1961 Chenowth Racing Special at the 31st Annual Ault Park Concours d'Elegance

Historic Indy Race Cars, All Years

Micro Cars, All Years

Antique through 1924

Pre-War Classic, CCCA

Pre-War Vintage, Non-CCCA, 1925-1942

Racing, All Years

Special Display

Sports - Classic, through 1959

Sports - Contemporary, 1960-1975

American Performance, 1961-1971

Collector American, 1946-1968

Collector Asian, All Years

Collector Foreign, 1946-1975

Future Classic, 1975-Present

Historic Indy Race Cars, All Years Vehicles

1909 Stoddard-Dayton Model K Indy Car

1911 Marmon Wasp

1957 Kurtis Kraft 500G

1958 Kurtis 500H

1961 Chenowth Racing Special

1965 Lotus Type 38

1966 Lola T-90

1967 Mongoose Indy Racer

1971 Brawner McGee Scorpion Indy Car

1976 Lightning Indy Racer

Information on the 1961 Chenowth Racing Special

More photographs of the 1961 Chenowth Racing Special

Chuck Chenowth was the son of a San Diego hot rodder and the owner of San Diego Steel products, a company which produced headers. The San Diego Steel Products Roadster was the first Chevrolet V8 engine to attempt a qualifying fun at Indy. After arriving too late to qualify in 1960, he returned in 1961 and had engine failure during qualification trials. This Chevy powered car had given notice to the Offy engines. Two years later, in 1963, Mickey Thompson brought two Chevy powered cars which qualified to run the 500.

It was also widely known for its immaculate workmanship and low, sleek lines. It is believed by many to be the most beautiful roadster ever built. Its most notable win came in 1977, as the Roberts Steel Erection Roadster at the Little 500 at Anderson, Indiana with Jeff Bloom driving.

1961 was Chevrolet's first attempt to qualify a 255 cubic-inch V-8 small block at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1964 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, this car set a world record for open wheel cars for one lap on a 1.5 mile track at 157.4 mph. In 1977 this car won the 'Little 500' at Anderson, IN with Jeff Bloom driving. This Indianapolis car received a great deal of media attention as Chevrolet attempted to challenge the Offenhauser engines. The chassis was built by Chuck Chenowth/ San Diego Steel Products. The body was built by Eddie Kuzma & Don Brown. This car was retired in 1983.

• First Chevy V8 to attempt a qualifying run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 1961.

• Won the 'Little 500 at Anderson, Indiana in 1977 with Jeff Bloom driving.

• Built in 1960, Retired in 1983, Restored to 1961 configuration.

• The car received a great deal of media attention from:
The use of a Chevy V8 to challenge the dominance of Offenhauser engine at Indy.
The outstanding craftsmanship in the car.

• This car is credited in some circles with starting the 'Roadster Revolution' in sprint car racing.

• Greg Weld once said, 'It was the most immaculate race car I ever saw. It was absolutely a work of art. There wasn't one weld on the car that wasn't flawless and perfect.'

• This car was raced extensively from 1973 through 1983 in USAC, TRI-SAC and outlaw races as the Roberts Steel Erection Roadster.

• It was driven by such notable drivers as Mike Magill, Greg Weld, Bob Hurt, Bob Pratt, Al Smith, Cy Fairchild, Tom Sneva, Ray Wright, Duke Cook, Johnny Logan, Marv Carman and Jeff Bloom.

Also photographed at :

Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's >> Indy Cars

Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's >> Indy Roadsters

	Site Map \| Contact \| About Us \| Terms Of Use / Privacy Policy \| Links \| carAuctionValues
	Vehicles \| Wallpaper \| Events \| Price Guide \| Motorsports \| Articles
	Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production. © 1998-2013 Conceptcarz.com