Read a short article in June 1956 Ford Times about the seventh annual Speedweeks at Daytona.Driver Chuck Daigh had a record run of nearly 150 mph from a standing start over a measured mile in a 56 T Bird,also two 56 sunliners came in first and second in the National convertable championship race,looks like # 26 1st and #19 2nd. #26 won with a average speed of 96.11.Looks like the y blocks ran great way back then
Carl

I'm not familiar with the particular convertible race referred to, but in NASCAR convertible division races, Curtis Turner drove #26. He dominated that circuit, winning 22 races that year. No other driver came even close to that many wins. He was also the leading money winner, but somehow given NASCARS convaluted point system, he finished 2nd in points, to a driver who won 3 races. Only in NASCAR could that happen..

Paul

Curtis Turners #26 1956 Ford is said to have the most wins of any single car in NASCAR history.It ran as a convertible and they would sometimes weld the roof back on and run Grand National Races.
But of course, Y-Blocks are shallow breathers and as everyone knows you can't make any power with
a Y-Block.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

The T Bird in this article is a 56,all black convertable with Ford and Thunderbird on the side,no numbers seen.Also looked at the pictures of the two 56 cars and the one coming in second is Ralph Moody in the number 12 ,amazing what you can see with glasses Carl