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1956  Byers  SR-100
Design  by  Jim  Byers
Owner:  Jack  Farr,  Cresson,  Texas

History  of  This  Car

This car was originally built by two enthusiasts in the mid 1950’s in the Madison,Wisconsin area.  In the late 1950’s the car was acquired by a gentleman in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  He finished the car, painting it metallic maroon with gold fogging.  He owned the car for over forty years.

The body is mounted on a modified 1949 Ford sedan chassis.  The 1949 Ford was the first year Ford offered independent front suspension. The chassis is predominantly 1/8 wall mild steel, rectangular and square tubing. As the car has no doors the chassis has side impact bars concealed behind the aluminium interior panelling.  The car was built to vintage race specifications, including a fuel cell, but would require an upgraded engine to race.

The front suspension is stock 1949 Ford. The car has interchangeable front disc or drum brakes, to allow for street and vintage race regulations.  The rear suspension is a 4 link design with Panhard bar and coil over shock absorbers.  The rear axle is an 8 inch Ford with stock drum brakes.  The dry curb weight of the car is 2100 lbs,  The car with an 185 lb driver and 12 gallons of fuel has an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution, front rear, side to side and cross directionally.

The engine is a 1956 small block Chevrolet, located in a front mid engine position, approximately 18 inches behind the front suspension center line  The 1956 265 cu. in. Chevrolet V8 was the second year of the small block Chevrolet and the first small block Chevrolet with an oil filter. The 1956 SBC has no castings for engine mounts on the side of the block, consequently the engine is mounted from the front of the block. For Chevy trivia buffs, 1956 engines were painted red, not orange.  The transmission is currently a Muncie M21 4 speed with aluminum case.

Comprehensive  Byers  Sports  Car  History
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Learn  More  About  Jack  Farr
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Explore  The  Links  Below

Technical  Specifications  of  This  Car
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Byers  SR-100 – In  1957  Road  &  Track  Magazine  Called  This
“The  Most  Beautiful  Car  In  The  World”
Silodrome – Gasoline Culture Magazine: August 29, 2019
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Take A Ride With Us In Guy Dirkin’s 1956 Byers SR-100
Undiscovered Classics:  August 25, 2019
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The  Greatest  American  Car  Story  Never  Told
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Program:  March, 2015
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The Cars of Amelia Island 2010: Guy Dirkin and His Byers SR-100
Undiscovered Classics:  April 9, 2010
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Restoration  Photos
Includes  corner  weight  setup
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Concours  d’Elegance  Appearances
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Videos
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