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Hubert Brundage was an avid racer and owned the first Volkswagen distributorship after Volkswagen dissolved its relationship with Max Hoffman near the close of the 1950s. He was the owner of Brundage Motors which was later shortened to 'Brumos' which is a very familiar and popular word with Porsche owners and enthusiasts.
The Formula Vee racing is a popular racing series for armature racers due to its low costs and high degrees of competition. The cars are built to strict competition which means the best driver finishes first, rather than the fastest vehicle providing the podium finish for the driver.
Brundage ordered a one-off Formula Junior racer from Nardi, a company based in Italy. Brundage set a Volkswagen sedan to Nardi which they used to construct the racer. The design was inspired by Auto Union's Grand Prix car. On the racing circuit, Brundage's one-off car was no match for the competition. Brundage lost interest in the sport and sold the Nardi racer along with a spare chassis to Bill Duckworth and George Smith for the sum of one dollar. Both Duckworth and Smith had been impressed by the Nardi and were interested in creating a new series based on Volkswagen components, which they termed 'Formula Vee'.
The idea was to regulate nearly every component of the racer including dimensions, parts, weight, design, and more. They used the dimensions of the Nardi as a base and approached the SCCA with a set of their regulations and ideas. SCCA was reluctant and wanted to see if there was interest before making any commitment. The duo set out to popularize their idea and their racer, which they sold under the name Formcar.
The design was simple, utilizing a space frame chassis and Volkswagen components. Weight was set at around 825 pounds thanks to the aluminum body and fiberglass body panels. The 1200cc VW engine was mounted mid-ship and sent power to the rear wheels. The cost of the kit was set at just under $1000, selling for $945. A network of dealerships throughout the United States began selling the Formcar. Soon, the Formula Vee began the most popular SCCA class and continues to be a popular favorite even to this day.
The design of the Formcar remained similar throughout its lifespan. The MK1 was introduced in 1963. The MKII was introduced a year later and the MKIII followed in 1965. After 1965 the production of Formcar's ceased.
The Formula Vee racing is a popular racing series for armature racers due to its low costs and high degrees of competition. The cars are built to strict competition which means the best driver finishes first, rather than the fastest vehicle providing the podium finish for the driver.
Brundage ordered a one-off Formula Junior racer from Nardi, a company based in Italy. Brundage set a Volkswagen sedan to Nardi which they used to construct the racer. The design was inspired by Auto Union's Grand Prix car. On the racing circuit, Brundage's one-off car was no match for the competition. Brundage lost interest in the sport and sold the Nardi racer along with a spare chassis to Bill Duckworth and George Smith for the sum of one dollar. Both Duckworth and Smith had been impressed by the Nardi and were interested in creating a new series based on Volkswagen components, which they termed 'Formula Vee'.
The idea was to regulate nearly every component of the racer including dimensions, parts, weight, design, and more. They used the dimensions of the Nardi as a base and approached the SCCA with a set of their regulations and ideas. SCCA was reluctant and wanted to see if there was interest before making any commitment. The duo set out to popularize their idea and their racer, which they sold under the name Formcar.
The design was simple, utilizing a space frame chassis and Volkswagen components. Weight was set at around 825 pounds thanks to the aluminum body and fiberglass body panels. The 1200cc VW engine was mounted mid-ship and sent power to the rear wheels. The cost of the kit was set at just under $1000, selling for $945. A network of dealerships throughout the United States began selling the Formcar. Soon, the Formula Vee began the most popular SCCA class and continues to be a popular favorite even to this day.
The design of the Formcar remained similar throughout its lifespan. The MK1 was introduced in 1963. The MKII was introduced a year later and the MKIII followed in 1965. After 1965 the production of Formcar's ceased.
| Formula VeeFormula Vee is a single-seat junior racing league that was governed by strict racing rules creating some of the most competitive racing of all time. In comparison to other racing leagues, Formula Vee (FV) is low-cost. The buy-in was around $2000 with a competitive machine costing just over $5000. In modern times the price has increased to around $15,000 - $20,000 for a competitive racer. In comparison to other racing leagues, this is still very low. Throughout the years, the rules have changed to lower the costs, improve performance, or to allow for the substitution of parts as many have since been discontinued. Since the playing field is relatively even in terms of mechanical components and capabilities, drivers must heavily rely on their skill and technique in order to emerge victorious. Formula Vee traces its history back to 1960 and was started at the request of Volkswagen dealers. Three years later, the league was established and recognized as a class within SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). By 1966, it was ranked third out of the 17 classes, in terms of numbers of racers. These mid-engines cars were limited to a 1200cc engine, gearbox and suspension - all courtesy of the Volkswagen Beetle. Air restrictors may be used to keep the power similar for all drivers. The transmission is a VW Type 1 four-speed gearbox along with a set of VW ratios. The body is fiberglass and the chassis is a tube frame. The chassis are known for their low-cost and easy repair and high structural integrity, allowing most drivers to walk away from accidents. Dunlop produces a tire specifically for Formula Vee and this is the only tire allowed in the sport. The tire is suitable in wet or dry racing conditions. Wings are not allowed. Limited slip differentials or any type of traction-control is prohibited. The 1040 pound racer is capable of speeds up to 120 mph. Some of the more renowned producers of these historic racers are Zink, Autodynamics, Lynx, and Formcar. The cars are no longer produced but aftermarket parts are still available. In the sport of FV, the best driver wins. |
| Photos grouped by event | ||
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Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix |
 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix |
 Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen |
1963 Formcar MKI |
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| Year | 1963 |
| Make | Formcar |
| Model | MKI |
| Engine Location | Mid |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Fiberglass |
| Weight | 825 lbs | 374.2 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Builder | Volkswagen |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 1200.00 cc | 73.2 cu in. | 1.2 L. |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Volkswagen | |
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| Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix |
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