READY-TO-GO RACE CARS ON HEMMINGS.COM

Racing is inherently part of human nature. From the beginning, humans competed to find who was faster, stronger, could go longer, and so on. It is just the way we are wired. That’s why Hot Wheels offered a drag race set when they first burst on the scene. Chances are that if you were bitten by that bug, you became a car guy or girl and moved on to real cars of a high-performance nature.

And still, you raced.

Racing has been in the blood of automotive aficionados from the beginning. Some may have started with pedal cars, while others went to go-karts, even midget racers and then full-sized race cars. What happens to older race cars? They get passed on, sold, restored and sometimes even raced again. That’s where Hemmings.com comes in: We don’t just sell street cars; we sell legendary race cars as well. Take a look at these listings we’ve just found. Your next race car or museum piece may be right here.

1988 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup Racer

One of just 39 built for the Rothmans Turbo Cup Series, this 944 Turbo is a genuine Weissach-built factory race car campaigned by Canadian ace Ron Fellows in the 1990 Porsche Turbo Cup season. Fun fact: The series winner would receive a healthy cash purse and a seat in the Rothmans 962C at the following year’s 24 Hours of LeMans. Weighing 600 pounds less than a regular 944 Turbo, this Turbo Cup car was equipped with magnesium wheels, intake, oil sump, custom brakes and Bilstein suspension. The interior was fitted with a rollbar and a single Recaro racing seat. The powertrain is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with a larger turbocharger. Power output was 250 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque through a five-speed manual transaxle with LSD. This low-mileage 944 has 6,300 miles on the clock. Fellows drove it to eighth-place overall in the 1990 series. Take the checkered flag with this one, today. 

1957 Jaguar D-Type Recreation

The Jaguar D-Type was a sports racing phenomenon that competed between 1954-1957. Designed with the express purpose of winning the 24 hours of LeMans, it originally appeared finless. The fin was added behind the driver for stability while racing down LeMans’ Mulsanne Straight. Just 71 copies were built for the track with an additional 16 for road-going use. Because of their rarity, several companies made replicas. This example was designed and built by the Lynx Engineering Company. It’s powered by a 3.8-liter Jaguar XK inline six-cylinder engine with three dual-draft Weber carburetors that have been matched to a four-speed manual transmission. It’s probably as close as many of us will ever get to a D-Type, so step right up at Hemmings.com. 

1975 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback Drag Racer

This 1975 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Instead of a 149 cubic inch 4-cylinder, we find a 421 cubic-inch V8 with Weiand Team G intake manifold and Holley1050 cfm 4bbl carburetor. An MSD ignition system keeps the sparks flowing. There’s a 2-speed Powerglide transmission sending torque to the 12-bolt rear axle with 4.11 gearing. It rides on a square tube chassis with full roll cage, an aluminum interior, fuel cell, and an electric fan (!) to keep the driver cool down the quarter mile. The seller says this award-winning car (Top Choice Race Car at Maple Grove’s Super Chevy show) has a nose-down, butt-up profile, and numerous scratches, cracks and chips in the paint. But they ask, at 140 mph, who will notice? Oh, and the sale will include sub-10-second quarter-mile time slips to prove it. This Vega is staging now and ready to go! 

1932 Ford Roadster Drag Racer

This early 1960s survivor drag car used to race on the East Coast as a AA/Street Roadster. It was raced until 1966 when rule changes basically killed the class. In the 1980s, it was converted to a street rod. In current years and because of its historical nature, the owners converted it back to AA/SR specs. It rides on an original 1932 Ford frame, with a vintage fiberglass body. It is powered by a freshened 1958 vintage 421 cubic-inch Chrysler Hemi V8 with a 6-71 GM supercharger and Hilborn modified four-port bug catcher scoop. It’s mated to a 727 Torqueflite transmission with B&M shifter. Seller states the car is streetable using 93 octane fuel. Although it was built for Nostalgia Drag Racing, it currently sports a street exhaust system. Street or strip, the choice is yours, here at Hemmings. 

1968 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ex-Jerry Titus

This Jerry Titus Pontiac Firebird Trans Am began life as a Camaro Z/28 for the SCCA Trans Am series. Here’s the backstory: Pontiac’s Firebird racing efforts weren’t proceeding as quickly as the Titus team would have liked so a decision was made to re-skin Camaro Z/28 bodies as Firebird T/A cars using Chevrolet engines offered in Canadian-sold Firebirds. This car is powered by a Chevrolet 5.0-liter (302 cubic-inch) V8 making 475 horsepower. It sends power to the rear end through a Borg Warner T-10 4-speed transmission. This is the car Titus brought to the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona. After two trips around the clock, Titus and co-driver Jon Ward were first in class and third overall behind a pair of Lola T-70s. After the Daytona win, the car would never race again in an American series. This example is offered in restored condition and eligible at the Rolex Monterey Historics and other historic Trans Am Events. A piece of racing history, this Canepa-offered race car can be yours today at Hemmings.com 

1948 Fiat 1100 S “GOBBONE” Race car

This 1948 Fiat 1100 Sport “Gobbone” race car is a three-time participant in the classic Mille Miglia road race. It ran in the 1953, 1954 and 1955 races, the last one being its best finish of seventh place in class. It ran in the 1100cc category, which at the time was the most popular. The 1100 S was powered by a 1.1-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 51 horsepower, with a top speed of 160km/h or 100 mph. Nicknamed the “Gobbone,” -Italian for Hunchback- this two-seater was designed by Fiat’s Carrozzerie Speciali. Its history is well-documented with photos and news clippings. It participated in the 2018 and 2019 Mille Miglia races and was then sold to a Dutch buyer in 2020. Since relocating to Holland, it received an extensive rebuild over the last three years. It is offered with documentation and historic photos and is currently Mille Miglia-eligible. 

1970 Porsche 917

Without question, the Porsche 917 is the most incredible race car in the world. As the Porsche commercials used to say, “There Is No Substitute.” This 1970 Porsche 917-032 was the property of ex-Porsche Works test driver Willi Kauhsena. Chassis number 917-032 was built for endurance development, and aerodynamic testing. It is one of three cars built with Schnorchel air ducts. It was also driven by Derek Bell and Jo Sieffert for testing at the Hockenheim. After Kauhsena and Reinhold Joest bought and raced the car they lent it as an extra in Steve McQueen’s legendary “LeMans” movie production. It was eventually offered for sale in 2013 as a restoration project. Owner Alex Hack sent it to 917 specialists Raceline Feustel for restoration using as many NOS Porsche 917 parts as possible. This full-on turnkey race car is NY-based and ready to add to its already-illustrious history. 

1969 Don Long AA/TF Top Fuel Dragster

This 3,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster competed in the NHRA AA/TF class from 1969 and later in the Nostalgia drag racing classes. According to the seller, it has been touched by a U.S. President and set several NHRA records along the way. Campaigned by Don Long as the “Great Expectations II” dragster, it is powered by a 400 cubic-inch supercharged Chrysler Hemi engine massaged by Ed Pink. By invitation, the car appeared at the White House in September of 1971 for its contribution to motorsports. It was there that it was photographed with President Nixon and Mario Andretti. Jackie Stewart, Don Garlits, Richard Petty, and others were there as well. It was later featured in a Hot Rod Magazine article about the event in December 1971. It is deserving of a caretaker who appreciates the historical significance of this race car. A 22-foot trailer is included with the sale of the vehicle. 

The post Ready-To-Go Race Cars On Hemmings.com appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.

2024-09-02T15:17:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd