1956 Chevy Gasser (210 Hardtop built by R&B Automotive in 1966)

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air/150/210 Additional Info:

I have been restoring this car for the past couple of years and unfortunately life changes and it is time to pass it over the next care taker. The car is about 90% complete. Minor items to complete in the interior, check all of the bolts for tightness and drop in a motor and trans and you are off racing. The car comes with all of the pictures and materials that came with it, including a valid title.

This car was converted to become a race car in 1966 by R&B Automotive in Kenosha, WI.R&B stood for Dennis Rolain and Lil’ Jon Buttera who went on to build some of the most wicked race cars you would ever see including the Stardust funny car for Don Schumacher, Snake and Mongoose funny cars, the Blue Max Mustang and Barry Setzer’s Vega.Upon relocating from Wisconsin to California, he worked for Mickey Thompson and Boyd Codington.

This 56 chevy has lived almost all of its life as a race car. The original owner raced it primarily at Union Grove Dragway with a variety of engine and transmission combinations. He later added a partner and then sold his interest. The new owner raced the car until the early 70’s and sold it to its final owner for 30years. That owner raced it for a few years before parking it. In the late 80’s he was going to pro-street the car but lost interest (thankfully).

The car was found in 2016 sitting in a building, merely disassembled. All of the parts were collected, and restoration began.

Notable R&B features:

Rolain and Butera were known for advancements in their chassis and this 56 served as a perfect canvas for their skills. The engine is set back 10% and done so to maintain as much of the beautiful curves and contours of a 56 chevy. The front frame rails were cut off and a custom quarter elliptical straight axle was placed underneath it. The craftsmanship of these custom features is unmatched.

Body and paint:

The body is exceptionally solid and the body and paint were completed by Jim Plimpton and his crew at Authentic Automotive. The body was stripped to bare metal and minor repair work was conducted to questionable 60’s/70’s repairs. A new fiberglass front end was purchased to replace the fragile original version.The car was painted in PPG marina blue with multiple coats of clear. The car contains mostly new stainless or chrome. The gold-leaf and lettering is over the clear and could be removed.Brand new rear bumper and original custom taillights in new bezels.

The interior:

The car maintains the original interior from 1967. The seats (still have the original receipt)are from 1967. The car has a headliner, door panels, tonneau cover and custom center counsel all still intact. The original roll bar was updated to meet modern safety standards. Custom gauge work and wiring were recently completed.The battery was relocated to the trunk and trunk is splatter painted and carpeted. The windshield is brand new. Side glass has been replaced with blue tinted pexi-glass. The rear window is original.

Chassis:

The chassis is original to when R&B completed their work. The quarter elliptical straight axle has been completely rechromed and the leaf springs powder coated. The entire frame was painted black withPor-15. The rear end is a 57-64 Olds-Pontiac rear end. The rear end has 35 spline axles and 5:38 gears with a spool. The rear end housing, ladder bars, leaf springs and wheelie bars have all been powder coated. All chassis hardware has been replaced with Grade 8 or stainless steel. New front disc brakes have been installed and new rear drum brakes. The original wheelie bars were powder coated to match the rear end housing.

Wheels:

The car comes with 15x4 magnesium front wheels with brand new tires and 15x10 magnesium Halibrand rear wheels with towel city pie crust slicks.

The car is set up for a small block chevy and a hemi 4-speed transmission. Someone could easily change the transmission mounts for another type of transmission. The original custom built headers come with the car. These were built to account for the engine set back and exit the exhaust under the doors. The original radiator was restored and installed. An MSD box is installed and hidden under the dash.

The car comes with the original Elco fuel tank and numerous other vintage parts from the car, including the original ww2 paratrooper quick release for the seatbelt.