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1953 Kircher Special

Roadster
Chassis number: CO1045
Engine number: 198.9807500078

Designed and built by Kurt Kircher for Charles Hughes of the Denver Region SCCA in 1953, this special was far ahead of others running at the time. Initially, power was from a modified Jaguar XK120 and later changed to a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing motor and transmission. The chassis was liberally drilled chrome-moly tubing with torsion bar independent suspension and inboard drum brakes in the rear and quick-change differential. The aluminum body was fashioned by hand by Charles Lyon in a bi-valve design so the top may be removed for service.

It contested well in many SCCA events through the 1950s. It was in the Blackhawk Collection when the current owner purchased it in 1986. He has since participated in Vintage Races at Laguna Seca, Colorado Springs, Topeka, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Road America, Hallet, and Christchurch, NZ. It also ran in the Vintage Run (Singapore-Malaysia) and the Colorado Grand.

It was recently restored by The Automotive Archeologists.

Physicist Charles Hughes and automotive engineer Kurt Kirch built the Hughes-Kirch Special in Colorado in the early 1950s. The alloy body was designed by Charles Lyon, who used a two-piece construction method to allow for easy access to the mechanical components when the top piece was removed. In the front was a large grille fitted with two headlights. The side exhaust pipes exited the bodywork just behind the front wheels.

The car had a ladder frame that was constructed from chrome-moly tubing, a rack-and-pinion setup sourced from an MG, an independent front suspension, and a deDion unit in the back. The car had Alfin drum brakes and was powered by a six-cylinder double overhead camshaft Jaguar engine that displaced 3.4 liters. With the help of three SU carburetors, the engine offered 250 horsepower and gave the car a top speed of over 150 mph.

In 1954, at Fort Sumner, the car won its inaugural race followed by another victory at the Los Almos Hillclimb. Several other podium finishes were achieved before the close of the year. 1955 was not as successful, as a new breed of racing machines was being fielded by several competitive automakers. In an attempt to stay competitive, the engine was replaced with a Mercedes-Benz 300SL factory race engine. Unfortunately, the new engine did not help the car.

by Dan Vaughan