Customs 60's Indy Car Custom Need Help

Hi, I'm trying to get some info about this car. We think it was it was built in So Cal in the late 60's but not sure by who. The only referance is the NHRA badge with Henry's Machine Works listed on it. We know the car sold at an auction in Monteray in the late 90's but don't know anything before or after. thanks

 

When I saw this my first thought was that tag has to be on a bellhousing/****tershield manufactured by Henry's but I thought they were long gone years ago. Wrong, they are still in business in Running Springs, CA. Call them at 909-867-4656. It's hard to say if they are the same owners, or if anybody there now was around when Henry's fabricated parts for the car but they might possibly know who built the car and when.

 

Why not give the Museum at Indy a try? They have a HUGE historical library and a friendly staff. Gary

 

What engine and if it's water cooled where is the radiator located? What size wheels?

 

Thanks for the replies looks like its a 67 corvette 327 radiators in the rear

 

I really like it! WOW

 

It was sold at Auctions America in Auburn in 2012. It had an HSR) sticker (Historic Sportscar Racing) on the windshield so It would have been raced with them in the years just prior. It sold for $7700

 

I suspect,originally, it was probably a SCCA Formula A/ or Formula 5000 rather than a Indy car.

 

That's when we bought it. I'd ready like to find out who made it.

 

I'd say he hit it real close. A search of photos of Formula 5000 cars didn't bring up a photo though.

 

In the still guessing department, the body seems too early for F5000 cars, which had nose and tail wings. For the same reason probably not Formula A. It almost reminds me of a GM CERV style build, a test bed of sorts, but it doesn't match any of those I've seen all that well. My best guess is a still very early 60's Indy or Champ car (no front or nose wings). Gary

 

Not all of them.

 

^ Jeez... it's pretty close. Now you're going to tell me that's a Chaparral, too, right? It has that look... but I don't know if Hall ever built any. Gary

 

Formula A allowed 5.0 Stock Block as of 1968. Prior to that they were restricted to 3L racing engines. In 1972 the rules changed to ONLY 5.0 V-8's and was renamed F5000.
Did you check with the HSR guys to see if anyone recognized it? Maybe post a pic on their Facebook site? https://www.facebook.com/HSRrace/

 

This is somewhat off the wall but here goes.

If that is the original paint and lettering ( or a refresh of the original ) and you could track down someone involved in SCCA racing around the Dayton, Ohio area you might be able to turn up something. The paint scheme and numbers look like those used by the Walther family who were involved in Indy car racing and one of the sons was getting his start in racing about that period of time, so it might have been his learner car.

To me the looks as though it was probably built for club racing rather that taking on the big boys in Formula A. Formula A at that time was pretty serious business and the car more than likely would not have been very compe***ive at that level,

 

It is funny that the auction listed it as an Indy Car Prototype LOL

 

Jim Hall built one lone Chaparral F5000 car which looked nothing like the car in question. Franz Weis, at Lime Rock, 1971.

 

Henry's was on woodruff in bellflower ca, I talked/helped the new owner with some ecm stuff nice guy, he may know something, but I am having a senior attack, can not remember the name of a guy who was very involved in the bellflower shop. If he is still alive ,he also lives close to the current owner. I am sure he may have an idea/knowledge of that car

 

Are you thinking of Gary Trautloff? By the 1970's they had moved to Anaheim if I remember correctly. Gary went on the found DuraBlue axle co.

 

Back to the car in question, I sure hope we can find out if it was entered in any races or if it ever qualified to start at Indy or other USAC / Champ car tracks. Gary

 

I will bet No Gary - I don't think this was ever an Indy/Champ car of any sort......

 

Might be worth a shot to find the serial number on the Hilborn and contact them with it. Given that they used to provide the date, who and where sold to when it went out their door the first time. Race parts get swapped around a lot over the years but still might get some leads on time frames, names, and general areas of the country by doing that.

Ed

 

There are a few things that can be checked that might help determine it's original purpose. 1. wheelbase 2. fuel capacity 3. fuel inlet dia. 4. dry sump or wet sump. 5. tube frame or monocoque. 6. and look for magnaflux stamps on spindles and uprights.

 

Gotta watch this. Some really good advice in the last couple posts.

 

I saw the name Gary Trautloff on a patten for an axel. I think he use to own Henry's. Does anyone know if he's still around? Thanks for all the responses please keep them coming I'd love to solve the mystery.

 

There is a Gary Trautloff, 67, in Lake Forest, CA. Might be your guy.

 

Might be a long shot but for a while SuperModifieds experimented with rear engine combinations, I worked on one that ran Oswego, that one might have been a west coast car.

 

As I posted above, he owns DuraBlue Axle co, http://durablue.com/contact_0.shtml.htm

 

Some pic's of the suspension might give some clues,,,,,