The World’s Fair and GM’s Futurama offered an incredible world to any and all who attended. The future possibilities were exciting and new, but what could be more exciting of a possibility than a 425 Horsepower 396 V8? Well, I can tell you that many of the wives and children weren’t impressed by those numbers, but I am sure this beautiful cutaway engine caught their attention. You can find this miraculous piece of history here through Barrett-Jackson auctions.
GM has always done impressive cutaway work and displays for the World’s Fair leading back to the 1939 New York’s World’s Fair with their Plexiglas automobile that had a completely clear Plexiglas body. Although not as large as the Plexiglas Pontiac, the Plexiglas valve covers are colon this 396 V8. Truly a work of art, this cutaway engine display has been meticulously restored.
Appearing nearly wet with its incredible glossy shine, this cutaway sits inside of a very cool rolling display as well. Obviously worthy of a museum, this cutaway would certainly be the ultimate Chevrolet/Corvette fans man cave display. Where do you think this piece of history should rest, and did any of you see this at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair?
Dang, come on, Powerball!
Colon- cool on?
The ultimate gift for your Proctologist.
Last proctologist I saw had a Probe and a Ram
It might need a bit of work to address that lack of compression in the open cylinders, and a few parts appear to have some huge chunks of metal missing. This might affect the running performance when you go to put this in your Chevette.
Okay, all kidding aside, these promotional pieces are always cool. Did it have a motor in it to move the parts? That was a common thing to do for animated demonstration display models.
The Barrett-Jackson write-up says it’s powered by a starter motor.
Nice item if you don’t know what else to spend your money on! LOL
From that initial opening photo, I thought this was a scale desk top display…
I wonder just how much trouble I would be in with my better half if this appeared in our living room, lol.
Easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission!
Takes me back to when I was a very young kid and my older brother had a visible V8 model I think of a Chevy back in 1970
A link to the history of the Visible V8 kit-
https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2012/10/The-Visible-V-8/3717821.html
This is the kit I had –
1/8 scale Chevrolet 283 cubic inch V-8
Can be built as a stock Chevrolet 283, a show customized engine, a drag strip engine, a competition customized engine, and dozens of variations. Contains a supercharger, tuned exhausts, seven carburetors, six intake manifolds, and a display stand. 135 parts in black, red, clear and silver plastic. Contains clear plastic windows and inspection apertures to watch the internal action. The model could be motorized with the ‘Motor Power Kit’, catalog number AK100
Monogram PE62 1960 ‘Plastikit Action Model’
It was fun changing out the various high performance upgrades – lots easier and cheaper than doing it in real life a few years later !
Thanks Doug, that video kicks tail! Take care, Mike.
I got the same 283 kit in the early 60’s. Loved all the variations, put it together without glue for all the different ways it could be built. Also got some hand-me-down 1/8 Big T, Big Tub -T Bucket type kits, used many of the 283 hot rod parts on them. Still have some big boxes of them to play with in my retirement. You’re never too old!
Very cool piece of kit.
The Corvette Museum seems like a logical destination.
That would be the perfect place for it, with that many more parts exposed visitors could point out even more reasons to find something wrong with it!
I didn’t know that Barn Finders went to the Corvette Museum!
I made a cutaway once, didn’t take long at 6500 rpm. The edges were a little more jagged than this one.
I would love to have that engine in my basement, but imagine that it will probably be pricey, and end up in a museum or collection.
Bob
Very cool, but a running original 396/425 would be even better in my opinion!
Well, we’ve seen enough well ventilated bodywork here, its about time for a ventilated motor (although the motor is much prettier than any of the “cutaway” Porsches).
It’s VERY likely I saw this at the World’s Fair, but I was 18 at the time and pretty blasted on Jim Beam.
lol!
This is right up Rick Hendrick’s alley (unless he’s the one auctioning it off). He probably already has the cutaway Corvette talked about in the Barrett-Jackson description.
I saw this in January at the Scottsdale auction. I thought it was for sale then. I guess I was wrong. It has all moving parts with lights in all the appropriate places. Neat set up. But, being at BJ, you can guarantee that it will go for more $$$$$ than we would guess! I will there again next year so I will see it get _____ (pushed/rolled/towed…..) across the stage.