The Cooper Bobtail T39 is a mid-engined sports racer with a 4-cyl single-overhead-cam Coventry-Climax engine of 1,460 cc. designed and developed by Owen Maddock at Cooper Cars, for sports car racing in 1955. The car debuted in active racing competition at the Easter race in Thruxton in 1955, being driven by Ivor Bueb, and was… Continue reading 1956 Cooper Bobtail T39
Category: Other sports racing cars
Heroes of the Forest: Mark Brinker – NEW
Rob Manson and everyone at the Del Monte Trophy Group – The Pebble Beach Road Racers – are so excited to announce the publication in August 2026 of the most in-depth account of the Pebble Beach Road Race. We congratulate Mark Brinker on the immense work required to bring such a huge oeuvre into being… Continue reading Heroes of the Forest: Mark Brinker – NEW
1955 Austin-Healey 100-4
This is one of the first Austin-Healey sports cars to appear on the West Coast. A few were raced in SCCA Class D at Pebble Beach from 1954. The 1955 Austin-Healey 100-4 is a quintessential British roadster celebrated for its 2,660 cc inline-four cylinder engine, 100 mph top speed, and iconic fold-down windscreen. The 1955… Continue reading 1955 Austin-Healey 100-4
1954 Cannon Mk IV
Rick Cannon’s 1954 Cannon Mk IV is a California special, with early gullwing doors, built by Ted Cannon at his machine shop in North Hollywood. It originally had a lay-down Offenhauser engine, raced by L.A. fireman and experienced road racer Jim Seeley around California, but now runs with a Chevy V8. Entered and arrived at… Continue reading 1954 Cannon Mk IV
1953 Comet Glasspar Special
Douglas Brower’s car, unfinished in summer 2026, has a fiberglass body by Bill Tritt for Glasspar on a custom chassis, V8 5,358cc. Bob Ballenger raced in sports car events like the 1952 Janesville WI races. Fiberglass bodies for various sizes of sports cars and hot rods were popular In the early 1950s; Glasspar was one… Continue reading 1953 Comet Glasspar Special
1955 Mistral-Chevrolet
1955 Mistral-Chevrolet Sports Racer Chassis no. 34300786 Mistral fiberglass bodies made by Microplas in the UK were sold by Goodwin in L.A. Wesley Abendroth’s car was built in New Zealand with square tube frame, 283 Chevy V-8 4785cc, Holley 4-barrel and a Muncie gearbox. Don’t feel bad if a “Mistral” rings no bells other than… Continue reading 1955 Mistral-Chevrolet
1955 Swartley OSCA Special
1955 Swartley OSCA Special. Tube chassis, aluminum body, OSCA MT4 engine 1100cc, now a 1600cc OSCA/FIAT motor. In 1955 Skip Swartley was the SCCA D-modified champion and finished 9th at Pebble Beach. Purchased by the Adair family from Mark Brinker as a project which is just about complete in summer 2026. Built in 1954 for… Continue reading 1955 Swartley OSCA Special
1958 Devin J Special
Summary of Jon LeCarner’s #58 Devin… Lightweight tube frame by Joe Huffaker, Devin J fiberglass body by Bill Devin in El Monte CA. 5,358cc Chevy V8. A next generation California Special like the Huffaker Knoop, Scarab and Chaparral I. Raced 1957-1960 at Tracy, Vacaville, Riverside, Port Stockton, Laguna Seca, with a run at Bonneville in 1960.… Continue reading 1958 Devin J Special
1954 Porsche Pupulidy Special
One-off sports racer on a tubular steel ladder frame built and raced by Emil Pupulidy in period on the East Coast. 1620cc flat air cooled four cyl. Porsche motor and running gear. Design inspiration was the Glöckler Porsche Specials. Key Specifications & Features…Engine: Modified Porsche 356 racing engine with Carillo rods, Scat crank, titanium valves,… Continue reading 1954 Porsche Pupulidy Special
Simca MG 1955. Frank Monise
Here’s a photo off Facebook of Frank Monise Sr. in his Simca powered by MG in 1955. His son Howard Monise writes, 22 June 2024: “My dad’s hobby was racing various cars over 40+ years. This pic is from a sports car race at Goleta Airport in Santa Barbara, September 1955. I love the old… Continue reading Simca MG 1955. Frank Monise