PDA

View Full Version : Shy Tot



plumpcars
30-11-08, 10:42 AM
http://www.nsra.org.uk/newforum/showthread.php?t=18294

Last week a new member joined, 56chevynut, who was interested in history on his 56 Chevy project. After a bit of chit chat we formed the opinion that his car was the old Shy Tot racecar from the mid seventies.
Here's the pictures that I have from 1976 but does anybody have anymore? I'm sure that Vince would love to build up as much history on the car as possible.
Shy Tot was raced by a group of guys from Manchester that either included, or were friends with, Roger Attaway. I just can't remember but know that one of the owners rang me a few years later and was involved with GT40 kits. I know that Roger had a company at one time, GT developments, so am sure there is a link there.
The car was a bit rough and ready with a thin red flake paint job and liberal use of defraction tape. It had a 354 Hemi in it with a muncie and a different rear axle set up but again my memory is thin. I do remember opening the trunk and there was a lot of free air in there! It ran in A/Modified and to be honest was underdeveloped for that class but to me it summed up the old way of drag racing....a group of mates pitching in and having fun. For me it was a 56 with balls so that was enough.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr211/Plumpcars/Scan005November302008-1.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr211/Plumpcars/Scan006November302008.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr211/Plumpcars/Scan008November302008.jpg

plumpcars
30-11-08, 10:46 AM
I've just remembered there may be something in the early Tri Chevy club newsletters. Will dig them out and scan.

gettinonabitmore
30-11-08, 12:57 PM
I remember the name 'Shy Tot' but don't remember it being a full bodied car, did they carry on and campain an Altered??

Sorry, that wasn't much help was it???!!!

:o

plumpcars
30-11-08, 01:22 PM
Any info helps Guy but I remember nothing else?
Has anybody got a june 78 Custom Car that they could sell or scan something for Vince please? I gave all mine away earlier this year...

Battersea Boys
30-11-08, 01:29 PM
That was at the pod was it garys picnic

plumpcars
30-11-08, 01:31 PM
Can't remember what meet I took the pics at Milton.

56Chevynut
30-11-08, 02:19 PM
Many thanks Steve for all the help and info, as I said in my intro post I'm sure I have the Shy tot body shell, by the time I got it it had a 57 frame and a steel front, so it seems that somebody else attempted to resurrect it, It would be great if anyone else has any pics or info, and I would love to get hold of a copy of June 78 custom car if anyone can help:)

Zody
30-11-08, 02:55 PM
Remember the car well....the guy used chat to Mick Marshall when he raced his 56 (ex Turnball's) at the pod & Blackbush.

plumpcars
30-11-08, 03:00 PM
I seem to remember the rear chassis was originally cut away...also remember some dexion! That would explain why a later owner used another chassis.

56Chevynut
30-11-08, 03:05 PM
I seem to remember the rear chassis was originally cut away...also remember some dexion! That would explain why a later owner used another chassis.
That might explain the remains of some 1 inch box section which I found welded to the reinforced area under the rear screen to trunk lid panel, close to where the trunk lid hinge brackets should have been:confused:

59Impala
30-11-08, 06:43 PM
I vaguely remember chatting to the guys that owned it back in the day. Got a feeling that the car came from the the famous scrapyard in Barnsley, Woolhouse. Service with a smile. Sorry, snarl.

56Chevynut
30-11-08, 06:58 PM
I vaguely remember chatting to the guys that owned it back in the day. Got a feeling that the car came from the the famous scrapyard in Barnsley, Woolhouse. Service with a smile. Sorry, snarl.
That's very interesting, I always thought that my car may have had another car on top at some time due to some dents on the roof about the width of a chassis.... I have been to Woolhouse in Barnsley about ten years ago, the place is heart breaking, the cars were just so far gone...
unbelievably I got a really nice front bench seat from a 57 2 dr post which had been semi-protected over the years as it had two cars on top of it!! Tim Bowman had the headliner out of it for a 57 coupe which he owned at the time. I also got loads of stainless trim from there, I heard that the site was to be developed into a housing estate, any one know if its still there??

WagonMan
30-11-08, 11:25 PM
I would love to get hold of a copy of June 78 custom car if anyone can help:)

this is the pic from that very mag.
http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/41094/2615249960067675115S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2615249960067675115jqhlPF)

It's in an article about the Slick Tricks workshop.
Tim Cook's Chevy, the ex-Chris Melia Chevy Shy Tot with a thunderhous blown Chrysler.

56Chevynut
30-11-08, 11:50 PM
this is the pic from that very mag.
http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/41094/2615249960067675115S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2615249960067675115jqhlPF)

It's in an article about the Slick Tricks workshop.
Tim Cook's Chevy, the ex-Chris Melia Chevy Shy Tot with a thunderhous blown Chrysler.
Great info, thanks!!

plumpcars
01-12-08, 09:02 AM
Chris Melia! That's the name I've been trying to remember for days. Was he connected with Roger Attaway?
I heard from Al that the engine was on a stand down at Slick Tricks in the late seventies so maybe that was where the car got separated out? I knew Stuart back then but just can't remember enough from those days. Wayward youth probably.....

56Chevynut
01-12-08, 11:08 AM
Chris Melia! That's the name I've been trying to remember for days. Was he connected with Roger Attaway?
I heard from Al that the engine was on a stand down at Slick Tricks in the late seventies so maybe that was where the car got separated out? I knew Stuart back then but just can't remember enough from those days. Wayward youth probably.....
I googled "Chris Melia" and "Shy Tot" and found another pic:):)http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=12426&d=1137617126

plumpcars
01-12-08, 12:05 PM
I've just spoken to Chris Melia! He would be happy to talk to you about the car so I'll pm you his details.
He sold the car to Stuart Valance at Slick Tricks hence that connection.

Battersea Boys
01-12-08, 12:15 PM
great detective work Steve, or is it "Jim Rockford".............

56Chevynut
01-12-08, 12:53 PM
Just spoke to Chris myself, I am now certain that I have Shy Tot, as I said in an earlier post it has some roof dents consistant with another car being on its roof, Chris confirmed that he bought it from a scrap yard in Marple Bridge, just outside Stockport around 1975 for £30:eek::eek: and it had a ford consul on the roof....
When I got it it still had the home-made glass trunk lid, which I have replaced with a steel one on 55 olds hinges, also the flat firewall, which I have replaced with one from a 55 Nomad. It was great talking to him and many thanks to Steve for his detective work, I got more info in the last few days than in ten years of owning the car!! here are some pics of how it looks today
http://www.chevynuts.co.uk/userimages/web.JPGhttp://www.chevynuts.co.uk/userimages/web4.JPG

Fatguyz
01-12-08, 01:27 PM
cool story.....so far.......keep the topic updated as and when more info comes available

FG:cool:

56Chevynut
03-12-08, 10:09 AM
cool story.....so far.......keep the topic updated as and when more info comes available

FG:cool:
Apparently it had a 354 Hemi, Muncie M21, 6-71 blower, pair 0f Holley 650's, ran 12's but had the potential to do better.
I'm told that there are some still shots of it doing a burnout on a seventies drag racing DVD, I'm keeping an eye out for a copy if anyone can help. Chris Melia sold it to Stu Vallance in 77, according to the Custom car pic it was owned by Tim Cook in 79, and thats about all I know for now, but very happy to have got so much info in such a short time, thanks again to Plumpcars:)

plumpcars
03-12-08, 10:16 AM
If it's on a dvd then Nick Pettit would be involved! He's on here as 'timetravel'. Give him a try? :)