This ’55 Chevy Business Coupe’ represents the first small block-powered stock car to win a race in NASCAR’s elite division back in 1955. Built by the GM Performance Division to honor the legacy of the small block V8 engine, this vehicle was recently driven at the Goodwood Festival by GM Performance Division Executive Director, Mark Reuss and multi-championship winning stock car driver and owner, Junior Johnson.
The stock cars of those days were definitely bare bones ‘stock’. Most racers chose the ‘Business Coupe’ because it did not have a back seat and usually was a stripped down vehicle. That was perfect for the racers as they took everything off they could to reduce vehicle weight. A four-point rollbar and five point harnesses were added to this ride for safety measures, otherwise it’s just like Smokey and Herb built it 50 some years ago.