Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 322
ca. 1930s Ford K-8 "Windy City Special" Sprint Car
Estimate: US$25,000 - US$35,000
Lot 322
ca. 1930s Ford K-8 "Windy City Special" Sprint Car
ca. 1930s Ford K-8 "Windy City Special" Sprint Car
201ci OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
3 Winfield Carburetors
83bhp at 3,850rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Solid Front and Live Rear Axles, Leaf Springs
4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
*A charming piece of early American motorsport history
*Ford Model B engine with Morton & Brett OHV Conversion
*Believed to be the only running example of a Morton & Brett engine
*A well-known veteran of East Coast VSCCA events
*Huge fun in a small package
*Sold on Bill of Sale only
1930s AMERICAN SPRINT CARS
In the 1930s, Sprint Car racing was all the rage in America. Dirt ovals cropped up across the countryside, some doing double-duty as horse racing tracks. Most importantly, a sprint car could be built cheaply from existing parts and a new cottage industry of tuners cropped up offering hop-up bits, particularly for the ubiquitous Ford engines. As with any sport, the specialists eventually turned up and the cars became faster and more sophisticated, but for the bulk of the 30s, home-built specials proliferated the dirt tracks and made for close, exciting racing. A great many of these specials look remarkably similar today, because many of them were built to the same plans, originally developed by Walter Klausler, a shop teacher at North High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and published by Ray Kuns in his annual publication Automobile Racing. Known as the K-8, the car was based on a simple Essex ladder frame, adapted with a Franklin steering box, and wheels, engine, and axles sourced from early Fords. Many were built by Klausler's students, while countless others cropped up in garages and shops across the country.
Of course, with any race car, the devil is in the details, and success depends not only on the bravery of the driver, but the execution of the build. And while many K-8s lived their lives as backmarkers, plenty others chalked up regional and local wins. Also true with most forms of motorsport, attrition is high, so surviving, running examples are rare, and each one tells an individual story.
THE CAR OFFERED
The Windy City Special is a charming and lively example of this wholly unique form of American motorsport. Originally built to Ray Kuns' K-8 plans, this car utilizes Model B Ford power, enhanced with fascinating period speed parts. The early history is murky, as it is believed to have suffered a shunt early in its career, and therefore did not see much on-track action in period. It was later discovered by vintage racers Chuck Davis and Jim Etterly, who entrusted it Wally Schnieder for restoration. He re-created the damaged original chassis to mate with the Ford drivetrain and restored original body.
The Ford Model B four-cylinder is topped with a rare Morton & Brett "Indianapolis" OHV conversion, triple Winfield carburetors, and Vertex magneto, delivering a punchy 83 horsepower at the wheels. It is believed to be the only running Ford with a Morton & Brett head. In the 1980s, Joe Freeman of Boston set the Windy City Special up for VSCCA competition, to include a removable roll bar and four-wheel brakes. He ran numerous Atlantic Coast events including at the prestigious Lime Rock Vintage Festival. The car has enjoyed a continuous career since, and in its current stewardship, finished a remarkable 4th out of 34 entries in the VSCCA Hillclimb in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
3 Winfield Carburetors
83bhp at 3,850rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Solid Front and Live Rear Axles, Leaf Springs
4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
*A charming piece of early American motorsport history
*Ford Model B engine with Morton & Brett OHV Conversion
*Believed to be the only running example of a Morton & Brett engine
*A well-known veteran of East Coast VSCCA events
*Huge fun in a small package
*Sold on Bill of Sale only
1930s AMERICAN SPRINT CARS
In the 1930s, Sprint Car racing was all the rage in America. Dirt ovals cropped up across the countryside, some doing double-duty as horse racing tracks. Most importantly, a sprint car could be built cheaply from existing parts and a new cottage industry of tuners cropped up offering hop-up bits, particularly for the ubiquitous Ford engines. As with any sport, the specialists eventually turned up and the cars became faster and more sophisticated, but for the bulk of the 30s, home-built specials proliferated the dirt tracks and made for close, exciting racing. A great many of these specials look remarkably similar today, because many of them were built to the same plans, originally developed by Walter Klausler, a shop teacher at North High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and published by Ray Kuns in his annual publication Automobile Racing. Known as the K-8, the car was based on a simple Essex ladder frame, adapted with a Franklin steering box, and wheels, engine, and axles sourced from early Fords. Many were built by Klausler's students, while countless others cropped up in garages and shops across the country.
Of course, with any race car, the devil is in the details, and success depends not only on the bravery of the driver, but the execution of the build. And while many K-8s lived their lives as backmarkers, plenty others chalked up regional and local wins. Also true with most forms of motorsport, attrition is high, so surviving, running examples are rare, and each one tells an individual story.
THE CAR OFFERED
The Windy City Special is a charming and lively example of this wholly unique form of American motorsport. Originally built to Ray Kuns' K-8 plans, this car utilizes Model B Ford power, enhanced with fascinating period speed parts. The early history is murky, as it is believed to have suffered a shunt early in its career, and therefore did not see much on-track action in period. It was later discovered by vintage racers Chuck Davis and Jim Etterly, who entrusted it Wally Schnieder for restoration. He re-created the damaged original chassis to mate with the Ford drivetrain and restored original body.
The Ford Model B four-cylinder is topped with a rare Morton & Brett "Indianapolis" OHV conversion, triple Winfield carburetors, and Vertex magneto, delivering a punchy 83 horsepower at the wheels. It is believed to be the only running Ford with a Morton & Brett head. In the 1980s, Joe Freeman of Boston set the Windy City Special up for VSCCA competition, to include a removable roll bar and four-wheel brakes. He ran numerous Atlantic Coast events including at the prestigious Lime Rock Vintage Festival. The car has enjoyed a continuous career since, and in its current stewardship, finished a remarkable 4th out of 34 entries in the VSCCA Hillclimb in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
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