Stashed away in this Ohio barn could literally be anything, but reader Mike G found out exactly what was hiding in there! Recently he got the chance to have a peek inside and that when he found his newest project, a ’60 drag car that was known as The Witt Kit.
With no further ado, here is Mike’s find in all of its vintage racing glory! He forgot to mention what year of Corvette this is, but I would guess it’s a 1957. Any Corvette experts care to weigh in?
Mike was able to track down some of the car’s history, including the shop where it was originally built into a drag car (pictured above) and photos of it racing back in the day! Finding its racing history actually shouldn’t be too difficult, as the driver’s name is right on the side, Larry Witt. Sadly, Larry passed away in 2015, but I’m sure some of his family members still remember this car and will be excited to see it once Mike has it running again!
It sounds like this Corvette is in good hands. Mike is going to resurrect it and get it back up to speed. I just hope he will keep us posted on his progress. Our thanks to him for sharing his find with us and we wish him luck! If you have an amazing barn find story, we sure would love to hear about it. Send us an email with photos and the story to mail@barnfinds.com.
wow!!just wow! that’s awesome!
So right on that one its amazing…I lovit! Wish i would find one this way.Theres not alot of these left..I would never sell this car.
Thank you for posting this car.
Great looking old race car. I hope he leaves it in it’s “as raced” condition. It represents a point in time, and does so well. Restoring it to stock or even updating it with modern racing wheels will wipe clean much of what makes this car unique.
There is a 57 Chevy 150 business coupe that comes to the brackets a handful of times a year. The owner has had the car since the mid-60’s, it still runs the same paint job with the old stickers that were applied in 1968, along with a Doug Nash transmission and a set of Cragar Super Tricks. Neither he nor the car are competitive anymore, but it stands out and he has a blast.
Steve R
Nice time capsule car!! Get it up and running, clean it & clear coat to lock in it’s history. It’ll always start a conversation or a good story about back in the day. Great find!!
I hope if he restores the car he keeps it close to looking the same way that it looks like in the pictures. That is a really cool barn find.
I hope he enjoys it and does whatever he wants to it. The previous owners did!
This car reminds me of going to drag races in the ’60s, and then reading about them in Hot Rod magazine. Great memories.
It’s nice to see someone’s discovery, especially this one and surprisingly he’s not trying to flip it. I wish him well it whatever route he goes. Personally I would leave it as close to as found condition as possible, but it’s his to do with as he we wishes. Nice find.
I’m pretty certain that the ‘Vette’s a ’57, Josh. ’56s had painted headlight bezels, but of course, they could have been swapped.
History like this should be preserved and enjoyed, i.e. used at the track (and none of this cacklefest nonsense!).
I was going to say 57 myself, but I am by no means a ‘Vette expert I can usually guess the era that it came from , but, as for exact year?? pppfft!
You may be thinking of the painted headlight bezels of the ’61 to ’62.
The inside rear view mirror on the ’56 was height-adjusted via a large chrome thumbscrew on the forward side of the mirror base, and the ’57 mirror had a threaded shaft with a jam nut.
The auto-seek bar on the radio was plain on the ’56, and had “Wonderbar” stamped in it on the ’57.
The hardtop locator pin receptacles on the “B”-pillars had round holes in ’56, and slotted holes in ’57.
The top compartment lid vinyl end flaps that snapped to the top of the “B”-pillars had round female snaps in ’56, and had an open channel retainer instead in ’57.
I like the first hood used in the early pictures over the stinger hood. This barn is a few miles from me so now I’ll be looking for it!
VERY early production 56s had painted bezels. Not sure the number of the change, but it was pretty early. My 56 is a late one with all chrome bezels.
Well Beatnick, the Cackle Fest is a great way for people to hear and see these old race cars. It would be great to see them race, but they are not up to safety standards and they are trying to preserve them as they were. They don’t want to explode these vintage engines which some pieces are irreplaceable.
The tail lights though… That smooth bifurcated style is from 1958 – 1960? I have always thought that the 1957 had a round lens sitting in the front of a tapered chrome “half pipe” shape.
In any case, a fantastic find, so happy to see it come to light. I’m not sure I’d want to attempt running it down the strip again, but for sure it would see every cruise night within 500 miles of me, and probably some all the way across the country…. If I were the new owner. Have motorhome, get trailer, take the Witt Kitt Corvette!
