Thread: barret jackson syndrome getting out of hand?

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They were cast iron. That was the only truely leagal ones back then but Jenkings, Stahl and few other pulled strings to get trhe aluminum case one "leagalized".

The storey/rumor was that NASCAR required some number of cars to be factory built for street use. I heard from 50 to 500 take your pick. They did exist. Most "originals" were dealer created however. If you had the $$$ you could just go in and they would put one together for you. Fillout the paperwork and it was yours. Showroom over the counter stock. haha

The '57 had a round shifter boot with an offset hole for the lever and chrome mounting ring. Actually I replaced it with a '58 one when it ripped which was strangely exactly the same. go Figure. The factory shift lever was bent far forward to clear the seat. Kinda like the "less" (<) than sign with short tail. This too was very similar to the '58 one but not exactly. The shifter was a 'vette with the special lever. It was a major POS. The selector pin was a 1/4 in dowel pin and soft at that. It would shear off at the slightest miss shift. We replaced it with a hardened one but it still wasn't any good. I redid the whole lever assembly and used only the bent part untill Hurst came out with the 4spd shifter.

The 57 car had a script "Fuel Injection" emblem on the front fenders. I've only ever seen one like it since on a sedan and the guy said it was an "original" I've only seen 1 'vette with the script FI and it went for over 100k at auction. The replacement FI emblem was block text and has been for a long time.

The FI for the 283 hp had larger nozzels and there were a couple others available over the counter. They were very hard to come by even back then. I had sets of all that were available but I paid dearly for them back then.

I don't know if there were ever any real original Bel Air 4psd. They did offer the FI across the board and they were relatively common with a 3 spd. As far as I know only the 150 came with a 4spd and 283 hp. Nascar version.

There is one that runs around with a GM Performance display but I haven't been able to get close enough to ask questions the couple times I've seen it. It's a 150 black and white. Looks like barn paint.

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

I am not real familiar with the differences, but I am curious.

I've owned a '57 Bel Air 2 door hardtop, and about 15 '62 or older "bubbletop" Vettes, of which 3 were '57s, but I've never had an original 1957 4-speed car.

Was there a trans mount on the passenger T-10 trans?....were both iron cased?....were the ratios the same?....and did they have different number stampings?

I'm sorry I don't have better info for you. The engine ('62 283) and trans were in the car when I got it. I got information from another forum on the trans numbers that showed it to be '57 Vette. It is iron, and hanging off the bellhousing that is mounted to the frame. I believe my 57 was originally powerglide, but even that is suspect because the instrument cluster looks to have been changed, so the auto shift window may not mean much. I need a forensic specialist!!

We had a black Be lAir 2-door hardtop that ran AHRA when I moved here in '75. It was supposed to be an original, and had the fender script.

Incidentally we had a show here this weekend, with a black BelAir ragtop with the script and unit. Beautiful!

Just remember the old rule that sez if you're going to play, you're going to pay....Just play at a level you can afford. Sold a Firebird a few months back for $20K. Most of the clowns who looked at it were just tire kickers, saying no way the car is worth that. The guy who bought it is thrilled and intelligent enough to realize what it costs to build a similar car.... The majority of the clown types work at some minimum wage job, spend most of their money partying, and have themselves convinced they can build a car just like it for $3500.00..... IMO, a combination of stupid and jealous...!!!!!

Speaking of cost of building an upscale car.....it is totally amazing me to see the number of supercharged cars this year! The show I posted yesterday is an example, and I got video from a customer of a Chevy show in the area, which also had a large number of blower cars! Quite a contrast to the high visibilty of the "rat" movement. Perhaps the lomg-time traditional participants are, quietly, still building bigger & better cars!

It's that time of year again, as BJ gets closer the posts are again starting about the horrible effect that the auction has on the car hobby. This year however it seems I'm hearing more common sense comments such as Jays and Dave's on the matter than I have in the past.

".....Just remember the old rule that sez if you're going to play, you're going to pay....Just play at a level you can afford......"

