Surprisingly Fords option was 260 hp and kicked butt that year in the NASCAR convertible series.. neither were that successful in the future when multiple carbs, FI and supercharger were outlawed in early 57....
Classic wheel center tear-out due to fatigue in unreinforced stock wheels. Trick was to weld in an extra partial spider, which was difficult with that style of wheel. Look closely:
This picture reminds me of my 11 grade vocational school auto mechanics teacher in 1967. We were a class of wise assed kids that had V8 blood running through our veins and all that old fart knew and wanted to teach us about was stovebolt Chevy 6 bangers. He about shit when I built (at home) a 301 with an "097" cam for a 55 Chevy that had a 60K 235 in it. To top it off I told him I gave the 6 banger to my neighbor to put in the bed of his old pickup for traction weight in the winter
I would think in this car's case the welds would have been more useful just outboard of the lugs. I wonder if later rims had a larger radius formed there to prevent cracking?
The Elephant Car Wash has been at this Seattle location since 1956. Sadly, the car wash was recently shut down and the iconic sign has an "iffy" future. It's one of the few reminders of my dearly missed "Old Seattle"
I guess if smoking two cigarettes at the same time don't kill you that jack sinking into the ground and crushing you will.