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Guida was never able to complete the car. That task would be performed many years later. Dick Lowe, a race-car collector and restorer, came across this still-unfinished racer in a garage in San Dimas, California. It was without an engine, as it had been sold prior to the Harrah museum in Reno. Together with his friend, Les Edwards (the California Racing Association car owner), the task of completing the car got underway.
A replacement engine was acquired in similar trim to the original. A complete Hosterman engine was obtained that featured engine blocks cast by Tampa Marine and had the exact dimensions of the Model B Ford unit. There were five main bearings (Ford's had three), and had 8-valve 'Hemi' head that used O rings instead of a head gasket. The unit displaced 219.2 cubic-inches and weighed 400 pounds.
Work on the car was completed in May of 1983, a mere 40 years after the project had started. Upon completion, the car was entered in raced in the Western Racing Association league. It received a restoration in the mid-2000s and in 2007 it was brought to Carmel, California where it was offered for sale at Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia. The lot had an estimated value of $75,000 - $100,000. It failed to find an interested buyer willing to satisfy the vehicles reserve and left the auction unsold.
| Sprint CarSprint cars have had a very long history and enjoyed much popularity in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. They are generally considered high-powered race cars with the purpose of competing on short dirt or paved tracks. sprint Car Racing really came into its form after World War I, when many enthusiasts and armatures raced 'specials' (commonly referred to as 'race cars' and 'dirt track cars') at various dirt tracks, such as at the county fair horse tracks. The Ford Model T was a popular favorite, as it had the speed and parts were readily available. Within the decades to come, the cars evolved greatly. The Ford engine was still popular, but other custom builders, such as Miller and Offenhauser, offered a very competitive engine that often outclassed the rest of the field. Up to this point in history, around the 1930s, the cars were still not called 'Sprint Cars'. Midget cars had come onto the scene, and were much smaller than the larger machines, now called 'big cars.' The post-World War II era brought about many new improvements. Cars were professionally built and competition continued to escalate. Some cars were still using the four-cylinder engines of the pre-WWII era, but many had been fitted with larger units, such as the Ford or Mercury flathead V8. The Chevrolet V8 became popular in the 1960s and soon outclassed other engines. The name 'Sprint Car' was coined around 1950. As the years progressed, the cars were improved with the addition of safety requirements such as cage roll bars. The engines began producing more and more horsepower, and wider tires were needed to help with traction. Wings began appearing on the tops of car to help with down forces. In modern times, the Sprint Cars can reach speeds in excess of 140 mph. Many engines have been tuned to produce 750 horsepower and more. The cars have an excellent power-to-weight ratio and are very entertaining to watch or compete in. Famous drivers from well-known racing series, such as IndyCar and NASCAR, have competed in Sprint Car Racing. |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com