 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
1938 Marchese Championship Racer news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  | Big Car Chassis Num: 75 |
| Sold for $99,000 at 2007 RM Auctions. | |||
In 1938, Carl and Tudy Marchese built their fist 'Big Car' as their entrant to the Indianapolis 500 that year. It was powered by an eight-cylinder Miller engine cooled by two radiators mounted in side pods and sitting in a chassis created from round tubes. By positioning the radiators in the side pods, the frontal area was able to be made narrow giving them an aerodynamic advantage at top speeds. The car was driven by Harry McQuinn who qualified the car in 25th position and finished the race in 7th.
By 1940 a number of changes and improvements had been made to the car. It was now fitted with a supercharger. It was brought to Indianapolis driven by both Tony Willman and Harry McQuinn but did not make the race. The following year Paul Russo qualified the car in 18th position and finished 9th overall.
Racing was halted during the Second World War, but when it came to an end, racing resumed. The car was brought to the first post War Indy 500 and was joined by many prewar cars. The field was mixed, with a variety of styles and configurations, one even sporting a V16 engine. The Marchese still had its 8-cylidner Miller engine but featured a restyled nose and grille. The car was driven by Tony Bettenhausen who qualified the car at 121.860 mph but not started the race as the car was withdrawn.
The following year, in 1947, the Marchese brothers ordered an Offenhauser 270 cubic-inch engine from Meyer and Drake. The Miller 8-cylinder unit was removed and replaced with the new engine in preperation for the Indianapolis 500 in 1948. The side pod radiators were removed and the car was given a more traditional appearance. It was driven by Myron Fohr during qualifying to a time of 121.531 but not good enough to start the race. This left him as the 2nd alternate starter. When the car was given the opportunity to race later in the season, its true potential was shown. At Springfield and Milwaukee the car came in first place. It finished in forth at DuQuion and earned the car the Triple A owners' championship for the Marchese brothers with Fohr finishing second in the driver's championship.
At the 1949 Indy 500 the Marchese was driven by Fohr to a fourth place finish. Fohr would finished the season in second place in the AAA Drivers Championship.
For 1950 the car was sponsored by Bardhal and qualified at 131.74 mph and in the 16th position. As the checkered flag fell, the car was in 11th place. The following year, and still with Bardhal sponsorship, the car was driven by Chuck Stevenson from Fresno, Ca. He drove the car to a speed of 133.764 in qualifying. During the race, the car caught on fire on the 93rd lap; it would finish the race but was awarded 20th place.
The car was repaired and brought to the 100-mile race at Syracuse, NY. unfortunately, the car was involved in a bad wreck but miraculously Stevenson was unharmed. The racing career of the car had come to an end.
The car was purchased by David Uihlein shortly after the race. Many years later, it was brought back to its 1951 configuration with the help of Buster Warke, Fred Nickels and Joe Silnes. In present day form, the car is fitted with the original Offenhauser 270 engine and fitted with a set of Riley carburetors and a two-speed gearbox. It has a tube frame chassis and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes actuated through the hand lever.
This vehicle was brought to the 2007 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $180,000 - $220,000. It was offered without reserve which worked well for the buyer who got a bargain for the selling price of $99,000 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007
| Honda Chases 10Th Consecutive Indy Triumph | |
| 05/21/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif. An accomplished 16-driver lineup, including two previous race winners and 11 graduates of open-wheel training-ground series, make up the Honda-powered effort for the 2013 Indianapolis 500, as the company seeks its 10th consecutive '500' victory – and fourth-in-a-row with engine-manufacturer competition. In 2012, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Dario Franchitti scored his third Indy triumph in a thrilling battle to the finish with fellow Honda drivers Takuma S...[Read more...] | |
| AAA INSPECTORS SELECT FAVORITE HISTORIC RESTAURANTS | |
| • Restaurants steeped in notable origins offer dining options rich in history and flavor
ORLANDO, Fla., May 15, 2013 - As Memorial Day approaches, bringing the start of the summer travel season, many Americans look for ways to connect with our nation's history during getaways and get-togethers. To help travelers enjoy a taste of our colorful beginnings, AAA inspectors gathered their selections for favorite historic restaurants. In locations that vary from an 1885 school building...[Read more...] | |
| SEBASTIEN LOEB OF FRANCE ENTERS PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB | |
 | One of the world's most decorated auto racing stars is coming to Pikes Peak this summer. Nine-time WRC World Rally Championship winner Sebastien Loeb of France has entered the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, adding more international luster to the nation's second-oldest motor sports event behind the Indy 500 and helping to make the field the best in the race's storied history.. The 91st running of the race will be held on Sunday, June 30 with the help and support of title ...[Read more...] |
| HONDA INDY GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA TALKING POINTS | |
| -This weekend's Honda Grand Prix of Alabama will be the fourth IZOD IndyCar Series event at the scenic, 2-3-mile Barber Motorsports Park circuit, and marks the third year American Honda has served as title sponsor of the event. -American Honda also sponsored last month's season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg; and will again be the title sponsor of the Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August. In addition to these three events, Honda Canada entitles the Honda Indy T...[Read more...] | |
| Screen Goddess' Car is the Star of Bonhams' Inaugural Sale at Scottsdale | |
 | Bonhams' foray into the Scottsdale auto auction week proved to be a strong success where, amidst the grounds of the beautiful and conveniently accessible AAA Four Diamond Westin Kierland Resort, an impressive and diverse line-up of cars offered buyers an unparalleled array of pedigree machinery from which to choose. The top seller of Thursday's sale was a well-documented 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet C, which brought $667,000 after a fierce bidding battle between home markets, the UK, ea...[Read more...] |
| View more Indianapolis vehicles |
| Marchese: 1931-1940 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Marchese |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction |
