"BLACK WIDOW"

ORIGLS6 · #1 10-02-2003, 03:19 PM

Again..going strictly from memory at the moment; I think they were 4 speed cars. As I recall that's the only 4 speed passenger car for '57. Four gears were available in the Corvette for '57 but not in the sedans. Yes they did have six lug wheels front and rear. I believe they used a 3/4 ton truck rear axle and used the six lug hubs and brake drums on front for extra stopping power. They also used the 'bucket' seat from the sedan delivery.

55chevy · #2 10-02-2003, 03:56 PM

I could have sworn they were all 3 on the tree cars... I've read articles on them before and I could almost swear I remember the shift being on the column. I'll look on this more later.

Pantera · #3 10-02-2003, 10:06 PM

Did you catch the "150" ragtop? I was into cars then and never saw one?

Chevy454 · #4 10-03-2003, 02:39 AM

I stopped by my dyno guy's shop today, and picked his brain about the '57 150 cars.

He was the second owner of a 150 businessman's coupe, not long after 1957. 3 on the tree, no rear seat (small platform instead), hi-po 283...can't remember if it was injected or not. Anyway, he said it was WAY light to begin with, but he put glass hood/fenders on it and got it down to 2650! He ran 12.20s with it in the early '60s, and gave a LOT of the big block cars fits. Oh, and that was with a 2 barrel! Funny story...he had been racing it in either a stock or superstock class at some local tracks, and was consistently taking home the money. Well, the original engine got tired, so he built another one and put it in, but he had one cylinder that wasn't sealing and was puffing smoke. But, he ran it anyway, and won again. This time, the other racers got together and wanted his engine tore down, so he obliged. They determined he was well within the rules, but this gave him a chance to check out his sealing problem, and he found out his rings had turned. In so many words, he told them all thanks for paying him to tear his engine down (they put up money on the protest, but he was legal, so he kept the cash) so he could fix his problem, and go even faster! Ironically enough, one of his fellow racers that night is known by about everyone on this board. Now, I won't name any names, but he's an original owner of a '68 G-H Nova...[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif[/img]

**Mr70** · #5 10-03-2003, 03:00 AM

Good Story.
Are his Initials RM?

**William** · #6 10-03-2003, 03:58 AM

Hot Rod did an article on a real Black Widow found in Texas some years ago. It was the SEDCO 'mule', not raced at that time but eventually drag-raced. They recently commented on the 6-lug hubs/axles. They were not truck parts but heavy-duty pieces developed for limo/airport bus conversions, impossible to find today.

**John Brown** · #7 10-03-2003, 02:44 PM

Eric, here's the HOW-TO book Chevrolet put out on the "Black Widow" 57's. (see attchment) Reprints are available.

Chevy454 · #8 10-03-2003, 03:22 PM

I'm gonna apologize in advance, but I'm venturing off topic...

Hey Bill! Am I to *assume* you made it back home in one piece?! It was great meeting you and Bob...I'll try and look for him around town from now on!

Ok, back to the 150 talk!

ORIGLS6 · #9 10-03-2003, 03:18 PM

I've seen a couple of 150 Convertibles in the past few years; even one done as a Black Widow. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] Another car that never existed! All convertibles were BelAirs. Kinda like the BelAir Sedan Deliveries you see now. Never made 'em!
DC

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