![\"Cars](\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2022\/01\/Car_Collector1-4.jpg\")
<\/a>The Roustabout \u201cTRIVAN\u201d 3-wheel pickup was built in Frackville, Pa. in 1962 and 1963. It was rated as a half-ton pickup featuring a 32-horse, 2-cylinder engine. After a postal contract fell through, the company filed for bankruptcy in November of 1963. (Former Roustabout Company)<\/p><\/div>\n
Unfortunately the Roustabout Company filed for bankruptcy in November of 1963 as the Jeep DJ (Dispatcher Jeep) was still the USPS vehicle of choice. The Jeep had both 2-wheel drive and then later 4×4 mechanicals, a sliding door and right-hand drive steering that made mail delivery easy. Use of the Jeep DJ, built in Montgomery, Pa., began in the early 1950\u2019s and lasted until Grumman won a new contract with its long-life vehicle in 1986. Although the Roustabout had rear drive mechanicals on its single wheel, it probably would have been a decent warm weather state USPS delivery vehicle and more economical to operate over and above the Jeep. <\/p>\n
Very Rare 1960 BelAir Sport Sedan<\/b><\/p>\n
Q: Greg I\u2019m hoping that you can shed some light on the relative scarcity of a vehicle that I recently purchased. I had been looking for a nice 1960 Impala Sport Sedan 4-door hardtop and stumbled across a BelAir 4-door hardtop in Texas. It was nice and solid, reasonably sound, mechanically, priced attractively, and had a good inspection report. So I purchased it and had it transported from Texas to Illinois. It was originally equipped with a 348 with a Powerglide transmission but now has a 350-V8 with a 700R4 automatic and is still in its original black and white colors. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Reader Jack Hickman is sitting on an extremely rare 1960 Chevrolet BelAir 4-door Sport Sedan. Most of the Sport Sedans were Impalas, but this BelAir could be either one of one, or one of very few produced. (Hickman Collection)<\/p><\/div>\n
So far I haven\u2019t found any cancer or bondo anywhere. The more I look into the production numbers for 1960 the more I\u2019m inclined to think that this is an extremely rare vehicle. I haven\u2019t been able to find any exact production numbers beyond 1,148 Sport Sedan\u2019s being produced in 1960, which is 6.8% of all Chevrolets made. As far as I can tell, Chevrolet combined Impala and BelAir Sport Sedan production into a single number. <\/p>\n
In all of my research this is the only BelAir Sport Sedan that I\u2019ve uncovered, with all other Sport Sedans being Impalas. I\u2019ve queried various organizations and they haven\u2019t been able to clarify things beyond \u201cit\u2019s really rare.\u201d Would you have any information on this or be able to offer any suggestions on a source? Sincerely, Jack Hickman, Fairview Heights, Illinois.<\/p>\n
A: Jack, I wish I had some additional information, but I ran into the same brick walls trying to decipher how many of the Sport Sedans were BelAirs in \u201960. However, everyone I\u2019ve spoken to is in agreement that you are sitting on one very rare 1960 BelAir. In all my years, I\u2019ve never seen one in person anywhere. <\/p>\n
Take good care of your rare beauty! It just might be the only one around and especially in such beautiful condition. There might have been a few more built, but I\u2019m in your corner when it comes to \u201creally, really rare.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fuel injection available in \u201959 full-size Chevrolets<\/b> <\/p>\n
Q: Hi Greg! I just bought, and I\u2019ve already devoured, the \u201cWinter 2022\u201d issue of \u201cCars of the 50\u2019s\u201d in Auto Round-Up Magazine. (Author note: Same articles as my newspaper columns.) In it is your excellent article about \u201c1957 Tri-Power, Fuel Injection & A Fast Rambler Rebel.\u201d<\/p>\n
I like your style of writing and your attention to detail. It\u2019s very informative and very interesting. And, you are always almost 100% right in what you write. <\/p>\n
However, on page 76 of the hardcopy magazine issue, you said in talking about Chevy\u2019s fuel injection option, \u201c\u2026after eliminating the fuel injection option from its small block powered full size cars at the end of the 1958 model year.\u201d You are off by one year; fuel injection remained an option in full size Chevys until the end of the 1959 model year.<\/p>\n
