SOLVED: WTH # 392 - 1957 Bill Hofer's race car on 32 Ford frame powered by Chevy straight 6

[sixtee5cuda]

To earn a point, tell us approximately when this car was built, who built it, what car it was based upon, and what powered it.

[sixtee5cuda]

Up! 

Do the Pro's already recognize this one?

[sixtee5cuda]

10 days with no response?

Nobody recognizes this American car?  Not interested in playing 20 questions?

[Paul Jaray]

Was it built by a company or by a man?

[sixtee5cuda]

Built by a man

[sixtee5cuda]

This car was built into this form before 1960

[sixtee5cuda]

The obvious engine information shown in the image, is probably incorrect

[oko94]

Made in USA ?

[sixtee5cuda]

Yes, made in USA

[oko94]

Was it meant to be some kind of dragster ?

[sixtee5cuda]

Built for competition, but not drag racing on a 1/4 or 1/8th mile track.

[sixtee5cuda]

Black Hole soon?

Engine has more than 4 cylinders.

[oko94]

Built for oval racing ?

[nicanary]

I'd say that was a lakester. And I assume it's a V8, although only 4 pipes are visible?

[sixtee5cuda]

Not a V8, not built for oval racing.

Lakester is correct, if you mean it was built for high-speed runs on a dried out lake bed.  (Although "lakester" normally implies the involvement of a Drop Tank, which was not used here)

[nicanary]

Not a V8, not built for oval racing.

Lakester is correct, if you mean it was built for high-speed runs on a dried out lake bed.  (Although "lakester" normally implies the involvement of a Drop Tank, which was not used here)

Yes, that's what I meant, but I agree I was wrong to call it a lakester. It's a long time since I was a kid and used to buy old copies of Hot Rod and Road & Track. I also misunderstood your reference to the engine layout - I thought maybe you had snipped out the other 4 exhaust pipes!

This car is quite "different". It's an American vehicle of the 1940s/50s but not V8 powered. That in itself is unusual.

Straight 6 motor?

[sixtee5cuda]

Straight 6 is correct.

[oko94]

Engine from a General Motors brand ?

[sixtee5cuda]

Correct, it is a General Motors engine

[oko94]

Chevrolet engine ?

[sixtee5cuda]

Yes, it is a Chevy 6

[oko94]

Was it built between 1955 and 1959 ?

[sixtee5cuda]

Yes, this vehicle was created between 1955 and 1959

[oko94]

Did it run at Bonneville ?

[sixtee5cuda]

A previous incarnation of this car ran at Bonneville.  This car was designed to run at Bonneville, but sources do not mention it actually arriving there.  It did run on a 1/4 mile race track more than once, but that was not the intended competition venue.

(I indicated earlier that the car was constructed by one man, instead of a company.  It was actually built by a man and his car club.)