1931 Studebaker Rigling Hunt Special Boattail Racer

The Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, raced in 1924 with Earl Cooper's Miller-powered Studebaker Special finishing 2nd overall. After a strong showing of Studebaker-powered cars in 1930, company president Albert Erskine and chief engineer Barney Roos were convinced that a factory racing team would be beneficial. Studebaker's director of testing, George Hunt, became involved in 1931 with this Indy 500 racer, initially known as the Hunt Special, which was built in partnership with Bonneville racer Ab Jenkins, who had set many speed and endurance records with Studebaker cars.

With Jenkins' financial backing and assistance from Studebaker, Hunt ordered a racing chassis from Indianapolis-based fabricator, Rigling and Henning. It was given aluminum bodywork by 'Pops' Dreyer, which featured an ornamental grille in the front and a pointed tail section in the rear. Many stock Studebaker parts were utilized, including the gearbox, steering gear, axles, and brakes. The engine was a 336 cubic-inch straight eight from the Studebaker President. The engine was modified with four Winfield carburetors, a high-compression cylinder head, Scintilla magneto, steel tube headers, and a high-performance cam.

The Hunt Special is finished in a Willow Green exterior and made its racing debut at the 1931 Indianapolis 500, where it was driven by Tony Gulotta. He qualified 19th with an average speed of 117.7 mph. On Lap 167, the Hunt Special crashed after hitting an oil slick, sending it into the Turn 4 wall. Thankfully, Gulotta and his riding mechanic were not injured.

After the Indy 500, the damaged racer was repaired, and preparations were made to get it ready to compete in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in September. Chuck Myers was contracted to pilot the car, running in the Open Class. Myers finished 1st Overall, set a course record, and traveled the 12.4-mile climb in 17 minutes and 10.3 seconds.

Four identical Studebaker were built to contest the 1932 Indianapolis 500. The five-car fleet finished in 3rd, 6th, 12th, 13th, and 15th. This particular example, driven by Zeke Meyer and wearing race number 37, placed 6th with an average speed of 98.476 mph.

After the race, the Studebaker Specials took part in a traveling auto show that toured United States cities for promotional purposes. After the tour, this car was displayed on the Studebaker stand at the 1933 New York auto show. Later, four of the Studebaker team cars were modified with new bodies that had undergone wind tunnel testing. This example retained its original body, however, it did receive a streamlined grille and 18-inch wire wheels. Engine modifications include a more radical camshaft and Stromberg carburetors in similar fashion to the other four factory-owned cars.

The Studebaker cars returned to Indianapolis in 1933. They placed 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. This example, wearing race number 47, was driven by L.L. 'Slim' Corum, who finished 12th.

The effects of The Great Depression, crippling the market during the early 1930s, eventually forced Studebaker to withdraw from competition. Jenkins took his car home to Utah, where it was used occasionally on the salt flats. Marvin, Jenkins' son, made modifications in the mid-1930s to make it eligible to drive on the road. He used it as a sports car through 1939, when it was sold to W.J Patterson. Ray Ronald acquired the car around 1960, and it would spend the next decade in a South Los Angeles backyard. In 1972 it was sold to Stanley B. Smith, who painstakingly restored the Studebaker Special over the next decade to its 1932 appearance and specification. The work was completed in the early 1980s and then shown at marque gatherings and other events.

The next owner, Robert Valepy, acquired it in 1988. It has remained in his care for the past three decades. In 2016, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance to take part in a display of two-man Indy cars. It is currently powered by a 336 cubic-inch L-head inline 8-cylinder engine breathing through four Stromberg downdraft carburetors. It produces 205 horsepower which is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual gearbox. Mechanical drum brakes are located at all four corners.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019

This 1931 Studebaker was built under the direction of George Hunt, Studebaker's top engineer. The car's owner was Ab Jenkins, who hoped to drive the car in the 1931 Indianapolis 500, but despite his many speed records, he was unable to qualify, so Tony Gulotta drove it, with Carl Riscigno as riding mechanic. Gulotta started well, and by lap 120, he was running in 2nd place and was given the go-ahead to run flat out. But as he took the lead, he hit oil from a previous accident and crashed. After the car was repaired, it went on to win the 1931 Pikes Peak Hill Climb driven by Chuck Myers. It then returned to Indianapolis in 1932 and was driven by Zeke Meyer to 6th place, and it returned yet again in 1933 and was driven by L.L. Corum to 12th. The car was purchased by its current owner in 1988.