Also not only were the dual fours not offered in 55, but they were only offered in 56 as a over the counter dealer option, and at that they were not sold to the general public, only to registered race car owners, because of limited supply. The 56 2x4 set up is very different than the 57.

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

The guy with the Nimmo Machine black 57 Bird said the dual fours option wasn't available in 55, only 56. Is that correct? He also described some modifications to the Black bird. The engine is set back about 3 inches. The rocker arms are lightened and the springs that keep them in place on the rocker shafts have been replaced with metal tubing with shoulders on the ends as spacers that slide on the rocker shafts.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

THE WHITE BIRD IS A 55 , BUT HAS A FEW 56 ITEMS ON IT.

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

Doug,



The white Tbird had no roll bar. I saw him in the practice laps, he was just making 90MPH on the long pit straight. No headers and running through mufflers with a stock 3 speed manual complaining he couldn't downshift enough coming down the steep corkscrew corners and fighting the drum brakes. I decided to go on Friday only. I live up the Pacific Coast Highway about 25 miles from Laguna Seca and traffic from the races, Concourso Italiano car show, all the high end auctions and Pebble Beach Concours De Elegance has the Monterey pennisula nearly gridlocked. I had to back track inland using some obscure rural roads to Salinas and back around to Rio Del Mar. Took me more an hour and a half. Today and Sunday will be worse.

Here is a link to the Pebble Beach Concours, you can see all the high-zoot stuff happening this weekend.



http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I think the T-Birds will be in this class.  According to the schedule they had practice yesterday and will race Sunday at 1:50 if things stay on track, no pun intended.  Anybody going to be there?  Did the white car have a roll cage/bar at all?  It looked very street to me.

Rolex Race Group 3B (10 Laps) 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc

Here is the track web site

http://www.mazdaraceway.com/rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Hi, Hoosier, I noticed that too about the white car. They are calling it a 56? But like you I didn't see any side vents. But a lot of other things point it to 56. sunvisors / also has MY flat 55 steering wheel. Anyway, I still like it. It's a race car!



I just noticed also, they moved the windshield washer bag to the firewall by the heater. Wonder why? on my car if you did that the exhaust would melt that sucker quick.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

The white Bird appears to be an assembled car.  It has '55 hood hinges, dash, steering wheel, front fenders with no fresh air vents (could have been filled however), '56 wind wings, seat upholstery, dual four setup.  Very nice car.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Funny how Jr. finally getting his head out of his a$$ when money starts talking. Love the "kidney Beans" on the 'Bird.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Here are two links to the history and former owner/racer of the black 89 Tbird:



http://racing.nimmo-machine.com/chuck.html



http://racing.nimmo-machine.com/



The white 56 Tbird racer has an apparent new owner. He showed me the odometer reading only 18k miles and said he purchased it with all the paperwork for service, etc. since new. He didn't seem to know to much about the car but was running it on the track. He did say he also got a Latham supercharger with it. Someone suggested it was the original Daytona speed record car, but I am skeptical about that.


57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Thanks for the pictures. I've seen the black tbird a couple of time in pics before and I'm not sure if it's a clone but never the less - very cool. Was for sale? by Gary Croan, I think, maybe built by him?

The white bird, I haven't seen before - really like it looks like it might have some racing history. Love this stuff!

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK