In the far southeast corner of Iowa lies the town of Keokuk. That’s where this 1956 Chevrolet race car can be heard cruising along the Mississippi river on a Friday or Saturday night. According to the seller, Up Tight Out O’ Sight has a long history of drag racing going back to the 1960s. It is now relegated to cruising duty and is looking for a new home. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of over $11,500 and the reserve hasn’t been met yet. At first glance, the car looks more like a dirt track racer than a drag racer, but maybe that’s just me. Take a closer look and let us know what you think. Thanks to Larry D. for the tip on this racer!
In the late 1950s, there weren’t the monster mouse and rat motors that were available for drag racing just a decade later. This car features a 265 cubic inch V8 that has been bored .060″ over and is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. The dual-quad carburetors look great on top of the engine with the scoops positioned in opposing directions. There isn’t any other information in the ad regarding the drivetrain, but you can see from the photos that the fuel cell is located in the trunk.
The interior features a dash-mounted tach, but not much else that would lead you to believe it was a serious drag racer. No cage? No harnesses? No racing gauges?
Overall, this is a pretty cool-looking car that isn’t over-the-top with the paint and lettering. Do you think this car is a real-deal drag racer from the 60s?
If you go back and study the drag race history of the ’50s and ’60s this is what you see. Local drag strips like we ran in the ’60s and ’70s only required a fire extinguisher and a seat belt for the driver. The “run what you brung” system was just that. As bigger and more professional strips started showing up the safety aspect of the sport was much expanded. Couldn’t see what the two additional gauges were but usually oil pressure and amp meter. If it’s genuine it’s a piece of history. If not, it’s still neat.
Nah,, the only drag racing this car did was down Wisconsin Ave. or possibly “Airport Road” with Laurie ( Cindy Williams) at your side, with Wolfman Jack coming out the AM radio,,”ROCK AND ROLL, BABY”!!!. It may have graced “Grudge Night”, but this was practically every young mans dream, the ’56 Chevy 2 door. Usually obtained from grandma, or that weird uncle you rarely saw,, for nothing, a V8 and 4 speed turned these into a fun car, 2×4’s,,even better. The turned scoops is a new one. Catchy slogans painted by a buddy with a steady hand, were not unusual, and usually captured the latest song on the “hit parade”, in this case, a very popular song by Stevie Wonder in 1966. From a time, that’s right, here it comes again, when THIS was all that was needed to have fun.
Btw, I realize, a lot of posts for someone wanting to pull the plug, but this stuff is the very core of what us old farts held dear, and let’s hear YOUR ’56 Chevy story, I never had one, but a close friend had this exact car( only 1- 4 barrel), and of all the cars he eventually had, the ’56 Chev was his favorite.
Hess drag history: ’32 Ford 5 window with Mercury flathead, airport drags and autocrosses. ’53 Olds powered Studebaker coupe followed by Olds powered ‘
40 Ford coupe. The big Fords came along and we were instant history. Only difference between us and most of the other cars like this ’56 was all our cars were painted, not primered.
Mine was a ’55… Black primer, post car. Had the 265/3 speed in it till I blew it up …lol
Dropped a very used 283 in and kept going…
Even had the same black vinyl bench seat :-)
Howard I didn’t have a 55 Chevy but a buddy of mine back then had a 56 210 post sedan he put a 348 W motor in it 3sp with Hurst shifter wasn’t particularly quick but he did alright we also cruised Wis. Ave and HY 100 lots of good times wish I could go back and do it all over again only without all the tickets
Still running the 265 it isn’t lightning in the 1/4 mile. Have to question the two 4bbl carbs, not really large enough to consume that much fuel and air until you get it screaming and a big camshaft required. Looks cool though. By the way bracket racing in the 80’s I ran may Pontiac through tech with a lap belt a helmet and was running low 13’s.
Tell me Montana why you call this a Bel Air ??
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Yolo
Really? Waaait a minute, possible sarcasm alert,,,scanning,,,hmm, seems clean. Thanks, pal. I have seen a slight adjustment in features lately( careful what you wish for) and the staff isn’t some faceless entity, like some auto related websites,,uhp, uhp, uhp, let’s not mention any names( coughing ACHEMMINGS) and I think want to hear what their followers like, at least I hope so. BF’s has some talented writers, regular folks, just like us, that I’m sure they appreciate.
Now, more old poop truck cabovers, please,,,
Look like Packard tail lights,a common modification back in the day.
