Old Nascar in the Junkyard

[77NovaRacer]

Found a old Nascar stock car at junk yard. Pretty neat looking at it. Appears to be Johnny Mantz's car. Under the front seats are two chunks of concrete that when the seat was bolted down, you couldnt see them.

This should probably be in a museum. Its a old Plymouth

[77NovaRacer]

[Jimmy McKinley]

Found in a junkyard *where* (exactly) and when...??

Gonna try and get someone to ID this thing...

[77NovaRacer]

Found in a junkyard *where* (exactly) and when...??

Gonna try and get someone to ID this thing...

Saw it today in LKQ Bradenton, in the Ford section

[kendo]

Don't think they ran window glass back then...does not add up

[BOB KRUPA]

They do have the original Johnny Mantz's car in a Museum

[77NovaRacer]

They do have the original Johnny Mantz's car in a Museum

He did compete in other races.

[UREZ2PASS]

I think I remember that car. Was it a replica that sat outside a restaurant down in the keys ?

[Jimmy McKinley]

Saw it today in LKQ Bradenton, in the Ford section

Is that the name of the junkyard?

Don't think they ran window glass back then...does not add up

Yes, NASCAR ran window glass in the race cars all the way up until about 1970. They actually had working, roll-up windows, even in the wing cars.

They do have the original Johnny Mantz's car in a Museum.

According to people I know that work with, and know, their historic NASCAR race cars, the *original* Johnny Mantz Plymouth that won the very first Southern 500 at Darlington in 1950, was destroyed in a wreck at Charlotte Fairgrounds, a 3/4-mile dirt track, in 1951. The car that was in the Joe Weatherly Museum at Darlington was, indeed, a replica.

http://mopar.pairserver.com/p15d24ph...d-time-racing/

...halfway down the page is a picture of the wrecked Plymouth.

[77NovaRacer]

Is this it racing?

[Rick Anges]

LKQ Bradenton is located at 1880 63rd Ave East-941-753-4451
Better move quick cuz things do not sit there very long before they crush them...

[77NovaRacer]

Is that the name of the junkyard?

Yes, name is LKQ U-Pull-It, in Bradenton

[77NovaRacer]

Did some more digging and this guy on ebay bought the fenders doors and trunk lid.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-PLYMOUT...p2047675.l2557

[Jimmy McKinley]

Is this it racing?

Not the same car at all. The one in the junkyard (in your pictures) is a '52 coupe. The one (and only) time Mantz drove a '50 Plymouth was the 1950 Southern 500, which he won. It was with a "fastback" style sedan. Mantz ran only 3 races in 1950, 6 races in 1951, and then semi-retired. He came back to NASCAR in 1955, race 2 races, and in '56, ran only one race, then called it quits for good.

As far as this car is concerned...I'm not sure, and my guys that I've had looking at the pictures are stumped as well.

If I were you, I'd get with Dave (Westerman - ancrdave here on the boards) and see if he's got any info to help you out.

[Frasson118]

To me, it looks like a very old 'tribute' car. I don't think the colors even match, from other old pics I've seen of Mantz's cars.

On the other hand, that info about a hidden box for concrete blocks is interesting. Why would someone go through that effort if not to gain a 'competitive advantage'? I'm betting it DID race at some point, probably not with Mantz at the wheel, but no clue who it would have been.