevy began life as one of 273,696 4-door 210 sedans built in 1957. So, it was hardly a rare vehicle at any point in its life. As family transportation, it had an inline-6 engine and possibly a Powerglide automatic transmission. But it entered into the racing world shortly after being built and spent many years on the drag strip in the Northeast, mostly at the New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. As a performer, it used a 427 cubic inch big-block V8 paired with a clutched version of the TH-400 transmission.
While the drivetrain is MIA, the Chevy retains much of its other racing equipment, including a Dana 60 rear end with 6:17 gears and a ladder bar rear. The front clip is made of fiberglass and removes easily from the rest of the body. A roll cage was added to the interior and the front bench was replaced by Oldsmobile bucket seats. The original wiring and plumbing are said to be in place, so could this car be brought back to racing condition without herculean efforts?
The body is mostly okay though there are some holes in the floors and parts of the trunk pan. The green paint looks almost passable and the graphics from its racing days are largely intact, including sponsor names and some personalization. The driver’s side rear window is covered with stickers from many of its racing honors. But it is a 4-door, which I find interesting since you mostly see coupes in many of the vintage racing magazines. This is a neat roller that’s begging to run wild again – with some help, of course.
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Comments
That would make a awesome daily driver
Wow that was a screamer, that’s a tall set of gears even for an 1/8 mile. Someone had fun on the weekends. Quite the ride, street might be best place for it, too much work to get it through tech nowadays.
Wow that was a screamer, that’s a tall set of gears even for an 1/8 mile. Someone had fun on the weekends. Quite the ride, street might be best place for it, too much work to get it through tech nowadays.
Low gears not tall.
I had a drag racer and it was a 57 Chevy two door hardtop. It had a 427 Chevy engine and a 4 speed rockcrusher transmission with a 456 rear end and quick
Well let those wild Horses run again. Street sounds like a good place. Run some Big wheels/!Tires
At first glance, this looks like a doable project. And itt got a name. But upon closer inspection, not so much. I foresee a Blasphemi type restoration where the cool body (even as a 4 door) would be put on a modern drag chassis. Its a wonder it even rolled as the rear tires are wedged against the leaf springs. The outdoor carpet interior panels are an original idea…
20 years younger and I’d take it on.
Those seats are fairly valuable. Take the rest to the crusher.
Another example of “Can’t see the forest through the trees.
I like the old single master cylinder. Back in those days we thought about going not stopping.
And turning was also way underrated back then as well lol.
Wow what a great race car I’ll bet it’s got lots of stories to tell. I can’t believe nobody’s said it yet so I’ll say it. Put a LS in it maybe with a turbo or supercharger a 5 or 6 speed tranny and change the rear ratio to something just street able. Now you got something to drive on the street during the week and to the track on the weekends. I would keep the exterior as is as a tribute to it’s racing glory. Fix up the interior some. And have fun with it. That’s what I would IMHO
Nice yard art-
This guy claims to have had the drivetrain: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/new-england-dragway-guys-remember-ken-knights-stampede-57-chevy.315519/#post-3578889