INFO on NY modified ’57 Vette wanted

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated March 6, 2012 at 4:55 pm by babycakes.

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March 3, 2012 at 10:01 pm #10987
dino
Keymaster
Last fall I bought a 1957 project Corvette and am now in the process of restoring it to its original condition. I am contacting you because I’d like to find a previous long time owner (since 1960), Gregory Sutter who my ownership documents indicate lives in Saugerties, New York. The car appears to have been last registered for the road in 1965 after which I think it was dramatically modified for drag strip racing. Internet searches for an address or phone number for Greg have come up dry so I am trying to find someone who can help lead me to him. One of my goals is to find some photographs of the car racing over the years. Another is to talk with Greg and develop a history of the car.
I suspect that the Corvette was raced at the Dover Dragway since it is so close to Saugerties. If it would help, I can provide you with photos of the car when I bought it. This Vette is unique enough; filled in exhaust pipe exits in the rear fenders, no aerial hole, 40’s ford front straight axle; that It will stand out from other 57 Vette drag cars.
I would appreciate any help.

Thanks.
Steve Hitchcock -(207) 551-5048
Mars Hill, Maine (300 miles north of Portland)

VBOB….Hit The Attic !
March 4, 2012 at 12:30 am #33369
vbob
Participant
HEY
Lets see some real time pics of the 57!
Ya want to build it back to “original condition”!
Factory or race???
Oh, girls are off for the weekend,cant get in the attic!!
‘V’
March 4, 2012 at 1:27 pm #33374
babycakes
Participant
Don’t know it’s the same (can’t remember the year of the ‘Vette’) ? In the late ’60’s,Johnnie Sherlock of Kingston (just south of Saugerties) had a maroon Vette with a straight axle,he ran on the street ( don’t know if he’s around anymore….raced motor boats,and a dark blue 66 Mustang rag top at the ‘Valley’). In the 70’s,he sold the Vette to Karl Wikane ,who at the time lived off rte. 209 in Stone Ridge, 13 miles south west of Kingston. Karl,an expert body man,specializing in Vette repairs,moved to Kingston,and opened a Body Shop (I don’t know if he’s still at it,maybe retired?).Anyhow,this ‘Vette’ sat in his parent’s garage in Stone Ridge,for many,many years.Here again,I don’t know if this is the Vette you have ? I was involved with a 60 Vette BM/SP,with a blown small block,and straight axle,back in 67,and lived in Kingston at the time.Between Sherlocks and the one I was involved with,were the only two with ‘straight-axle’ Vettes around the Kingston-Saugerties area at the time.Maybe Sherlocks’ is your ’57’ ?
March 4, 2012 at 1:47 pm #33377
patina
Participant
Karl Wilkane is still around. And Jerry Duffy (Automotion) would know about a 57 vette with a straight axle if anyone would. I’ll find out.

Pat
March 4, 2012 at 6:49 pm #33384
dino
Keymaster
Heres THE COMPLETE info From Him with some pics:

I believe that this car was once ( and perhaps originally) painted red. Inside the trunk is red and there seems to be a layer of red inside. The body has been stripped so hard to tell the color. The coves seem to be silver. The inside was last painted black, dash and all. There were a pair of Micky Thompson mags with 12 inch wide tires with some tread, not slicks on a standard Chevy rear end. The front suspension was a straight axle setup probably from a 40’s ford, the wishbone had been split and each side was brought straight back to a 1/2 inch thick steel tab welded to each side of the box frame. The original front end had been taken off the a real beefy cross member was welded in between the box frames for the solid axle setup. Front wheels were 14 inch ford bolt pattern Mickey Thompson mags. I believe that the exhaust pipes were routed under the rocker panels coming out in front of the rear wheels and spring shackles. ( the front body supports were notched for pipes.) The inside fiberglass engine panels were cut away somewhat for the exhaust pipes.
It had a 62+- 327 in it with an automatic transmission. The engine had not been run for a very long time. I think the car sat outside for many years but don’t know for sure.
My title and registration records indicate that the car was last registered for the street in 1965. It looks like the owner from 1960 till 2011 was Gregory Sutter of Saugerties, New York. I bought it last September, 2011 from a dealer. The car was modified at some time for drag strip racing. One interesting feature is that there was no chrome on the rear of the car. The body holes for the tail pipes were filled in as were the bolt holes for mounting the bumpers. Most of the 57 gasser Vette photos I have found have some chrome on the rear end. The aerial hole is also filled in. I don’t know if the rear fender openings have been opened up for the large tires. It had 58 to 60 tail light lenses instead of the 57 type.

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March 6, 2012 at 4:55 pm #33390
babycakes
Participant
Memory lane tour,I thought about two other guys that had “Vettes’ back in the mid 60’s and 70’s in the Kingston-Saugertires area,however,I can’t think of the years of them.One was Ricky Boos (he was friends with Karl Wikane ) Lived in the Sawkill area.I know it was red.Second was ‘Big’ Davey Wilbur;he had a repair shop at Greenkill Ave. in Kingston. His Vette was silver,had a Doug Nash 5 speed in it,and if memory serves me,he either tied or broke the N.H.R.A record in his class.This was in the mid 70’s.If either is still around,they might have a clue to this 57 Vette mystery?
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