Tail lights like this car:
https://www.mecum.com/lots/HA0418-324829/1957-chevrolet-corvette-convertible/
I’m thinking that the Witt Corvette wears lights from a later year. I do like them better!
Wrong.1956 -known the car for 50 years. Saw the title too.
Id have to agree keep it looking the same pull the motor freshen it all up tighten the suspension swap the tires with new ones check the brakes and lets see how fast that baby gets down the track great find buddy just keep her straight lol
Putting the stock suspension back in. The pic of the car with no sticker,was the way it was (has stock suspension in it) I don’t know who put a corvair front end on it. But it’s not right, Love that high front end gasser look
Words fail me. I’ve said it many times, but I will never get tired of seeing period-modified hotrods and dragsters, especially when they’re wearing their original livery. Utterly and completely cool. Get this thing blasting down the strip again immediately!
Multiple thumbs up for this one
This is a awesome car and so is the story. Just the kind of race car I seen when I started going to Oswego Drag Strip in Oswego, Illinois when I was 16.
Good for you!! Now that’s a barn find we all dream of!
Larry always had cool stuff Inside his barn. Engines he was building for others, old pulling trucks would sit outside of the side barns, and my favorite was his pulling truck with a papa smurf painted on the side. Good memories!
Kevin, How well did you know Larry. Do you know anything about his car ?
This is great!!!
Now I’m far from a Vette expert but i think the ’53 wuz the only yr that the vert top could drop down into the compartment that wuz hinged behind the seat. 2 guys in the area had 1 each 53 & 4, both verts. One could & one could not. The 54 hada B taken apart & stuffed (neatly) under there as that body wrk did not hinge up/dwn.
Well, this vehicle is Mike’s now. He should do as he pleases w/it. Luv 2 C it as Mr. Witt had it (down to a Tee) but who knows. Somea doze guys in da 70s (& that’s what the pic show me) really worshiped the 50s vettes.
I’m not sure I’d put this back on the track, my idea would be to make it streetable and show it off just the way it sits.
Clean it repair what it needs to get it running. Do not put clear on it. Old paint and decals on this car could easily react to the chemicals in the clear then all originality is lost forever!!
It is a 57 and I would LOVE to have this in my collection
IT is a 56.
Faded old photos can be hard on the eyes. I tried to clean the colors up a bit . . .
Looks a little better . . .
Love all the great comment. The car is a early ’56, number under 1500.
Thanks Mike G.
I can get more info from my Dad. My dad’s friend Lee, who lives close to where Larry lived used to compete in the truck pulls of the late 80s early 90s. I believe the Vette is a 56 and it had a worked 283 punched to a 302. Heard stories of Larry launching the car upwards of 9grand and pulling second gear before the wheels would come down in first gear. I will gather as much info I can from my Dad and his friend, and pass it along as soon as I can.
Thanks for getting back Kevin,
Did you know Larry (or someone else) put a early corvair front suspension on it.
In the pic of the car with on sticker it looks like it has a stock suspension. I’m going to leave the body alone, Like everyone commented. But I want to put it back to the original front end. Some of the front taps were cut off. Martz Chassis makes a modern front end for the C1 that is bolt-in. That’s why I want to put it back to stock.(looking to buy a stock front end now and maybe a modern one to drive it) Kevin here a poster of the car at a 9000 grand shootout. Keep in touch. Thanks
Kevin here it is
What does it say under his name? What track, and what year was this from?
Talked to my dad, and he said Larry installed the Corvair front end. The engine is a G.M 302, the cylinders were machined .010 to make it a 305, the rear gear is possibly a 5.13. The engine before the car was lettered was a 327. My Dad would like to see the car and speak to you in person if that is a possibility.
A 302, as in a Z28 302? Great Choice! No wonder he could get that kind of RPM out of it!
Kevin, Thanks for letting know about the motor. I would like to show the car to your dad, But you guys live in Ohio right . I’m not near Ohio, But east of there.
Kevin, Can you get in touch with about the Witt Kit
Here, I rotated it for you.
thank you
Yes, we both live in Summit county, Ohio.
Got it from some guy from Ravenna Ohio, It was sent to his phone. I Don’t know what year or what track. It says 11 sec. under his name and Eaton Bro. Of N.Y.