I wonder if there are any known numbers of full-size 1959 Chevys, which received the fuel injection engine from the factory? I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if it was only a relative handful each year.<\/p>\n
Thanks again, Greg, for being a great writer! Phil Brown, Somersworth, New Hampshire.<\/p>\n
A: Phil, thanks for your compliments and you are correct on the fuel injection option. In 1959 the Ram Jet Rochester fuel injection unit was available on the full-size Chevrolets ala the Corvette inspired 283-V8. You are also correct as to its being very rare, as I\u2019ve tracked down that only 26 full-size Chevys were ever built and delivered with the fuel injection option. Counting the Corvette, a total of 578 283-V8 fuel injected engines were built that year, with two renderings available in 250-horse hydraulic cam dress and a more aggressive 290-horse solid-lifter cam version. <\/p>\n
Tubeless tires and disc brakes<\/b><\/p>\n
Q: Greg, your “Automotive Firsts” feature is fascinating for a lot of readers. A lot of good research, there, my friend.<\/p>\n
I was just thinking about disk brakes, and it seems as though they first appeared on foreign cars, especially Mercedes and the American small car Crosley you mentioned before they showed up on the large, front-heavy cars like Olds Toronado and Caddy Eldorado in the mid 1960s. <\/p>\n
<\/a>BF Goodrich developed the first successful tubeless tire in 1947 and following grueling successful testing, Goodrich won patents in 1952 for the tire\u2019s various features. Within three years, the tubeless tire became standard on most new automobiles. According to an article in The New York Times in December of 1954, \u201cIf the results of tests – prove valid in general use, the owner of a 1955 automobile can count on at least 25 percent more mileage, easier tire changing if he gets caught on a lonely road with a leaky tire, and almost no blowouts.\u201d (BF Goodrich)<\/p><\/div>\n
Regarding tires, I can still see my father applying a patch to the tube (after gluing), and being careful not to “pinch” the tube when putting it back in the tire. No wonder he used to carry two full-size spares in the trunk. <\/p>\n
My father said that on a long weekend trip such as Philadelphia to Delaware Water Gap and return, you could expect a blowout with those cotton-cord tires from the 1930s and early 1940s. The intro of fiberglass belted tires was an improvement, until the even better steel-belted (radial) tires came along.<\/p>\n
Segueing back to the tires, I am surprised that tubeless tires were not offered earlier than was the case. Maybe this was another instance where European technology was the first horse out of the gate.<\/p>\n
Guy Pell, Shamokin, Pa.<\/p>\n
A: Guy, thanks for the good info on the numerous tires, from tubeless to those fiberglass and steel belted applications. <\/p>\n
I remember the tubes, too. They were all too commonplace back then, yet as you mention a very necessary safeguard when making those long trips. Successful tubeless tires date back to 1947 by the B.F. Goodrich Company in Akron, Ohio. Although you are correct about European influence, as Great Britain\u2019s Killen Tire applied for a tubeless tire patent in 1928 and was granted a patent in 1930. But these tires were commercial failures and abandoned following too many blowout problems. <\/span><\/p>\n Thanks for your letter. As for those Olds Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado models back in 1966 and 1967, respectfully, they sure needed those big disc brakes, as both were heavy, front-drive applications. <\/p>\n \u201966 Nova with a \u20183-on-the-tree\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n Q: Hey Greg, I had 66 Nova, non-SS, 2 door hardtop, that had a 3-speed on the column transmission. It was a factory L79 that l bought from Lawrence Auto, Lawrence Inc. (Chevy dealer) in the summer of 1966. Just was reading your article on the \u201cTop-5 Chevy Performance Cars.\u201d Great article. Dave Worsham, Indiana. <\/p>\n