Nope… not Packard tail lights. Those are most likely aftermarket lenses made by the Lee company… they were (are) great looking and very popular!
I had a ’56 Bel Air way back when; 327, 4-speed, 4.56 posi rear end with L-60/15’s on chrome reverse wheels, American Torque Thrust wheels on the front, ‘glass tilt nose, ’65 Mustang bucket seats. Ran “Purple Hornies” mufflers. That car was a blast to drive and turned 13.20’s in the 1/4, which wasn’t too shabby in the early 70’s, considering I was a kid working at a Sunoco station during the week and delivering pizza (in the ’56) on weekends.
I was thinkin’ custom lenses from JC Whitney – a staple from the full page JCW adds that we’re in every early 60’s Rod and Custom.
Looks Old Skool To Me. The exhaust dumps out under the door, Cheater Slicks in the back seat. I’m sure she’s been down the 1320 a few times, Maybe with a FLASH LIGHT and Not a Christmas Tree. Who Cares. It’s Cool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFQEsUjI0U8
Her Ya Go……. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjQxeG8tCo
I know it’s not a ’55; but, holy Two Lane Black Top! Just need that orange GTO.
I agree with everyone here ( yes. .I am an older also) except the possibility raised by the author that this may have been a dirt track car. No way on that as any dirt track car that went at least one lap would of been banged up from front to rear. This car is pure nostalgia, weather street racer or at the drags. As far as the 2-4’s.. with a good cam ( very popular was putting in a fulie cam ) , and there we’re lots available for a sbc.. those 2-4’s with a 4:88 rear was a good combo with that 3 spd. To take that theory to the next step.. not every vintage drag car was built right.. sure some had two 4’s and could not handle it.. lots of “dogs” back in the day also. Look, how many people ran out and put a 780 double pumper on a stock motor and then wondered why they always got beat. Things we’re cool back then, but not everything was good. This is a cool old chevy regardless.
Dating myself…. I bought my 56 BA sport coupe new…. I still have it. Cool car here. As someone above queried… I don’t see the typical BA features. Not that that is important, and anyone could have remove those features. Love it…
What ???
You bought the car in 56 and you still have it 66 years later ?!
And you are still here ?
And you are writing this on a computer ?
Using internet ? !
I am obviously stunned but dont get me wrong
I am happy to read, realize and appreciate this achievement!
Because it really is …
Yolo
Chevy purists gotta love those floor mats in this car! lol
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KiIAAOSwse5iJprN/s-l1600.jpg
Be even better if there was a tin indian under the hood.
I guess back in the day you would get pulled over for those short & loud pipes, but probably not today, considering how loud & terrible sounding the fart can “mufflers” are.
It may alot things, But it is not a Bel-Air!
Mr Rw. I beg to differ with ya.No Post 56 2 Door’s
were never Badged less than a Bel-Air.
I see no reason to say it was not a Bel Air?
You could could get hardtop in any trim option,once more not a Bel-Air
Wonder where he got the air scoops? I sold couple of those 2 years back. They look good on there.
Post and hardtop (sport coupe) cars could be had in 210 or BelAir trim…
I traded for a mid-modified ’57 chevy in 1970, and had a ball. What a lot of the commentators forget is that most all this hot rod activity was done by TEENAGERS or those in their early 20’s , meaning low skills and budget. I have 8mm home movies of Riverside Drag Strip in Proctorville, Oh from 1969-1975-ish, and 90 % of the cars looked just like this one. the well finished , fast and consistent ones were rare, built by guys in their 30’s . not very many done-it all gray-hairs at all.
We also street raced on the I-64 bridge between KY & WV, as it was almost 1/4 mile long, and there wasn’t much traffic on it back then. Can’t compare them to now – that is ” the way it was “
56 265 was on borrowed time. No oil filter on the engine and if you fed it STP to slow down the oil leaking or burning you had an oil cake in the top of the heads in no time as the exhaust manifolds cooked the oil into molasses. The external oil filter when ran in cold weather made the oiling issues even worse.
Most 265 were simply removed as soon as possible once the 283 came out in 57′, 300 HP and durability was on the menu. Their is a 265 in the woods here, by now a lizards home.
Very amused by the two fours as the car probably fouls plugs like crazy if they are both working, probably not, one is disabled looking like the vette intake is being used.
This car has been featured before https://barnfinds.com/blast-from-the-past-1956-chevrolet-drag-car/