A double overhead camshaft Offenhauser engine, like the one installed in the Bell Special, was a potent alternative to the more common, but less powerful, Ford V8-60. Although must costlier than the flathead, the free-breathing Offenhausers had a high power-to-weight ratio that made them ideal for light cars racing on dirt or other slippery surfaces. Located in Los Angeles, Offenhauser built its last engine during the early 1980s. The Bell Special was acquired by Roy Richter during the 1950s and remains in the possession of his family.

by Petersen Museum