1956 Chevrolet Corvette SR-2 Racer

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From Corvette Mike - Anaheim, CA:

Highlights:

• 1956 Corvette SR-2 Racer
• Sebring Racer / Special Racer / Sport Racing
• VIN E56F002522
• Shop Order (SO) 90090
• The Very First General Motors Sponsored Purpose-Built Corvette Racer
• The Nickey Chevrolet SR-2 "Purple People Eater"
• 1987 Monterey Cup / Phil Hill Trophy Winner
• 331 HP Fuel Injected Engine
• 4-Speed Transmission
• Sebring Corvette Chassis
• Sebring Heavy Duty Brakes & Suspension
• Lengthened Front-end
• Stainless Side Coves
• Rear High-Fin
• Special Windscreens

Description:

The Corvette SR-2 Racer evokes an emotional response from everyone that sees it. At the time of it’s introduction it represented the highest level of automotive racing design and performance. This was the first General Motors "purpose-built" American Sports Racing Car from the Golden Era of Racing. The SR-2 was the combined spirit of two great men in Corvette History and culmination of many great things that were happening at GM in the early to mid-1950’s.

Some would say there is nothing quite like the love a man has for his son or just maybe a man has for his Corvette, such is the story we have here. The man was Harley Earl, the Father of Jerome C. Earl and the Father of the Corvette. No one was more devoted to the Corvette than Harley Earl, who envisioned and championed its creation in 1953, the first true American Sports Car. HIs son Jerry was racing a Ferrari in 1956 when his Father told him to sell it, as he with the help of General Motors would build him a special racing Corvette. This is the backdrop for what is the first General Motors Designed and Sponsored Corvette Racer, the SR-2.

In truth, this special racing inspired SR-2 had "2" Fathers. The Father of the Corvette, Harley Earl and the Father of Corvette Performance, Zora Arkus-Duntov. There were three SR-2’s built, the second for Bill Mitchell, then Assistant to Harley Earl and Harlow "Red" Curtice, President of GM who had a show car version built.

So it was in the Spring of 1956, Harley Earl and Zora Duntov built Jerry Earl a road racing custom Corvette to compete with the likes of Ferrari, Jaguar and Porsche at the highest levels of motor racing.

Jerry Earl’s SR-2 started out life as a production 1956 Corvette #2522 from the St. Louis Plant and went straight to the GM Styling Studio in Warren, Michigan for race modifications and cosmetic additions, under work Shop Order 90090.

Work began in early May 1956 modifying the body and adding Sebring Racing (the SR) brakes and suspension. Special windscreens were fabricated for each driver and passenger, and a low fin adapted down the middle of the trunk. The front was lengthened, and special side cove stainless steel was installed as well as unique parking lamps that had screens in them for cool air to enter the screened backing plates of the front brakes.

Over 17 engineers worked around the clock and by June 13th the painted new body had its trim installed complete with its SCCA race number 144 attached to the doors. (30)

On June 23-24, 1956 the car was entered in the June Sprints at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Jerry Earl drove the car in practice and not being familiar with its handling, spun it out fortunately with no damage. Dr. Dick Thompson took over the controls and completed the six hour race in a respectable position. He noted that the car needed a weight reduction program and more horsepower was needed.

Jerry Earl continued to race it in the Central Region SCCA throughout 1956 and 57. Over the winter, the new special 331 cubic inch fuel injection engine was installed along with an all new 1957 four speed transmission. The larger fin was also installed at this time with special gas tank filler cap. The weight was reduced by removing the stock interior, including door panels to light fiberglass concave panels. Lightweight seats from a Porsche were added. The weight reduction program brought the weight down by 300 pounds. This is the configuration of the SR-2 as it stands today.

Complete additional history of this car includes Jim Jeffords, National B/P SCCA Champion in 1958 and 59, purchasing the car on January 28, 1958. The original bill of sale is still with the car as well as Jerry Earl and Jeffords original titles and notarized transfers.

Jeffords presented the car to Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago and said, "If you sponsor me I will bring you the SCCA National Championship." Nickey agreed, and the SR-2 became the "Purple People Eater" Corvette raced at Sebring March 58 with Jim driving and Auggie Pabst as back up driver.

History shows that Jeffords sold the car to Indianapolis Chevrolet dealer and racer Bud Gates in 1959. Bud raced the car in SCCA events and also had good friend Bob Spooner do some of the driving.

Gates sold the car to Vernon Kispert thru his Gates used car dealership on July 5, 1962. Vernon did lots of drag racing for 4 years. He was from Terre Haute, Indiana, and the car was named "The Terror of Terre Haute".

In 1986, the car fell into private hands for the next 28 years. The car has been vintage raced since 1987 at venues all over the Western US, especially the Monterey Historic Automobile Races.

In 1987 when General Motors celebrated 75 years, the car received the prestigious MONTEREY CUP / PHIL HILL TROPHY. The award is "Presented to the Owner of the Automobile that is judged to have excelled in both Presentation and Performance".

In 2002, when Corvette celebrated its 50th Anniversary at the Monterey Historic, the SR-2 was one of the featured race cars in Group 4A, "1955-59 Sports Racing Cars over 2500cc" The car ran well against the likes of a 58 Lister Jag, 57 Maserati 300S, and a 58 Ferrari 355.

The SR-2 today is as magnificent as it has ever been, having been through a complete a thorough restoration. The SR-2 represents the finest combined efforts of the two true icons of the Corvette and GM racing in the Golden Era of Racing.