1949 Hillegass Sprint Racer

Sold for $30,420 at 2007 Bonhams - Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia featuring The Frank Cooke Collection Part II.
Hiram Hilegass began building race cars in 1919 and by the time he passed away in 1960, at the age of 65, he was considered one of the foremost builders of single-seat race cars in the United States. In 1997, he was elected to the National Sprint Car Hall of fame.

Mr. Hilegass built a reputation with his racing midgets. Using cast iron bucks, he could quickly and accurately reproduce the complex body panels that clothed his creations. His cars were durable and competitive. Drivers who came to rely on Mr. Hilegass for their midget racers turned to him for bigger cars which were then known simply as 'Big Cars.' These bigger cars could be fitted with bigger engines and were racing on larger tracks, including the Indianapolis 500. Hillegass built two Big Cars in the Thirties, one for Frank 'Butcher Boy' Wierer in 1937 and the second one for Doc Keim in 1939.

After World War II, the world was ready to get back to racing. Using techniques and lessons learned in the aircraft and defense industry during the war, a new type of race car soon took shape. Large diameter high strength steel tubing was used for the frame rails, offering lightweight and strong construction that was easy to build and repair. Hiram Hillegass took notice of the strong tubing and quickly developed his own design, which he offered as a chassis and body package for $925. The buyer was responsible for supplying their own driveline and engine. The first three tube-frame Hillegass sprint cars were built in 1949, three more were built in 1950.

Currently, it is powered by a 1956 Studebaker 259 cubic-inch V8 bored forty-over to give 265 cubic inches of displacement. The carburetion is a Rochester Quadrajet and sparks are provided by an electronic ignition module. Rod and main bearing sizes are standard Studebaker, and there is an oil filter. It has a stock Studebaker electric starter cranking a Studebaker flywheel on which is mounted a 1949-51 Mercury pressure plate and Ford clutch plate driving a Ford 3-speed transmission. The brakes are 1940 Ford juice drums front and rear, with Dayton knock-off wire wheels.

This Sprint Car, which has been restored, has a modern safety onboard fire system, seat belt, and a battery disconnect switch. It is finished in black and yellow, with brown leather upholstery.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2017