 1958 SS |
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1959 Devin SS Special news, pictures, and information | ||
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Bill Devin built a car that had the style, sophistication, and performance of a Ferrari but sold for less. The prancing horse demanded a high price due to its pedigree; Devin decided to exploit the market and offer a nearly identical vehicle at an affordable price.
Bill had a history of racing that included a win at the first Pebble Beach race in 1949 while driving a modified Crosley Hot Shot. Later he entered the fiberglass body business where he sold hundreds of lightweight but durable bodies at just under $300 a piece. Near the close of the 1950's, his company was producing nearly 100 bodies per week and shipping them throughout the world.
Irishman Malcom MacGregor approached Devin with a sports car that he had built. It was complete without a body. Devin was impressed with the design and soon chassis development was taking place in Ireland. The rolling chassis were then shipped to Devin in Elmonte, California where he would finish the assembly. The tubular chassis was similar to the ones used for the Shelby Cobra. It included an independent suspension in the front and a De Dion tube setup in the rear. Steering was through a rack-and-pinion unit. 12 inch Girling disc brakes provided ample stopping power while the Dunlop wire wheels held the car firmly in place under heavy cornering.
Around fifteen chassis were sent to Devin who finished them with Chevrolet V8 power, Borg Warner transmission, chromed exhaust pipes, and lightweight bodies. Ferrari's of the day were fetching around $12,000 while a comparable Devin racer cost just under $6000.
On the racing circuit the vehicles quickly proved their potential. One of the Devin racers was driven by Pete Woods who won the C-modified Championship. Many of the others were converted into road friendly vehicles and purchased by customers who were looking for a car that could get them noticed.
Road & Track got their hands on one and recorded a seven second zero-to-sixty time with the quarter mile in 14 seconds. Top speed was just over 130 mph.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009
Bill had a history of racing that included a win at the first Pebble Beach race in 1949 while driving a modified Crosley Hot Shot. Later he entered the fiberglass body business where he sold hundreds of lightweight but durable bodies at just under $300 a piece. Near the close of the 1950's, his company was producing nearly 100 bodies per week and shipping them throughout the world.
Irishman Malcom MacGregor approached Devin with a sports car that he had built. It was complete without a body. Devin was impressed with the design and soon chassis development was taking place in Ireland. The rolling chassis were then shipped to Devin in Elmonte, California where he would finish the assembly. The tubular chassis was similar to the ones used for the Shelby Cobra. It included an independent suspension in the front and a De Dion tube setup in the rear. Steering was through a rack-and-pinion unit. 12 inch Girling disc brakes provided ample stopping power while the Dunlop wire wheels held the car firmly in place under heavy cornering.
Around fifteen chassis were sent to Devin who finished them with Chevrolet V8 power, Borg Warner transmission, chromed exhaust pipes, and lightweight bodies. Ferrari's of the day were fetching around $12,000 while a comparable Devin racer cost just under $6000.
On the racing circuit the vehicles quickly proved their potential. One of the Devin racers was driven by Pete Woods who won the C-modified Championship. Many of the others were converted into road friendly vehicles and purchased by customers who were looking for a car that could get them noticed.
Road & Track got their hands on one and recorded a seven second zero-to-sixty time with the quarter mile in 14 seconds. Top speed was just over 130 mph.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009
 |  |  | Roadster Chassis Num: DSS-001 |
| High bid of $200,000 at 2012 RM Auctions. (did not sell) | |||
This example, chassis number DSS-001, is the prototype of the 'Second Design' American chassis SS cars. It was built in the fall of 1959 and used as a factory 'display' car. According to Devin's serial number registry book, only two more of these second generation cars were built before production ended for good.
This example was originally in 1961, to a New Yorker named Anderson. In 1969, the car was purchased for $500 as a high school graduation gift for the second owner, Terry Stokes. Mr. Stokes later rebuilt and restored the car on his own. In the late-seventies, Stokes began campaigning the car in the 'vintage racing' circuit, competing at Riverside, Terminal Island, Willow Springs, and a few of the early Monterey Historic Automobile Races. After vintage racing, Stokes would show the car at various concours, while continuing to use it as a regular driver.
On December 2nd of 1995, Stokes sold the car back to Bill Devin. The following year, Devin sold the SS to Steve Young. Young commissioned Southern California restorer and Devin expert Chris Wickersham to prepare the car for West Coast racing.
Over the next several years, Young campaigned the car at various vintage races. In 2003, the car was sold to the current owner, who continued to campaign the car predominately at CSRG and GRL events, including the Wine Country Classic and Monterey Historics. In August of 2003, the car was honored to be shown at the inaugural 'The Quail' concours in Carmel Valley, California, where it won its class, 'Post War Racing.'
Currently, the car is powered by a 327 cubic-inch Corvette overhead valve V-8 engine rated at 440 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel Girling disc brakes. The wheelbase measurers a short 92 inches.
In 2012, the car was offered for sale at RM Auction's Monterey, CA sale. The car was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $325,000. Bidding reached $200,000 but was not enough to satisfy the vehicle's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012
There were 15 Devin SS models built at the DEVIN factory in El Monte, California between 1957 and 1959. These cars were sold as complete cars ready to race or for street use.
The rolling chassis with a 92-inch wheelbase were built in Belfast, Ireland. The front suspension was fabricated with equal length parallel A-arms, Coil-over springs/shocks were fitted between the A-arms with 13-inch Girling disc brakes. The rear axle was located by a pair of parallel trailing arms on each side with a 3-inch de Dion tube connecting the rear hubs and disc brakes that are mounted inboard.
The chassis were shipped to California for completion by adding a stock 283-cubic-inch Corvette motor, T10-4speed Corvette rear end. The bodies were molded from fine translucent tan fiberglass and placed on the frame.
The DEVIN's raced successfully in SCCA C-modified class against Ferrari's, Lister's, and Maserati's.
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe rolling chassis with a 92-inch wheelbase were built in Belfast, Ireland. The front suspension was fabricated with equal length parallel A-arms, Coil-over springs/shocks were fitted between the A-arms with 13-inch Girling disc brakes. The rear axle was located by a pair of parallel trailing arms on each side with a 3-inch de Dion tube connecting the rear hubs and disc brakes that are mounted inboard.
The chassis were shipped to California for completion by adding a stock 283-cubic-inch Corvette motor, T10-4speed Corvette rear end. The bodies were molded from fine translucent tan fiberglass and placed on the frame.
The DEVIN's raced successfully in SCCA C-modified class against Ferrari's, Lister's, and Maserati's.
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 1959
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