COLORADO CLIMAX
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Year Published: 1956
Description:
This 1956 Chevrolet promotional film shows events in September, 1955 as the 1956 Chevy Belair races up Pike's Peak in Colorado. The car was equipped with a new V-8 engine that would be released in the 1956 model line. None other then Zora Arkus-Duntov was at the helm of a well camouflaged Chevrolet Belair and Bill France of Nascar fame was present with his timing crew. At 1:20 the film flashes back to 1954 as the prototype car is initially tested at a proving grounds. At 1:49 the car makes a jump and crashes into another vehicle to prove its structural integrity. At 2:00 it pulls 16 other cars from a dead stop. At 2:05 it races in a stock car race at NASCAR. At 2:34 Colorado Springs is shown and the camouflaged Bel Air. At about 3:00 the ascent of Pike's Peak begins.It ends at 6:15 as the electronic timer reveals that the car and driver broke the previous world record by more than two minutes!
Zora Arkus-Duntov (December 25, 1909 – April 21, 1996) was a Belgian-born American engineer whose work on the Chevrolet Corvette earned him the nickname "Father of the Corvette." He is sometimes erroneously referred to as the inventor of the Corvette, whereas that title belongs to Harley Earl. He was also a successful racing driver, taking class victories in 1954 and 1955 24 Heures du Mans.
The Chevrolet Bel Air was a full-size car produced by Chevrolet for the 1950–1981 model years. Initially only the two door hardtops in the Chevrolet model range were designated with the Bel Air name from 1950 to 1952, as distinct from the Styleline and Fleetline models for the remainder of the range. With the 1953 model year the Bel Air name was changed from a designation for a unique body shape to a premium level of trim applied across a number of body styles. The Bel Air continued with various other trim level designations until US production ceased in 1975. Production continued in Canada, for its home market only, through the 1981 model year.
00:00: The scene is set on September 9th, 1955, near Pikes Peak, Colorado, where the 1956 Chevrolet is poised to demonstrate its engineering prowess.
1:04 - 1:36: Flashback to October 1954, when the new Chevrolet model was announced, impressing with its steering, suspension, stability, and strength.
1:36 - 2:13: Highlights of the car's capabilities include power to pull 16 cars from a dead start and its performance in stock car races, emphasizing its handling and acceleration.
2:13 - 2:45: Transition back to the present event, where a 1956 Chevrolet, camouflaged, is about to undergo a high-speed test up Pikes Peak, a challenging test due to altitude and road conditions.
2:45 - 3:22: Preparation for the test includes a last-minute check with the driver, emphasizing confidence in the vehicle's performance.
3:22 - 3:58: The race begins at the 9,000 ft level with NASCAR officials ready with electronic timing, marking the official start of the climb.
4:01 - 4:58: Description of the climb, mentioning the challenging 12 miles of twisting, climbing road, showcasing the capabilities of the new super turbo fire V8 engine.
4:58 - 6:41: The car demonstrates its power, control, and handling through various demanding conditions of the climb, focusing on roadability, steering response, and cornering ability.
6:41 - 7:28: The new record is announced - the 1956 Chevrolet makes the 12.5 mile climb in 17 minutes, slashing the previous record by over 2 minutes.
7:28 - 7:57: Post-race, NASCAR officials check to ensure the car remains a stock model, confirming the record. The narrative shifts to the benefits for everyday drivers, emphasizing dependability, handling, and performance in various driving conditions.
7:57 - 8:28: Details the engine options available in the 1956 Chevrolet, ranging from the Blue Flame 6 to the high-powered Super Turbo Fire V8, promising thrilling driving experiences.
Transcription
[Music] e [Music] September 9th 1955 and near the top of Pikes Peak Colorado a feeling of excitement a 1956 Chevrolet seem certain to put a dramatic climax on the year's most amazing story of engineering achievement yes this is the climax but the story really begins nearly 1400 M away and many months earlier back in October 1954 a startlingly new and different car is announced to the low price field even the Chevrolet Engineers who designed this car are impressed with the way it meets every conceivable driving test standard steering super smooth front suspension soaks up Road shock like a sponge for remarkable riding ease overall stability tremendous frame and body strength almost unbelievable and power power to spare power to pull 16 different driverless cars from a dead start the performance clencher stock car races all over the country a new Champion with amazing ability to dig in on the curves and get away fastest on the straightaways no wonder they're part of this car and its record and no wonder they wonder what new records the new 1956 Chevrolet will set this new Beauty brings still greater power and performance to the low price field but how much greater that's the nagging question to be answered September 9th near beautiful Colorado Springs but what's this actually a 1956 Chevrolet carefully camouflaged because the climactic performance test comes many weeks before announcement day and the test itself a certified high-speed runup rugged old Pikes Peak America's most famous mountain and a continuing challenge to Automotive Engineers the terrain the road conditions and the terrific altitude make this a truly punishing test for any conventional car racing the clock the car pulls into the waiting point a few hundred ft below the start line and just before the attempt to smash all previous records Chevrolet people gather for a last Quick Check with a driver a great deal depends on his confidence in the car plenty of confidence reflected here the start line is at the 9,000 ft level timing officials from NASCAR National Association for stock car auto racing get their electric eye timing device ready for the running start the approach flag and he's off the sizzling official start is flashed to the electronic timers up at the Finish Line 14,110 ft above sea [Music] level it's a long way to that craggy peak in the distance 12 twisting climbing tortuous miles under the most extreme highspeed driving [Music] conditions the new super turbo fire V8 engine shows its work 205 horsepower working smoothly at every altitude [Applause] ample Reserve power for the sudden [Music] spurt but sure footing is just as important as high power this is also a supreme test for roadability safe sure ride control all the time smooth effortless steering response here's real Road power digging in to get going without wasted [Music] effort deliberate controlled skids save precious seconds on tight turns extra cornering ability and that means getting around curves safer and [Music] faster [Music] top performance all the way but what about that record the electronic timer holds the answer and it's astounding 12 1/2 miles to the top of Pike's Peak in only 17 minutes slashing the old record by more than 2 minutes a new record a new champion no wonder congratulations are in order but before the new record is accepted NASCAR officials carefully check the car to make sure it's strictly stocked in every respect they accept it and that's the story of the Colorado climax but not the end of the story for you you may never want to race to the top of Pike's Peak but you do want Dependable power and Superior handling ease the thrilling response of the car engineered to perform superbly under every driving condition and whether your engine is the new blue flame 6 with its exciting new 140 horsepower and 8:1 compression ratio the high performance turbo fire V8 now up to 170 horsepower or the peak powered new super turbo fire V8 with its new 205 horsepower and increased compression ratio you will get a thousand new Thrills behind the wheel of the new Chevrolet the car that wrote the Colorado [Music] climax
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