1953 TATUM GMC Special (Rob Manson)

Year: 1953
Make: GMC
Model: GMC SPECIAL
Engine: WAYNE GMC IN-LINE 6
Transmission: GMC
Rear End: FORD TRUCK

More about the car:

THIS IS THE TATUM GMC SPECIAL. IT IS A CALIFORNIA HOT ROD BUILT AS A SPORTS CAR FOR ROAD RACING. IT WAS BUILT IN 1952/53 IN STOCKTON, CA BY CHARLES “CHUCK” TATUM. CHUCK TATUM WAS A MARINE VETERAN AND PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT OF THE ATTACK ON IWO JIMA. HIS BOOK “BLACK SAND AND RED BLOOD” AND THE MOVIE MADE FROM IT BY TOM HANKS DESCRIBES THAT BATTLE FROM HIS EXPERIENCE. AFTER RETURNING HOME TO STOCKTON HE BECAME INTERESTED IN AUTO RACING, DROVE IN A FEW JALOPY RACES AND GOT TO KNOW THE LOCAL RACING COMMUNITY. AT DINNER DURING THE 1952 STOCKTON ROAD RACES THE CONVERSATION TURNED TO THE HOME BUILT SPECIALS THAT WERE BEGINNING TO APPEAR AT SPORTS CAR RACES. PHIL HILL AND SAMMY WEISS WERE CRITICAL AND SUGGESTED THAT THESE “JUNK YARD DOGS” HAD NO PLACE RACING WITH THE IMPORTED JAGUAR AND ALLARD SPORTS CARS THAT MADE UP MOST OF THE LARGE DISPLACEMENT GRIDS. TATUM TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE INSISTING THAT HE COULD BUILD A SPORTS CAR SPECIAL WITH AMERICAN PRODUCTION CAR COMPONENTS THAT WOULD BEAT THE IMPORTS. THIS IS THE RESULT.

THE CAR’S CHASSIS IS LARGE DIAMETER TUBE FRAME. FRONT SUSPENSION IS 47 FORD SOLID AXLE WITH A TRANSVERSE LEAF SPRING AND HOUDAILLE LEVER ACTION SHOCK ABSORBERS. THE REAR AXLE IS 47 FORD TRUCK WITH COIL SPRINGS AND TELESCOPIC SHOCK ABSORBERS. CHUCK TATUM DEVELOPED AND PATENTED TRACTION MASTER REAR SUSPENSION BARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST CAR TO USE THEM.

THE FIRST GMC ENGINE CAME FROM A STOCKTON FIRE TRUCK. IT WAS BORED TO 302 CI AND HAD 3 SIDE DRAFT CARBURATORS. WAYNE ENGINEERING SPONSORED THE CAR FOR THE 1954 AND 1955 SEASONS AND PROVIDED 302 CI ENGINES EQUIPPED WITH ALL OF THEIR SPEED EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THEIR 12 PORT CROSS FLOW CYLINDER HEADS. IT HAS RACED WITH BOTH JAGUAR MOSS-TYPE 4 SPEED AND M22 ROCK CRUSHER 4 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS.

CHUCK TATUM AND CHUCK MANNING RACED THE CAR IN NEARLY ALL OF THE EARLY CALIFORNIA ROAD RACES FROM 1953-1955 INCLUDING THE PEBBLE BEACH , SAN FRANCISCO GOLDEN GATE PARK ,SANTA BARBARA , MADERA AND STOCKTON WHERE IT HAD CLASS WINS AGAINST STRONG FIELDS. THE CAR RAN AT BONNEVILLE IN 1954. IT WON THE BEST SPORTS CAR TROPHY AT THE OAKLAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW IN 1954. IT STARRED WITH TONY CURTIS AND PIPER LAURIE IN THE MAJOR HOLLYWOOD BOMB “JOHNNY DARK”. IT WAS THE COVER STORY FOR THE MAY 1954 EDITION OF HOT ROD MAGAZINE.

TATUM SOLD THE CAR IN 1955 AND IT WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF OWNERS EVENTUALLY ENDING UP IN A STOCKTON JUNK YARD . TATUM RECOVERED IT AND RESTORED IT WITH HIS TWO SONS IN THE EARLY 1980s. SINCE 1984, IT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PARTICIPANT IN VINTAGE/CLASSIC ROAD RACING EVENTS INCLUDING THE MONTEREY HISTORICS/REUNION. IT IS A SURVIVOR AND A SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLE OF EARLY POST WAR INGENUITY IN THE DESIRE TO PRODUCE AN AMERICAN SPORTS CAR.