Dave's comment is right on the money. One discussion from another board just about summed it up. The gentleman basically said in the late 60's he couldn't afford a Hemi Road Runner (even back in the day it was a high priced option that few could justify). Guess what, he still can't afford a 69 Hemi Road Runner. Kind of like wanting a GT 40, but only be able to get financed for a 6 cyl Mustang today.

I've lived thru some pretty lean times over the years raising a family, paying rent and buying groceries. I always managed to be able to find/justify/afford a project (which was also always a daily driver). I'm a little better off now and can afford to build cars that are a bit nicer.........but guess what, I still can't afford an original Hemi Road Runner and that would be true if there never was a Barrret Jackson auction.

Originally Posted by Mike P

I'm a little better off now and can afford to build cars that are a bit nicer.........but guess what, I still can't afford an original Hemi Road Runner and that would be true if there never was a Barrret Jackson auction.

But you already have a Hemi Plymouth!......It's just a few years older than what you had in mind. :-)~

Seriously, a 440 car could be affordable, and have about the same performance.

But it's a small Hemi.

".....Seriously, a 440 car could be affordable, and have about the same performance......"

Exactly, a 440 powered clone (even 6 pack) would be in my budget if I wanted one (passed on a builder a couple of years ago even). Builders are out there. The BJ cars are far from builders a point some people Do seem to get confused on.

i just sold my truck a few weeks ago , but i had it up for sale for quite a while
barrett jackson material nope , but it was a multible show winner , but i got he same treatment
of tire kickers and teenage dreamers the wife got good at screening calls just by the sound of their
voice i cannot even recall how many times i heard the words "BLUE BOOK VALUE" mostly when they
said the magic words i would just walk back in the house and close the door on them , same goes with
the kids bless their little hearts when i heard the words "I GOT TO TALK TO MY DAD" it was adios time
as well , its just mind boggling how many people want a show quality ride at wal-mart prices and actually
belive they can build their own for a few bucks .. i sold this truck for a quarter of what it cost to build
but that was not exactly to point anyway , me and the family had a lot of fun with it and it was time for someone
else to play with .. by the way "IF I EVER MENTION BUILDING ANOTHER SHOW TRUCK" please somebody come to my house and kick
my azz , it may just keep the old lady from shootin me

flh4speed,
Hey , how much you want for the dog without the truck???

He's probably priceless. oh well

Somewhere around '60 or '61, I don't remember the exact year, I knew a guy in Dayton, Ohio who had a black '57 Bel Air 2dr hardtop with F.I. and it had the fender script and I believe a 4 speed. BTW, the Hemi option on a '68 Charger was just under 1k, at least it was at Harbor Dodge in Costa Mesa, Ca.

see all i want to do is find good projects, something that needs floors quartes and fenders isnt worth as much as people sell them for IMHO i want a 67 gto thats a good straight car ruwith nothing special needs paint <fine> needs interior <fine> needs motor tranny <fine> but this b/s of treating cars that are piles like gold has got to stop, nice truck btw flh. i found a new project car for winter thank god for amc!

Originally Posted by bentwings

flh4speed,
Hey , how much you want for the dog without the truck???

He's probably priceless. oh well

thats my pardner ..

".....Hemi option on a '68 Charger was just under 1k,....."

Jup, that's about right....not sure, but I think that the Dana 60 and HD trans that were REQUIRED were also a few bucks.

A grand today doesn't sound like much. It's a whole lot when your working for $1.60 an hour (the minimum wage in 1968).

Put that another way. If I was working for minimum wage in 68 it would take 625 hours to pay the $1000 for the hemi option (just shy of 4 months out a year.....just for the HEMI, not counting the car.

I don't know exactly what that is in todays dollars, but if you multiply what your making an hour today times 625 hours, ask yourself how expensive the HEMI option now sounds.

If memory serves correctly cars were usually on 2 year payment plans back then. Then add the premium on insurance that were being added for the high preformance cars (and the HEMI would be at the top of the heap), you kind of get an understanding of why so few were sold.

I remember the titles of early '60s Corvettes list a new price of just over $3K. I think a '62 model was $3200. I remember working at a gas station in the late '60s, and seeing gas hit 25 cents!!!! I remember working as a machinist in the early '70s and getting over $5 an hour. I was quite proud of myself!