References?

[chasracer]

I am looking for some decent but inexpensive references for the earlier days of NASCAR. I have visited the museum at Darlington Speedway taking pictures which certainly helps but you can only get so close to the cars. If anyone knows of anything - books or maybe documentaries I would appreciate it. I am not really looking too much at duplicating any particular race car but I like the 1955-1966 era of the sport.

 

[Vietnam Vet67]

Here is one place to start:https://archive.petersen.org/pages/home.php

Also, this book is excellent. You can get a used one here at Amazon for $12.99 plus shipping or check out the other used deals on this site:

https://www.amazon.com/NASCAR-Auto-Editors-Consumer-Guide/dp/1680229893/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=nascar+chronicle+book&qid=1581373022&sr=8-1

Edited February 10, 2020 by Vietnam Vet67
addition of info.

[MarkJ]

Charles, Some of the best reference, are books. If you have a  "Half Price Books Store" in your state visit there . I have found many old nascar books there, chocked full of pictures and very inexpensive to buy. Also just do some good old googling on the internet. You will be surprised what you can find. 

[swede70]

Though not a NASCAR 'head' so to speak, it would be a good use of your time to familiarize yourself with the best of the online digital image archives currently available.  I wouldn't strictly expect detailed coverage of the earliest days of the series, although coming into the 1960's I believe you'd be well served for exploring what might be discovered.  Consider exploring:

The SAE/Petersen Publishing Archive

The Revs/Stanford University Archive

The Dave Friedman Collection/Benson Ford Research Center 

Each system has it's operational quirks, and it makes sense to scribble notes as well as copy website information to ensure that what is discovered remains accessible across repeated visits.  Search terms that yield favorable results can also be plugged into search engines which can be chased in a systematic fashion.  

As to the digital archives related above, most will allow downloads with licensing restrictions, while for my builds I typically segregate all the information I may into discreet files.  When something specific is being worked up, I'll copy select images to concentrate entirely on that aspect of a build; i.e. a roll cage.  Good luck and hopefully others will chip in and elaborate further...

Mike K./Swede70

[MarkJ]

9 minutes ago, Vietnam Vet67 said:

Here is one place to start:https://archive.petersen.org/pages/home.php

Also, this book is excellent. You can get a used one here at Amazon for $12.99 plus shipping or check out the other used deals on this site:

https://www.amazon.com/NASCAR-Auto-Editors-Consumer-Guide/dp/1680229893/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=nascar+chronicle+book&qid=1581373022&sr=8-1

My local Barnes and Noble, brick and mortar store, had a bunch of the fielden books for sale at clearance prices right before Christmas.

[MarkJ]

If you want you can go to my old photobucket site. There are some pictures I saved there from the fiftys and sixtys.

https://smg.photobucket.com/user/texwardfan/library/?sort=2&page=1

 

[yellowsportwagon]

I hate to say this but get yourself on Facebook and join some of the vintage nascar groups. Tons and tons of killer pictures and info. And some super knowledgeable guys too!!

[yellowsportwagon]

Be careful with museum cars. Lots of them are fakes and not necessarily correctly done.

[MarkJ]

13 hours ago, yellowsportwagon said:

Be careful with museum cars. Lots of them are fakes and not necessarily correctly done.

Tim, you are so right about that. The 59 Chevy that won the 59 Southern 500 looks nothing like the museum car.