1961 Campbell Corvette Special

Success in racing has always been earned by having all the right ingredients, from mechanical components, preparation, testing, and team work. Many racers during the 1950s and 1960s relied on the Corvette engines to help power them to victory. Carroll Shelby even experimented with the Chevrolet engines before moving ahead with Ford. Brian Lister from England used Chevy engines in several of his cars, and even Sergio Scaglietti bodied three so-called Corvette Italias.

Another individual, Bill Campbell, used his ingenuity and creativity to create one of the most memorable and successful Chevy-powered Specials of the 1950s/1960s. Mr. Campbell had nearly two decades of experience in dry-lake racing, was the co-founder of his own boat company, and had easy access to fiberglass construction. By 1960, Mr. Campbell had developed his own purpose-built sports racer. It was a lightweight car powered by a small-displacement motor mounted behind the driver. The steel-tube chassis was the work of Indy car builder Wayne Ewing. A 1100cc J.A.P. motorcycle engine was mated to a three-speed Chevy transmission, and a Fiat independent suspension was installed in the front with a swing axle setup in the rear. Mr. Campbell mounted an aerodynamically sleek fiberglass body with its design inspiration being sourced from many European sports car.

In early 1961, Campbell installed a Corvette 283 CID motor fitted with a Weiand intake manifold topped by three Stromberg carburetors. The engine was angled 5 degrees down at the nose. To cope with the extra power, a Corvair-based front independent suspension was fitted, while the rear swing axle with exchanged for a De Dion tube with a Watts linkage. Other changes included a Corvette clutch and aluminum radiator, Halibrand wheels, Halibrand disc brakes, and a quick-change rear differential. When completed, the car had nearly a 50/50 weight distribution and weighed less than 1,400 pounds.

In 1962, the car was sponsored by actors Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts from the TV series, Bonanza. Blocker, who had worked in the pits, was the car's official entrant at the Riverside race on June 24th, 1962. The car would finish the race in 1st place, its first victory.

In September, the Special suffered an airborne crash at Santa Barbara and Campbell spent the off-season rebuilding the car.

The 1963 season was the car's most successful season, with Jim Parkinson placing 1st overall at Del Mar on April 28th. During the race, the car lowered the course's lap record by approximately two seconds.

On March 12th, the car finished first again during the Saturday component of the Cotati race in Sonoma County, California, but retired early on Sunday. Two weeks later, Parkinson drove the car to another win at Santa Barbara.

In late 1963, Campbell traded the Corvette Special to Joshua Saslove for a Mistral-bodied Kurtis that he rebuilt into the Alligator Special. Saslove later entered the Special in two races in October 1963 but never officially arrived at either event.

In 1993, the car was acquired by Mr. Mittler. At the time, the car needed refurbishment, and he commissioned a full restoration between 2002 and 2005. The car was returned to its proper 1961 Riverside livery, including an all-new fiberglass body. The restoration work exceeded $143,000.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013