VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1931 Chevy Race Car, ever see one?

I am thinking about building a 1931 Chevy Vintage Race Car. Has anyone ever seen one? I have several spare parts and was thinking about building one from scratch. Before anyone gets a rope, I have no intention on destroying a real 31 Chevy to build his car. It would be completely hand fabricated with the exception of the grill, lights, gauges, rims, and a few other parts possibly. Just wondering if these cars were raced and if so what they looked like.

The 29 thru 31 Chev frame was popular for the early sprint cars. The frame has a kick-up on the rear to help lower the car. I raced a Studebacker powered 30's era sprinter from 96 to 2002. Check on some of the vintage racer sites. VCCA of Cal. Golden Wheels of Washington, Many sites out there. The Chev six and Gmc, with a Wayne or Roof head were used a fair bit. I have the remains of a 30's era sprinter, sans eng. I have not put it together. Have some pics and history on it. Would part with it quite reasonably.

There is a 1930 Chevrolet race car in Sacramento, California. It has a later six-cylinder engine and it is called the X-100. I can't remember how fast it goes, but it does the quarter mile in some unbelievable time. And, at one time, many years ago, the car was a real 1930 Chevy roadster! :cool2:

I have a 32 2dr.sedan race car,( drag race only) but don't know how to put photo on here

Years ago on TV back in the 70's and I think it was Shell oil co. advertised milege and a 1930 Chevrolet race car. :)

This is a great discussion!!!!! Please keep it going!!!

Sonny, one of our Chevy Chatter friends, has a really cool 1932 Chevrolet race car, and it is extremely fast in the quarter mile! Maybe Sonny can post a photo of the car here so that we can all see it.

Sonny told me he was thinking of restoring this '32 back into a real authentic and original 1932 Chevrolet. I said I would help with some parts if he wants to do that.

Does Sonnys car still have the original engine?

I think that his race car has some deep-breathing racing motor in it. :eek: :eek: :eek:

This thread is great. Hope to see some pics soon.

Onebad, With it's original engine Sonny's '32 could have done 0 - 60. With the engine it has now it can do 0 - 60 in about 6 seconds.

So Sonny's race car is a full blown race car. Does it at least appear to be a stock 31 Chevy? The car I am building is going to look like a 31 roadster lakester sort of thing. I have several car friends. Most of them are into Ford cars. I’m really sorry for using that 4 letter word here! Some of them are into Alfalfa Romeos (They hate it when I call them that). The point is I am out numbered and I want to build something that is all Chevy, hand built that will stomp them on the auto cross track. Therefore I am building a LOCOST Lotus inspired vintage Chevy Race Car. Wire wheels and all. Last year I was beating the VW Jetta boys with a 4 Door GEO Metro well till I blow it up... for the fourth time. Thanks for all the input.

Don't be sorry about using that four letter word, be sorry for the folks who think Fords are so great. And Alfa Romeos? I like them a lot, I have two.

I actually like the Alfas to but won’t admit it to my friend. He hates all American cars and is always trying to point out why All American cars suck. Its become my mission to stomp his Euro cars with a Chevy just to shut him up.

great thread, guys...

jyd,

anyone know how I could contact that sacramento '30 racer owner?..

onebadcoupe,

funny how we all stomp on each other's makes...my dad only drove chevies, so I love chevies, and now my sons think chevies are better than any other make...yet secretly, I pretty much like anything with wheels...well, maybe not so much the cart at the grocery store...

epi

Sure! Contact the biggest Mercedes Benz body shop in Sacramento (Bertolucci's Body Shop).............he owns it!

jyd,

thanks, buddy...I'll look him up next time I'm there in town...

epi

Ask your foreign car buddy to share the names and models and years of all of the "Classic" Asian cars. That would be one car show that could meet in a phone booth with room to spare.

Chevrolet, I have to admit I to am a lover of many cars other than the Chevy. I to was raised on Chevy. Anyone who has see my street rod would have a hard time saying I am brand loyal. It’s a 34 Dodge Coupe, 32 Ford frame, Ford 9 inch, 70 402 Big Block with low profile dual quads followed by a late sixties Muncie 4 Speed. My wife calls it eclectic. I have always loved the 30 vintage Chevy’s and I am having a blast restoring this 32 for my wife. It seams the older I get the more I am into the originals.

Gator, only one guy loves ricers. He will not drive anything but Nissan. Not sure what could be considered a Classic Asian car. Is the one? None come to mind.

The steel arrives in 2 weeks for the 31 Vintage racer. Between that and the 32 I will have plenty to do this winter.

gator,

like I said, I pretty much like anything that has wheels...

how about the original series datsun 240z...I think it's a classic and, don't know for sure but, would think there's a few clubs out there supporting them...they're at a disadvantage to chevy restorers, as the metal started out a lot thinner, so you won't be finding any of these out in a field somewhere waiting to be restored...

or maybe it's predecessor, the 1600 & 2000 datsun roadsters?..

and there's probably a following for those acura nsx's...

and that classic club racer, the datsun 510?..

well, those are a few that come to my mind...don't own any of them, nor want to, but I'd admire one if I saw a nice one and respect the efforts of its owner to keep them running...

epi

Okay guys, I just received a photo of Sonny's 1932 race car, so here it is. Notice that it is just a little non-stock, but man does it ever move down the drag strip! Holy Cow!!!

Mazda made the rotary engine work. The Europeans could never get all the bugs out. And the Japanese made motorcycles reliable, quiet, and civilized and they didn't leak oil.

woooooooooooeeeeeeeeee!

epi

hey skip thanks for getting photo on board, STOCK STEEL BODY,ORIG. 32 FRAME WITH A FEW MODS.,400" SM.BLK. +.O6O,400 TURBO W/ TRANS-KINK BRAKE,5000 STALL CONVERTOR,9"FORD REAR W/ 5:13s. runs real good and straight.