409-Powered 1956 Chevrolet Drag Car

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This 1956 Chevrolet drag car in Springfield, Ohio pushes many of the right buttons for a vintage-looking drag racer. Lacking details in the woefully short description here on eBay, we must assume this car has no racing history, and was built to loosely emulate a ’60s era locally-sponsored Super Stock drag racer. Clearly the “PLUMBERS Local 409” door lettering is a play on the car’s later 409 cid V8. If I’m reading this class table at classracerinfo.com correctly, an SS/C car would run about a 10 second quarter-mile which seems unlikely based on the visual evidence.

While there are no picture of the car’s front, the rear appears to have new or highly-polished tail-lights. What looks like a re-chromed bumper couldn’t have been cheap and almost detracts from the car’s appearance. However, if you want to ditch the vintage drag racer look, any shiny new parts represent a big money-saving plus. The vintage-style Halibrand wheels also look a little too fresh for the “Bad Apple,” but nothing that couldn’t be scuffed to match the car’s honest-looking rough edges.

Custom diamond-tufted upholstery with red piping maintains the period custom vibe. The ’55-’56 Chevrolet dash is hard to beat, and the polished bits contrast beautifully against dark colors like this black. I’m not a fan of the handcuff-friendly steering wheel diameter. I can almost feel the launch of this 409 through the Muncie 4 speed and 4.10 positraction rear end.

The seller is a man or woman of few words, and those are (groan) written in ALL CAPS, but the “GOOD RUNNING 409” looks tight. Most drag racers prefer a large single carb, but the dual-quad setup gets more points when you pop the hood to show off for your fellow gear-heads. Of course the Beach Boys rendered Chevy’s 409 immortal with their song “409.” Bypassing the heater core may have been a shortcut to fixing coolant leaks into the passenger compartment, and denies the motor a precious half-gallon of coolant. Ironically the replacement brake master cylinder is more rusty than most of the original equipment. Unlike many of today’s cars, if you drop a wrench or nut while working on this Chevy, it has a 95% chance of landing where you can find it… on the ground. Can you picture yourself wrenching on this fine 409-powered ’56?

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Comments

  1. Karguy James

    If the engine codes out to a true 409/425 dual quad engine, it alone is worth the price of admission so far. Cool car.

    Like 0
    • thomas j schweikert

      409 s came out in 1961

      Like 0
  2. JW

    Of the tri fives 56 is my favorite and this one is cool.

    Like 0
  3. Steve R

    As you say, the minimum dial for an SS/C car would be 10.05, most will run at least 1/2 to 3/4 of a second quicker, the fastest cars in that class will be capable of running in the 8’s if needed. You are right, the lettering is fake, it’s a bit surprising it’s not lettered up as a gasser, that’s been the hot trend for quite some time. But then again, the other poseurs would give him grief because this car doesn’t have a straight axle and isn’t jacked up.

    The car has been run through eBay twice in the last month with an opening bid of $20,000 and has had no takers. I would assume the reserve is close to that.

    Steve R

    Like 0
    • Greg

      Know the owner of this car. He has owned it for alot of years. It is a true 409. Had for sale at a local swap meet in September.

      Like 0
    • thomas j schweikert

      no where near 10 s with all that steel, a 409, and skinny tires

      Like 0
  4. sir mike

    Never understood those small steering wheels….

    Like 0
    • D-Ozzie

      Easier to drive in handcuffs after you kick your way through the patrol car window.

      Like 0
    • Robert White

      They looked more trick than original equipment back in the 70s. I had one of these steering wheels on my 66 Canso SD. The steering radius is much smaller so it feels more like a sporty car to drive with the aftermarket wheel.
      Moreover, most original steering wheels got swapped out because they were cracked or bent.

      Bob

      Like 0
  5. Dave

    Easy way to remove the rear end would be to dump the clutch.

    Like 0
  6. leiniedude leiniedudeMember

    Nice find and write up Todd. This thing looks like it’s in pretty nice shape. I love the hood, I have not seen one in many years. A cool old ride for sure. As far as the ALL CAPS ad, I never used to care for it. Now I am OK with it as it saves me from grabbing my cheaters. Thanks, Mike.

    Like 0
  7. Dave M

    Here is a 55 in Canada that runs 409s in his Chev and Pont.

    Like 2
  8. Dave M
  9. Dave M

    Love the 409s

    Like 1
  10. Madmatt

    I always liked the 56 Chevy,and I love the gasser look
    of the 60’s.I may get “sick”of seeing so many tri fives,
    but I always appreciate something a little different.
    I would try to keep it pretty much like it is,but update
    some pieces,while refurbishing what I could,to make this a
    dependable driver.It would be fun to see/hear it
    tearing down the street,it would turn heads for sure!

    Like 0
  11. jw454

    I thought I’d seen this one before. It was at the Springfield Ohio swap meet in early September a few weeks ago. The yellow sticker in the window was it’s assigned parking space in the cars for sale corral. I don’t recall what the asking price was at that time.

    Like 0
  12. flmikey

    Since it is not a matching numbers car, sell the engine and put in whatever you want…that 409 has to be worth a small fortune…

    Like 0
  13. gaspumpchas

    Very cool 56- would love to run this beauty thru the gears.the 348 and 409s dominated the strips before the big blocks came along. Have built a few 348’s and they run soo good ..you can idle one down to 500 and set a cup of coffee on the air cleaner.Recently installed a 348 in a 53 sedan delivery,with upgraded bolt in front end,and a T5 trans out of an S-10 pickup…what a beast….

    Like 1
    • Dave M

      Not uncommon to see 9 sec 409s.

      Like 1
      • Dave M

        9 sec 409

        Like 1
      • FosterMember

        Carolina Thunder was a 409 M22 true lightweight–hood, trunk, doors aluminum, bumpers fiberglass–burned down in a fire that destroyed 50+ cars

        Like 0
    • Old Car Guy

      348’s and 409’s are big blocks.

      Like 1
  14. 421HO

    This car in the 10`s as shown, would have to see time slips, and who`s driving.

    Like 0
    • Dave M

      What car? Just go to any 409 gathering. 7 sec 409.

      Like 1
    • Dave M

      Go to Ytube and punch 409s. 11.90s on this 62

      Like 1
  15. Dave M

    10 sec 409

    Like 1
  16. Dave M

    With todays tech. 2000 plus

    Like 1
  17. ACZ

    What a sweet combination!

    Like 0
  18. Tim W

    Dave M,
    Thanks for the great pics, especially the frame twisting launch. It was my Dad’s ’61 Impala 348-350 Tri-Power that first gave me car disease. I still remember standing in the back floor board trying to hold on to the front seat as he hit 3rd gear at around 80……

    Like 0
    • Dave M

      57 409

      Like 1
  19. Tyler

    A 56 post is my favorite of the tri-five models, & in this combination, this car is quite capable of making me make a bad financial decision…

    Like 1
  20. Dave M

    57

    Like 1
  21. Dave M

    1963 z11 427

    Like 1
    • Dave M

      specks

      Like 1
      • Dave M

        63 Z11 ran 11s in 63

        Like 1
  22. Dave M

    Canadian Pont with the W.

    Like 1
    • Dave M

      cool

      Like 1
  23. Dave M

    Corvair with 409s

    Like 1
    • MorleyMember

      What is the ROP number for this set up? Morley

      Like 0
  24. Ron Bunting

    A 409 powered Corvair .Enough to make nader turn republican….

    Like 0

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