1959 Stanguellini Formula Jr. Monoposto

1089cc OHV Inline Four-cylinder Engine
Dual Weber Twin-choke Side-draft Carburetors
78 bhp at 6500rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front and Rear Suspension with Coil Springs and Tubular Shock Absorbers
4-wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*From a noted New Hampshire stable
*Well-documented ownership history
*Sympathetically restored by marque specialist
*Eligible for Goodwood Revival and Monaco Historic Grand Prix
*Class winner at Road America

Previewing in Uxbridge, Massachusetts by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.


The Stanguellini Formula Junior Monoposto Racer

Few single-seaters are more delightful than the original Stanguellini Formula Junior, which appears to be a scaled down Maserati 250F. Formula Junior was conceived in the late 1950s by Count "Johnny" Lurani as a training class for up-and-coming Italian drivers. The CSI approved the concept and set rules constrained only by engine type and displacement and minimum weight. Alberto Massimino designed Stanguellini's first Formula Junior. Most of the components were derived from the Fiat 1100. As the late Peter Giddings wrote, "A simple tubular chassis was used, with the cockpit offset to the left and the gear box and propeller shaft running alongside the driver. Stanguellinis were powered by the Fiat 1089cc engine with two twin-choke Weber DCOE carburetors. Power was transmitted through a Fiat four-speed gearbox. Brakes were 9.8 inch Fiat drums, placed inboard at the rear. Suspension was independent at the front with coil springs, while at the rear was a live axle (independent after 1959) and coils located by parallel trailing arms. The wheels were the classic 12 inch Borrani wire wheels. The body was fabricated in lightweight aluminum by Carrozzeria Gransport of Modena." Numerous other Italian race shops quickly brought out their own designs.

The first Formula Junior race, drawing eight entries of six different makes, was staged at Monza on April 25, 1958 and was won by a Stanguellini. Another contest at Monza followed in late June as part of the "Race of Two Worlds" weekend, and again a "Stang" took top honors.

Formula Junior races were often the most competitive and entertaining of any race weekend. Soon, England and other European countries began to stage their own series. Interest quickly spread nearly world-wide, including America, and as hoped, some great drivers, future F1 World Champions among them, emerged from this modest class.

The Formula Junior category existed between 1958 and 1963. Front-engined cars enjoyed a brief monopoly, but were eclipsed by new, mid-rear engined, disc-braked designs led by Lotus. As costs rose, most of the older Juniors were put away.

When Historic racing was created in the mid-1970s, Formula Junior was the first class to be revived. In 2017 the class marked its 60th Anniversary with an international tour that attracted large entries and intense competition at races in Europe, England, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and of course North America. FJ events are held at many important vintage race meetings including the Goodwood Revival, where there is ferocious rivalry for the Chichester Cup. The Monaco Vintage Grand Prix is the other major international event for Juniors, where a starting spot is highly coveted. Each of those is run bi-annually. The 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion featured a 65 car-strong entry in two groups divided by age and design.

The Motorcar Offered

This beautiful Stanguellini is offered from the collection of a noted New Hampshire based collector, founder and former President of the Formula Junior Historic North America, and owner of seven Juniors, both front and rear engined.

Chassis CS00154 was among several imported by Alfred Momo in New York City. While its original owner cannot be verified, it joined the stable of Italian racing car collector Ugo Piccagli of Dallas, Texas, and the car is believed to have participated in the 2000 Monaco Historic Grand Prix. The car's next owner was Don Moriarty, who sent the chassis, less its engine, to renowned Stanguellini experts Mark and Scott Lefferts at Vintage Machine Works in Bethel, Connecticut. When the engine arrived at the Lefferts' shop, it was discovered that it had lost several of its original parts, but those had been replaced. After restoration and reassembly, it remained at the Lefferts' shop for a full decade, until the current owner purchased it three years ago. He had the car mechanically freshened and took it racing again at tracks including Lime Rock and Road America, where it recently scored a class win.

This Stanguellini is unusual in that it retains its original front splash guards that are often removed and lost. Here then is an opportunity to acquire a charismatic and highly competitive open-wheel racing car that epitomizes the sport as envisaged by Count Lurani more than 60 years ago. Goodwood and Monaco await!