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Generation: C1 Year: 1956 VIN: Race Numbers: 106 Ownership: Racer Brown Bob D'Olivio Sponsors: Dick Jess, Chevrolet brand manager at Oakland, CA office. He sold to Racer Brown and Bob D'Olivo Drivers: BILL POLLACK and Dr. DICK THOMPSON. Status: Destroyed Original Color: RED Tires/Wheels: 6:70x15 Engine: 265/240hp Driveline: 3 sp Top: hard Interior: BEIGE Condition: Missing URL: Unique Characteristics: The car was shipped in early May 1956, and D'Olivo and Brown prepped the car in Bob's home garage. It was a full option 240hp 2x4 Duntov camshaft car with a open 4:11 differential as positraction was not yet developed as an option. The car had power windows and a power convertible top. The soft top and any other item that legally could save weight was removed. Bill Pollack and Dr. Dick Thompson raced the car in June 56 at Palm Springs and won. On August 11, 1956 and November 3, 1956 the car was raced at Seafair Raceway, Kent, WA and again at Palm Springs airport at the annual Cal Club final race in late November. Dick Thompson drove and won both of these races. The car used SCCA Aproved windscreen in lieu of windshield, a short steering column, factory installed AC Tach as used in RPO 579D Air box cars in 57 after Chevrolet offered it as a racing option in May 56. The media wrote articles after the Seafair race when Thompson beat Paul O'Shea's Mercedes 300 Gullwing for the first time that he had cheated with a prototype positraction differential. Modifications: Notes/Race History: CHEVROLET West Coast manager, Dick Jess in Oakland, CA secured the car for Racer Brown and Bob D'Olivo after meeting them at Pebble Beach April 56 when Dr. Dick Thompson won the C/P Class race. Brown and D'Olivo worked for Peterson Publishing and were filming the last Pebble Beach race. D'Olivo ultimately became VP of Photography from 1952 -1996. In early 1957, Bob raced the car at Bakersfield, CA and then sold it. In December 2008, it was discovered that the car was chopped up and dismantled and sold for junk. Registry ID Number: 114 View Original Size  Bob D'Olivo and Noland Adams. Palm Springs 11-03-56 |