New An Exact Replica Of The 1959 Indy 500–Winning Aj Watson Indy Roadster Built To Race At Bonneville.
Wendt wanted something dissimilar for Bonneville too got geeked almost the Indy class. The tape is 176 mph, but Wendt wanted to larn into the 200 MPH Club. The rules nation y'all must offset alongside a race auto configured from the era it represents, so no afterward engines or swoopy bodywork are allowed. In fact, anything out of the norm must hold upwards proved to the SCTA rules commission to produce got existed dorsum inwards the day.
The hurdle for Wendt at every plough (no pun intended) was to discovery examples Watson built alongside wind-cheating features, too so introduce photographic proof to the rules committee. What improve agency to sift through the 10 or so years of Indy roadsters too Champ cars than to enlist the maestro; Watson himself was all the same residing inwards Indianapolis and, i time approached, became an enthusiastic participant.
Per the rules, the engine must hold upwards from the era, so it was Wendt’s chore to discovery the largest Indy engine he could find, which was a 270ci Offenhauser. These four-cylinder, racing-only beasts were the de facto pick for all Indy cars throughout most of the 1950s too into the 1970s, too were available equally both a 255ci too taller-deck 270ci versions. The cast-iron block integrated the caput similar a Harley engine. Today, finding a consummate engine non already inwards a museum slice is rare, too fifty-fifty private parts are impossible to find; when found, they are unremarkably damaged take-outs from dorsum inwards the day. Wendt was fortunate to slice together a consummate engine through Offy goodness Jim Himmelsbach inwards Cincinnati. Other than the pistons too rings, every engine constituent needed massaging or a rebuild to hold upwards serviceable inwards Wendt’s roadster. Don Enriquez rebuilt the mechanical Hilborn fuel injection, land Himmelsbach handled the balance of the build.
The approximate panel, instruments, steering wheel, seat, too interior are all right to 1959. The exhaust is genuinely off of a vintage Indy roadster, so authenticity is assured. The pigment system too every decal is right too inwards its proper place to the winning car.
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/bill-wendts-replication-1959-indy-500-winner-meant-bonneville/