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Classic Sportscar Historic Racing Photos

Factories at Work: Cobra

These snaps from the Cobra “assembly line” have been bouncing around Tumblr this week and I couldn’t be more pleased to add them to our gallery of sports and racing factories, workshops, raceshops, and garages.

via T-Top Coupe

Bonus, Steve McQueen picking his Windsor block Cobra from the man himself.

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Historic Racing Photos Porsche Track Maps of the Past

1954 Carrera Panamerica in Color

You don’t often see color photography from the Carrera. I’d love to know more about this shot of Hans Hermann’s car for the 1954 Carrera Panamericana. Usually the car is seen with its iconic aluminum tonneau cover occupying the passenger seat. Was this part of a scouting run? A press event? I haven’t been able to find information on it—let me know if you do.

The Porsche 550 of Herbert Linge at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana

This remarkable set of shots below highlights the sheer variety of machines that competed in ’54 (and every year). It’s one of the things I most love about the Carrera.. Jaguars and Lincolns mixing it up? Sure. Ford and Ferrari going head-to-head a decade before that meant something? Why not.

This set is collected from a series shot by Ina Mae Overman and Stanley Dean Miller. See more of Ina Mae and Stanley’s photos at The Gentleman Racer.

Categories
Historic Racing Photos Porsche

Fiddling with the Porsche 547 4-Cam Engine

Can you imagine a contemporary engine rebuilder breaking down their much-coveted and high-dollar Porsche Type 547 Carrera 4-cam “Furhmann” engine with it sitting on her side on the ground in the pits? These guys even have grease stains on their coveralls!

Perhaps more than anything, this tight little engine package earned Porsche her “Giant Killer” nickname. The high-revving little perfection box was complicated and notoriously finicky to tune. But when it was just right, it was just right—and has the very long list of victories to prove it.

Despite the difficulties of maintaining it, the cammer engine was reliable enough for an entire season of street driving to the track, capturing a trophy, and making the trip back home.

Besides, don’t these mechanics just look happy to be working on it?

via Hayburner Magazine.

Categories
Historic Racing Photos

Chevrolet-ish

Magnificent shot of racer and cofounder of the company that still bears his name, Louis Chevrolet in a Sunb(ḙ)am at the 1916 Astor Cup race. 

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Historic Racing Photos Porsche

Mixed Lot

Triumph leads Ford and Porsche at Sebring ’66.

Sebring. 1966. A place where these three cars could share a corner and not look odd.

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Historic Racing Photos

Early GoPro Prototype

The modern GoPro really is a minor miracle, isn’t it?

Categories
Historic Racing Photos

Reader Mystery: Florida Alfa

John Shea wrote in with another photographic head scratcher. Can anyone identify this Alfa-Romeo photographed at Sheppard’s Imports in Tampa, Florida in the mid-1950s?
I think we can all agree that the handwritten “Alfa Romero” isn’t exactly right. 🙂

Categories
Historic Racing Photos Lost Track Porsche

Gary Mason's 1960 SCCA Nationals at Marlboro Raceway


Gary Mason sent us a whole pile of his photographs shot as a teenager during his travels through Europe hitting every motor race he could. His passion for racing, however, did not wane once he was back stateside. Here is a collection of his photos from the 1960 SCCA Nationals at Marlboro Motor Raceway in Maryland. Some great images here from the President’s Cup race which featured a wide variety of machines ranging from the heavy iron of Corvettes and big Ferraris down to Porsches and Lotus Elevens.
I love these mixed grids, especially when the finish order isn’t just a descending list of horsepower. Roger Penske took the day in his Porsche 718 after taking over the lead from fellow 718 driver Bob Holbert on the 3rd lap. If we were giving out trophies for aesthetics I’d be tempted to give a special prize to Bill Mitchell’s Corvette. That Stingray still looks exotic.
Gary Mason's 1960 SCCA Nationals - Bill Mitchell Stingray
There are some photos from additional races that weekend, but I’m not immediately finding documentation about this MGA heavy grid or the little blue Devin.

More of Gary Mason’s photos in the archives. Thanks Gary!

Categories
Historic Racing Photos

In the Workshop

porsche-spyder-workshop-3-3-3porsche-cars-porsche-auto-aero-auto-coachbuilding-racing-cars-porsche-spyder-garage-journal-spyder-workshop-550-porsche
Oh to visit this little garage and perch on a stool out of the way and watch these gorgeous machines get prepped for the upcoming season.

Categories
Historic Racing Photos

Milne Bros. – Pasadena