Ss/x

[denbreeden]

I have friend who owns a 57 Chevy wagon, a street car now but it used to be a super stocker. He sent me a couple of pictures when the car was running super stock in the early 70's. The car has SS/X on the windows, what combo is that? 6 cylinder 3 speed or?


Dennis Breeden

[R. Thorne]

283 2 bar. 4 spd. ??

[dw3113]

265 3spd. Had one just like it only white. Dave Walther

[Mark Yacavone]

Don't think the 283 would drop to X, even with PG
There were no automatic classes from about U and lower.
I believe Dave is correct.

[denbreeden]

I just had lunch with the two brothers that raced the wagon. They ran a 265 2 bbl and a 3 speed in SS/X. They later ran the car in stock and then in modified. The current owner runs a blown small block and a 4 speed in the car, it is street driven only now. Thanks for the replies


Dennis Breeden

[J Gower]

Could the 57 wagon run with the 60 Chevy 283-2bbl 3 speed in the SS/X class? J. Gower O/S 3058

[ss wannabee]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Don't think the 283 would drop to X, even with PG
There were no automatic classes from about U and lower.
I believe Dave is correct.

Not entirely correct, Mark. Even though the lower SS classes didn't have an "A" on
them...NHRA grouped the autos and sticks together...in the same class for awhile.
SS/X had BOTH autos and stick cars together...proof is right here on this thread....
It appears that the '57's..the '60's like "Bits-n-Pieces"...the "Copper-
Stopper"...(note logo on rf fender in photo.."3-spd trans by")..and Frank Jordan's car
(note Hays decal) were 3-speed sticks...Mr Hofer here chose to build his "61 as a
pg car...(and weren't the Olds' hydramatics?)

So BOTH sticks and autos TOGETHER in SS/X class...for awhile...and this was true
also in SS/R...SS/T...SS/U...SS/V...and SS/W...you could build a car as auto or stick
and it would have that designation...but this only happened for 2 or 3 years...Maybe
"Q" as well?
Another example was that photo I posted a while back..the SS/V '72 Nats trophy
Hedworth vs Vaubel...you ever see Val try to "row" a stick? Both pg cars despite
no "A" in the designation....

The confusing part is a couple of years later...NHRA "split" the lower SS classes
into separate "stick" and "auto." Remember...SS/QA...SS/RA...SS/TA...ss/UA?

[ss wannabee]

Back again...had to leave and couldn't finish the last entry! This separation of the
lower SS auto and stick cars only lasted a year or two...I'm going to say about 1976
or '77? By 1978, SS/P (and PA) were the lowest classes (I think?)

I wasn't involved in the "pulse" of class racing at that time...and would welcome the
veteran members here who participated those years to correct me or add comments.
Don't have any Nat Dragsters, programs, or other sources of info...I think I tossed all
of them years ago...so I'm going on my feeble memory....

I do recall Vic Holley from the Midwest...being the SS/TA record holder for a bit in
a 220 hp big '66 Chevy...also maybe D2 Ronnie Charnes in a similar SS/TA...
before he went to a Camaro stocker...but that's all I remember?

Not 100% sure...but I think the reason they separated the autos from the sticks
was it was thought that the 3-spd...despite the "gaps" in ratios...was still good for
.1-2 tenths quicker than the autos at that time....and maybe the "auto" racers
"bitched" to NHRA? A 4-spd...if you could get a combo in the lower classes would
be even faster...

Think I saw a '66 Chev big wagon in SS/U running 220hp/4-spd...racing
against '55 Chev 180hp-PG cars for class....

I wonder if the SS/X class lasted a year or 2 later than previously stated...maybe
into '74 or '75? Of course later on, there was a SS/X class for V-6 SS cars....
but we're not talking about that here....

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Not entirely correct, Mark. Even though the lower SS classes didn't have an "A" on
them...NHRA grouped the autos and sticks together...in the same class for awhile.
SS/X had BOTH autos and stick cars together...proof is right here on this thread....
It appears that the '57's..the '60's like "Bits-n-Pieces"...the "Copper-
Stopper"...(note logo on rf fender in photo.."3-spd trans by")..and Frank Jordan's car
(note Hays decal) were 3-speed sticks...Mr Hofer here chose to build his "61 as a
pg car...(and weren't the Olds' hydramatics?)

So BOTH sticks and autos TOGETHER in SS/X class...for awhile...and this was true
also in SS/R...SS/T...SS/U...SS/V...and SS/W...you could build a car as auto or stick
and it would have that designation...but this only happened for 2 or 3 years...Maybe
"Q" as well?
Another example was that photo I posted a while back..the SS/V '72 Nats trophy
Hedworth vs Vaubel...you ever see Val try to "row" a stick? Both pg cars despite
no "A" in the designation....

The confusing part is a couple of years later...NHRA "split" the lower SS classes
into separate "stick" and "auto." Remember...SS/QA...SS/RA...SS/TA...ss/UA?

Need to clarify then.
We were originally talking about the 57 2 dr wagon, and whether or not it could be a 283 in SS/X, even with the extra weight of the cast iron PG. I was pointing out that no, it wouldn't make the class.I believe that is correct.

What I meant is there was no separate automatic classes below I think , 18lbs.
There were plenty of automatic cars running in the stick shift classes back in the day.
Hudsons, Oldsmobiles etc. ; sometimes using the additional weight of the PG or Hydramatic to get down to the next lower class.

Paul Dilcher was a winner back then with a 55 2 dr.HT with a Powerglide, in SS/U.