1957 Chevy Shorty Wagon

Not mine, etc...

http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/4753586197.html

57 shorty wagon project no motor or trans, set up for sbc/bbc and turbo 350/400 with lots and lots of parts, this started a 57 4 dr wagon the body was taken off the frame and the frame and body was shortened by the length of the rear door, it now has an 84 inch wheelbase, it has a rear spring pocket kit(put leaf springs inside rear frame rail so wider tires can fit with out having to backhalf the car, ford 9 inch rear with 350 gears and a nodular center chunk set up as a roller rear it will need to be gone thru and need new axles,it has 2 new rear springs, new rear upper shock mounts,new rear suspension lift lift/traction bars, new 16 gal fuel cell with sender, new trans crossmember and frame supports, new side eng mounts as well as original front eng mounts, has new front end parts in boxes, new moroso front trick springs,adjustable front shocks, fresh professionally ceramic coated fenderwell headers, 2 fiberglass noses 1 new and one h.d used, fiberglass front bumper and steel rear bumper and ends(driver quality) recaro bucket seats, and pr of plastic racing seats, tilt steering column,extra doors,2 new full quarter panels,new front grill, alum radiator, all stainless trim from 2 station wagons, front disc bake conversion, new 18 circuit complete wiring harness kit, new power brake booster with disc brake master cyl and proportioning valve, and much more. needs to be assembled and finished your way. the steel nose and factory mags in pic are not on the car any more. price varies on how you want it come take a look and make a realistic offer. don't have to sell no lowball or ridiculous offers considered would make great hot rod/rat rod/street rod/drag car/pro street/classic car/muscle car

also available with car turbo 400 trans/10 inch converter brand new complete bolt in power rack and pinion conversion kit (cost $849.) complete bolt in tubular upper and lower front control arms with drop spindles and complete disc brakes(cost over $1200.)

$5000 for basic roller and parts and pieces $7000 for basic roller and parts and pieces with the tubular front end drop spindles disc brakes and complete bolt in power rack and pinion conversion and rebuilt turbo 400 trans and a jegs 10 inch 3000-3500 stall converter

That is an awful lot of work to turn a really cool car into a useless ornament.

That was sort of a fad in the 1970s, I remember seeing a bunch of them back then. It was sort of a waste, though, unless you were a building a clown car for parades.

For some reason that became popular if you were stuck with a four door.

This would fit right into the "why do people do crap like this" thread.

Y'all have apparently never heard of an altered before. While I definitely don't have the heart to cut up a tri 5 like that, I'd totally drive one done up as such.

An altered generally leaves the overall length the same and pushes the rear wheels forward for better weight transfer. None of the pics you posted show the cars actually shortened.

Big difference between an altered wheelbase car and a station wagon cut in half.

It's had the wheelbase shortened to less than that of a two door and its not much shorter OAL compared to a two door, close enough for me.

An altered is usually built for weight transfer at a dragstrip while the shortys were usually done because someone had too many doors and too much beer.

It's an 84" wheelbase hatch back now. While I wouldn't chop up a good car to do it, this one is already cut so I'd drive it.

Wally wrote: An altered generally leaves the overall length the same and pushes the rear wheels forward for better weight transfer. None of the pics you posted show the cars actually shortened.

This. The point of an Altered was to get as much weight as possible over the back axle, and facilitate the rearward transfer of whatever was left up front at launch. That poor Chev is going to have the less weight (but about the same front/back distribution) as the stock car. The only advantage it will have is somewhat more weight transfer due to the shorter WB.

FYI, 2-door and 4-door wagons had generally the same wheelbase and length. This essentially has the back seat area removed. Front seat and cargo area only now. As stated for Altered. This isn't an Altered. Novelty car only now.