500cc Racer

[aeronca65t]

This quaint little 500 cc formula car was part of the Vanderbilt Centennial that I ran in.
The engine was a Norton and the wheels were MG (according to the knockoffs). Not sure what the car was.....no badges and most of these half-liter racers looked similar (to my eye). Anyway, a neat little gem.

More pix here:

https://npmccabe.tripod.com/vanderbilt04.html

 

[waltesefalcon]

Nial,

Really cool little car. I think something like that would be alot of fun to build and race. Gives me all kinds of ideas.

 

[Paul Johnson]

Years ago I had a Cooper of this class and period. Fellow before me had scrapped the original engine and put in a 600cc BMW from an Isetta. Car was a hoot to drive, with all of its 21hp. Hauled it around in the back of a '63 Econoline pickup, to give you a size idea. Tube frame with clipped on aluminum body pieces. Fuel tank sat right over driver's lap. Rack/pinion steering. Transverse leaf suspension front and rear. Hub carriers from Fiat 500cc. Cast alloy wheels with drums cast into the wheels to help with unsprung weight. You'll see photos of these in some racing history books, but practically each one was a little different from the previous.

 

[Super 7]

Those are post WWII Formula 3 cars. Cooper probably had the best one.

 

[Roger]

That one looks oversize - bu tthere were scores of makes. I know - I'm old enough to remember.
Read all about them at this address.