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History 1955 Chevy Gasser ... White Lightnin

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Searcher, Nov 2, 2008.

  1. outlaw57
    Joined: Aug 12, 2009
    Posts: 56

    outlaw57
    Member

    this is how i'm setting my 57 gasser and 60 elco up! love this pic
     
  2. speedyb
    Joined: May 12, 2010
    Posts: 484

    speedyb
    Member
    from socal

    That sure looks like the 55 I looked at in 1975 at "street rods" in whittier, It was in the back of the lot in pretty bad shape but had a 427 with a tarantula intake, glass hood and trunk lid , cragars, 2 black buckets and a old roll bar, I was 15 years old and I wanted It bad, but they wanted $1100.00 firm,I had about $200 dollars to my name then. They said it was a "FAMOUS LOCAL RACE CAR"
     
  3. Searcher
    Joined: Jul 8, 2007
    Posts: 620

    Searcher
    Member

    Post some pic's when you can.
     
  4. High5
    Joined: Jul 2, 2012
    Posts: 185

    High5
    Member

    What a cool thread. To think that some of the owners (or friends to owners) have shared their memories and pictures for all of us to read. Wow, it doesn't get any better than that!!!!
     
  5. Baron
    Joined: Aug 13, 2004
    Posts: 3,636

    Baron
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That's what makes this the best site on the internet ! :D
     
  6. CalGasser
    Joined: Apr 11, 2005
    Posts: 793

    CalGasser
    Member

    Finally got some pictures of my buddy's ex-race car from the 60's. It is the same car Fogger built and raced. Jim can't remember where he bought it but think it may be at a swap meet or who he sold it to. About 20 or so years ago, a Black painter by the name of Art from Compton (who knew Jim was the previous owner) told him the car was for sale in Compton so he went to look at it. When Jim saw the car he couldn't believe it, someone had turned it back into a street car. All the racing stuff like roll bar, Olds rear end, the aluminum work, etc. were gone. The rear quarters were also replaced so no radiused fenderwell and it even had a back seat. Jim didn't even bother to ask what the guy wanted and left. Jim said that was the end of the road for White Lightnin. So if anyone's looking for this car, you won't find it as a Gasser.
    When Jim Hendricks owned it, he lived in Playa del Rey. He recalls owning it for about 5 years but when Lion's closed, he sold it. So doing the math, he probably bought it around 67, maybe 68. When he ran it at Lion's, it ran a 440 BBC with an Edelbrock 2500X tunnel ram with two 660 center squirters, Sig cam and AFR heads built by Red Vanics(sp?) of Hot Rod City in Torrance, CA. His best time was 11.02 @ 136 mph.
    A) In picture with his daughter, that would've been about '71. Notice the gauge panel, speaker screen on the speedo and partial dog house.
    B) Picture of engine, set back firewall is identical to the original.
    C) Some exterior shots of the car sans old sponsor and new sponsorship by Doug Thorley and Permatex. Also notice hole in hood where injectors used to exit.
    D) Red 55 was his tow car - it ran in the low 12's...
    Jim restored tri-fives at his shop in Gardena until he retired about 11 years ago so he knows his Chevies. If he says it's the same car, I wouldn't doubt him. He still does beautiful work on his own cars and is a wealth of knowledge. He was very instrumental in aiding my build on my 55 Gasser.

    Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but White Lightnin has met its demise! :mad: Vic
     

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    benchseat4speed likes this.
  7. Jay Tyrrell
    Joined: Dec 9, 2007
    Posts: 1,631

    Jay Tyrrell
    Member

    Well at least we know what became of it. I think this definately happened to more that one 55 chevy that was put back on the street with its history erased... At least the pics exist.
    Jay
     
    benchseat4speed likes this.
  8. Searcher
    Joined: Jul 8, 2007
    Posts: 620

    Searcher
    Member

    Wow!!! Thank's for the update and pictures. At least we know more of it's history... that's very cool. Good to hear it made more fast passes at Lions.
    Sounds like it's fate was linked to the old Drag Strip.
     
  9. black 62
    Joined: Jul 12, 2012
    Posts: 1,895

    black 62
    Member
    from arkansas

    sad---that's a 60 el camino...
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2013
  10. artificer64
    Joined: Nov 26, 2011
    Posts: 39

    artificer64
    Member
    from maine

    This has been a wicked cool ride through history, Thank You.

    Pictures of mine, so far.
     

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  11. Searcher
    Joined: Jul 8, 2007
    Posts: 620

    Searcher
    Member

    Bumping a good read.
     
    benchseat4speed likes this.

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