NHRA ’58 Corvette Gasser Joins eBay ‘Parts of America’ Tour
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In the late 1980s, Kenny Davis worked at the parts counter of an Arkansas Chevrolet dealership. That’s where he met Richard Lasner, a regular customer with a bunch of hot rods. Lasner had a proclivity for buying Chevy speed parts—and had an NHRA Nationals ’58 Corvette Gasser tucked away in the garage.
The NHRA Nationals (a.k.a. “The Big Go”) is the biggest baddest drag race event in the world. Its C/Gas division is one level below Pro Stock.
Davis, now the owner of four collision repair centers and a hot rod shop in Northwest Arkansas, and Lasner, a gunsmith who moved from Buffalo, NY., bonded over their love of drag racing. Naturally, they became fast friends. In 1990, Lasner showed his Corvette Gasser to Davis and shared its history. This was a glimpse of things to come.
Decades later, Lasner’s Corvette is a remarkable survivor and a shining star of the 2022 eBay Motors "Parts of America" tour - opens in new window or tab..
Serendipity Strikes
Fifteen years after the two men first met, Davis ran into a guy named Eric Lasner and they formed a friendship. But Davis didn’t know that Eric was Kenny’s son.
Davis said:
I never put two and two together.
Then, the junior Lasner told Davis about his dad's Corvette. As Eric described the car and where it was parked, Lasner realized that he knew the car.
The ‘Vette had not been on the road for decades. So Eric was shocked when Davis said he knew Eric’s father and his Corvette gasser.
The bond between the families was re-united. A few years later, when Richard Lasner passed away, Eric asked Davis to move the Corvette from the family garage to Davis’s shop for safekeeping.
Corvette Gasser Dusted Off
When they brought the car back to Davis’s shop, the rear slicks were flat, the battery was junked, and the car had no fuel. They fueled it up and put in a new battery.
Davis said:
Having been around race cars for so long, I knew how to start up - opens in new window or tab. the Corvette’s eight-stack Hilborn mechanical fuel injection system - opens in new window or tab.. It took me about three minutes.
Davis purchased the car from the Lasner family with the promise to keep the Corvette Gasser the way it is, as caretakers of the car and its history.
Davis said:
I just want to show people that this stuff is out there. It’s still in garages and buildings, and if you just look, it'll show up.
Bringing it Back
eBay Motors played a crucial role in refurbishing the Corvette with period correct parts. Finding a source for reproduction pie-crust slicks - opens in new window or tab.—with ample grip and that namesake sidewall—was monumental. A search on eBay Motors revealed Pell City Tire in Annapolis, N.C. Davis had Pell City Tire produce a set of slicks.
The Corvette’s drivetrain consists of original components:
- An Oldsmobile rear end
The car still has a vintage Joe Hunt magneto - opens in new window or tab. and a Moon tank - opens in new window or tab. up front.
Davis plans to install a factory windshield - opens in new window or tab., along with the correct tachometer - opens in new window or tab.. With those two pieces, sourced through eBay, the car will be fully restored to its original dragstrip condition, circa 1969.
Davis said:
This car is a handful. It's a straight-axle car. Do you want to take the car down the track with no front brakes on a three-inch-wide tire?
Gassers represent a golden era in motorsports history. Form follows function, with weight transfer playing a huge role. Launching a vintage gasser with its front wheels in the air and keeping the car straight through the traps requires guts and skill. There are no nannies when the Christmas tree flashes green.
The Corvette Gasser will soon join eight other exceptional vehicles on the whirlwind ride across America. We will set up camp at 10 stops along the way, visiting some of the coolest automotive enthusiast events in the USA.
Follow along the eBay Motors tour at eBay.com/PartsofAmerica - opens in new window or tab. and learn more about the other incredible rides.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.