1953 Bosley Mark I GT

A horticulturist by trade, Richard Bosley was a sports car enthusiast deeply involved in the burgeoning motorsports world during the 1950's and 1960's. In the mid-1950s, Richard Bosley of Mentor, Ohio, created the Bosley MK1. He had a passion for automobiles though - up to this point in history - had never built a car. In the early 1950s, he decided to build the car of his dreams. Powering the car was a Chrysler Hemi breathing through 6 carburetors. It had a quick change rear end courtesy of a 1948 Mercury, a 102-inch wheelbase, and an overall length of 168 inches. Braking power was provided by Lincoln 12-inch drums riding on magnesium center-lock wheels. The transmission was a five-speed unit built by the New Process Company. The bodywork was done by Mr. Bosley, with many of the interior and exterior parts sourced from various other vehicles.

The low-slung fiberglass body, potent engine, and 55-gallon fuel tank made it a suitable vehicle for long-distance racing. It had a top speed in the neighborhood of 160 mph.

This was not the only vehicle Mr. Bosley ever created. In the 1960s he built another vehicle of a different design, also having a fiberglass body.

Since Richard Bosley was a horticultural farmer by trade, he was unable to fund the production of his car, so this prototype was the only Bosley Mark I GT ever produced. Mr. Bosley kept the MK1 for many years, putting around 100,000 miles on it before trading it for an ex-Sebring (number 6) Corvette SR-2 which was used to form the basis for the Bosley Interstate.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2011