Six Classic Racecar Haulers

Posted on by

Chevrolet Box Truck Richard Childress CRCWe’ve said it before: There was a time in racing when even the transporters had personality. Here are six memorable racecar haulers from yesteryear. 

 

 

Yes, here at Mac’s Motor City Garage we have a thing for classic racecar transporters from the great old days of motorsports. And we know you do, too. Previous photo features include Another Look at Vintage Racecar Transporters and More Vintage Racecar Transporters, both of which struck a chord with our readers. Now we’re back with another round of historic racecar rigs. Please enjoy.

 

1956 Kurtis Offy AJ with trailerHere’s young A.J. Watson loading up for the road trip to Indy in the spring of 1956 with the pair of roadsters he constructed for Tulsa oil man John Zink. On the no. 8 roadster, note the taped-up grille and starter openings, the fitted canvas cockpit cover, and the custom-tailored lightweight trailer. In the days before enclosed semi rigs, this is how Indy cars traveled in style. Pat Flaherty would win the 1956 Indy 500 by more than 20 seconds driving A.J.’s innovative Offy roadster.

 

Dick Landy 1965 Dodge rigIn 1965, Southern California drag racer Dandy Dick Landy was fielding one of the fastest match racers in the country, an altered-wheelbase Dodge Coronet. These early funny cars were known for their tricky handling, and Landy’s tow rig looks like a handful as well. Note the long-wheelbase, single-axle trailer the ’65 Dodge Custom 880 station wagon is pulling: Now, there’s some tongue weight.

 

The racing operation of Chicago labor boss Umbrella Mike Boyle in 1939 included a pair of Maseratis, including the 8CTF (left) that won the Indy 500 two years in a row (1939-1940) with Wilbur Shaw. Loaded onto the flat bed truck, which is parked outside Boyle’s race shop at 1701 Gent Ave. in Indianapolis, is the team’s dirt car that season.

 

Cobras four on Shelby car hauler - CopyIn 2015 prices, this must be around, oh, a bazillion dollars’ worth of Cobra competition roadsters loaded onto the Shelby American fifth-wheel trailer. The new (circa 1963) Ford N-Series Super Duty semi-tractor is pretty nice, too.

 

Federal Truck Ab Jenkins Mormon Meteor IILegendary Bonneville racer Ab Jenkins (right) and son Marv stand for a photo with the Mormon Meteor III and their cabover Federal transporter. Constructed on Duesenberg frame rails and housing a Curtiss Conqueror 1570 CID V12 aircraft engine, the Meteor III ran 161 mph for 24 hours on the salt in 1940, setting speed/distance records that stood for 50 years.

 

Chevrolet Box Truck Richard Childress CRCAs every good NASCAR fan knows, Richard Childress came up the hard way as an independent owner-operator, building and driving his own Winston Cup cars.for a variety of sponsors including CRC shop chemicals, shown here on the side of his Chevrolet box truck. Then one day he climbed out of the racecar and plugged a fierce young driver named Dale Earnhardt into the seat. The rest, as they say, is history.

10 thoughts on “Six Classic Racecar Haulers”

  2. Thanks MCG, great pics. I’m drawn to the Boyle Racing truck. I think that handsome piece is an early 30’s Diamond T ( or Federal?) It would make sense, as Diamond T was made in Chicago, and catered to high class operations. ( racing Maserati’s, I’d think, was high class racing) Note the little cooling doors open on the hood. I like the Federal of Ab Jenkins too.( very similar to Diamond T) The Ford N model pulling the Cobra’s is probably a gas job. (backwards hood scoop and no diesel stack). I heard Ford was one of the last truck manufacturer’s to use gas engines in their heavy duty trucks, well into the ’60’s. Always enjoy the truck pics, thanks again.

    • Howard see comment below. We are rebuilding the 34 Diamond T of Boyle Racing Headquarters.
      If your on facebook you can see the project.
      Facebook – Boyle Racing Headquarters

    • The Ford IS a gas job…. you can see the ‘Super Duty’ name on the hood so it was a 577″ or 634″ Super Duty.

  3. I have an old 8 mm home movie taken when my Dad took me to the 1967 Daytona 500. Choppy but there are some pit shots of the teams loading their cars after the race. The picture of the Childress truck reminded me of Smokey Yunicks Box Truck and tag along car trailer. That was a different era in NASCAR and one that beings back fond memories real racers.

  4. Bill Davis restored the 1965 Watson Quad Cam Ford Branson Rear engine car. Along the way, he restored a Wheelhorse tractor they used to move cars arounf the track, an original Watson trailer that has 2 smaller diameter tires to take some of the tongue weight off (like the one in your photo) and also one of the Autolite sponsored Ford Country Squire station wagons (less wood trim) tow vehicles. It was a 390 automatic, white with red interiors. Each team got 2. Pictures to follow!

  6. Thanks. At the pre-race vintage race car show & exhibition runs Wed thru Sat, they had the Sumar special trailer & 55 Ford station wagon tow vehicle. The Sumar Spcl was a no show. This was the streamlined, full bodied roadster, with a canopy that didn’t qualify, recreated by the guys at Hammer Art in Indy.

    Can’t figure out how or if I can post a photo…

  7. We are rebuilding the 1934 Diamond T race car hauler of Boyle Racing Headquarters. It was in a ravine on an Indiana farm for 63 year. It will be finished mid March ready for race season once again in Indianapolis. We are also rebuilding the Boyle Racing Headquarters Building pictured behind the cars.
    *the second car pictured is not a second Maserati 8ctf (seen on left) but it is the Miller 8 Big Car.(see on right)

  8. That pic of Landy must be not too long before he got a truck. I see pics of him with a 1 ton Dodge truck hauler.
    There is some neat pics of Tommy Ivo and Roland Leong towing drag cars with big wagons as well

Comments are closed.