1963 Watson Indy Roadster Roadster

During the late 1950s, the cars built by A.J. Watson were among the most successful to race at Indy. A.J. Watson was an Air Force navigator, then attended Glendale College on the G.I. Bill and later worked at Lockheed Aircraft.

The first car he built designed for racing was a Ford-based Hot Rod prepared for oval track racing. In 1948 he went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway serving as a mechanic. By 1950, he had designed and built his own Indy competitor. The cost of building and campaigning the car was too great so Watson eventually returned to the assembly line at Lockheed Aircraft. He left on the day prior to the Indy 500 in 1951, with his sole focus turned on automotive racing. In 1954 he signed with John Zink Jr.'s team serving as the chief mechanic. Using a Kurtis Roadster, he made several modifications and improvements, and in the capable hands of Bob Sweikert, the vehicle emerged from the 1955 Indy 500 in first place. The following year he built an Indy roadster of his own design. The car would emerge victorious. His cars would win again in 1959, 1960, 1962, and 1963. In total, there were 23 Indy Roadsters created by A.J. Watson.

This A.J. Watson Indy Roadster was driven by Len Sutton as the number 7 Leader Card team car. It is shown restored in the 1964 Diet Rite Cola #95 style, as driven by Chuck Stevenson. The car ran the Champ Car circuit through 1966 and was then run as a 'super modified' at Oswego before being restored.