I should try to get in touch with them. Here a partial picture of Larry’s truck. When they pulled Larry’s toys out of the barn. (the ’56, his truck, and a Chrysler stock car) They had they on display in honor to Larry in Ravenna. .Please let me know anything on Larry or the car. I’m putting a scrapbook together
I’m from Cincinnati and always love hearing pulls like this that’s not far away!
I spent a lot of time with Larry, Larry Lee (Jr) & Molly in my teen years. He brought the Vette home in baskets & worked on it every evening after work. Spent a lot of weekends in the pits at Thompson. Larry gave me some “Class Eliminator” stickers & had me put them in the window of my Corvair. He got a kick out of people trying to figure that one out. They were great folks & I miss them all. Great memories.
Dennis, I would like to talk to you about Larry and the car. I rebuilding the car from the ground up, leaving the body alone. You can email me at mrgracing@gmail.com. Hope to talk to you soon. Want to bring car back to Ohio Drag strips for nostalgic days shows.
Dennis, Can you get in touch with me. Would like more info on Larry and the car.
Rebuilding the car from the ground up, leaving the body alone. You can get in touch with me at mrgracing@gmail.com . Mike
Kevin, Can you get in touch with about the Witt Kit
I can give you a little information, as he was my step father.
the car was build when he had a heart attack, he build it as rehad.
He and my mother drive it to the A&W Root Beer Stand in Ravenna, OH.
it was a 1956 corvette.
Attached is a picture of my dad and his Weekend Warrior dragster.
Dad, Ralph McLendon his partner, and Larry Lee are in the picture.
I have several other pictures
Hi Carl, Glad you got in touch me. I’m doing tribute to him with the car. The car is getting a complete frame off rebuild. If I can get it done by next summer, we’re going to bring it to Thompson Dragway for the Nostalgic Reunion. I’m putting binder of pics of the car before and during the rebuild. If you have any pics of his cars or the vette, I would appreciate it.
Please keep in touch
Hi Carl, Glad you got in touch with me. I’ve heard about his dragster.Thanks for the pic. The ’56 is getting a complete frame off rebuild. I’m doing a tribute to Larry
and the car. I’m putting a binder together with pic before and during the rebuild.If you can send any copies of org. photos I would appreciated. Thanks
Please keep in touch
Hi Carl, Just got message. I’m so glad you got in touch with me. I heard about his dragster. (Thanks for the pic) Larry’s grand daughter (Michelle Heckman) got in touch with me about the car. I’m going to do tribute to Larry with the car. It’s getting a complete frame off rebuilt. I would appreciate any pictures that you have of his cars or of the vette. We are planing to bring the car to back to Thompson Dragway next year for Nostalgic Reunion if I get it done in time
Please keep in touch
Carl, I try 4 time to send you a reply. something is wrong.Please keep in touch
Hi Carl, Glad you got in touch with me. I’ve heard about his dragster. Thanks for the pic. The car is getting a complete frame off rebuild. I putting a binder together
with photos of the car before and during the build. If you can send copies of org. photos of his cars or any of the vette, I would appreciated it. Thanks
Please keep in touch. Mike
My email is in a upper post, email me please. Thanks
I have a picture of mom, dad and larry lee, that was from the time the corvette was bought. would you like a copy. The pictures my step mother had and she destroyed them. At least that is what she told my niece. Let me see what I can find for you.
HI Carl, Get in touch with me through my email. Thanks Mike
Carl, Sorry there are more than one reply. Had trouble last night, no reply were
coming up, be I can see today they went through. I hate computers,I don’t know how we lived in the past without them. LOL
Hi, The Witt Kit has a new chapter in it live. The car is back together after 2 yrs. from a ground up rebuild. I keep the body the way Larry had it. Be underneath all new components. 383 Stroker, TRX1 Tunnel Ram w/ Dual 650cfm, Dart Heads, aluminum flywheel, Ram Clutch. Stahl Header. Super T-10 4spd, Wilwood Disc Brake all round, Ford Big Housing Rear w/ 3:90 Tru-Locker, and more.
Mike, is there a plan to run the car in the 1/4?
Or will it be a show car?
If it will be run, I hope you can come back and post a link to a video of the car in action!
Cheers!
IT is a 56
Yes, It is a ’56. Early # under #400. Mike
DDB, I used some of Larry’s parts. I don’t thinks Tech will let me run with what Larry used, But I’ll run when they have Test and Tune. Or took it to Cruise Nights.