If you’ve been wanting to get into vintage sprint car racing, we might have the car for you! Listed here on ebay is this 1933 Ray Kuns designed race car built to the 1933 American Automobile Association rules for Big Car Sprinters with a starting price of $12,500 (zero bids at the time of writing) and a BIN of $19,500, but all reasonable offers will be considered.
This car is all metal and not a reproduction. Pictured here racing in 1995 and out in front where we like to be! The car was restored 30 years ago and the owner says they used hundreds of solid rivets.
This racer has a 92″ wheel base, Franklin steering box, ’34 Ford rear, 9/11 gears with safety hubs, Eskimo radiator, ’59AB Ford Flathead, 12v starter, ’49-’53 rods, adjustable lifters, ’59A oil pump, Edmonds Custom intake are some of the details of this car.
There is a 3 speed gearbox between the driver’s legs and how about the “safety” electrical tape over the steering wheel?
There appears to be a single strap seat belt. The gear level should keep you from rocketing too far forward.
Are you ready to get this beast back on the track?
Motor-on,
Robert
This looks like it would be good for lots of fun and excitement. Ray Kuns was one of the best known builders back then I think.
And listed on Ebay properly by a pro. Not many sellers go the trouble of making a video of engine startup and running, altho if they want to sell their car they should.
The differential…..should that 4:11 gears?
… yet couldn’t find an old-time sign painter & resorted to computer generated graphics… where else did they cut corners.?
I love it!
Spent some time on road courses over the years, but never had a chance to try dirt…even though I doubt I’d be all that good at it, just the photos make me want to climb aboard and give it a whirl. Someone is going to have a ball with this; wish it could be me!
One question for the experts: why an alternator?
seller has other interesting listings on ebay and vehicles in the photos background. i do hope this gets save. it looks like a very nice piece of history. not sure i would want to race it. great find
Looks like a lot of fun! Gear changing rather precarious though.
Love to wring this one out but there’s many more road courses where I am than dirt
since leaving Central Pa. Alternator is most likely to keep a battery charged for an
onboard starter. Originally these were push started and for historic and demo parades you don’t want to be risking damage to the push bar and rear bodywork. Definitely would recommend a 5 point harness and roll bar.
Had and raced a K-8 for a number of years that was built from Kuns plans in 1938. This one has a post-war engine, not a Model A/B as originallly called for. Front suspension is a little strange with a dropped Ford axle and fore/aft springs, late style shocks. On the other hand the cockpit and dash looks right (mine wasn’t) escept the late style instruments.
All in all, a nice early car with a number of ‘modern’ improvments. Should be fun to drive but stopping is another matter.
Thanks for noticing my car..
……….Like many of these Prewar American Oval ” Big Cars” these three that I had have been converted to road racing and are now in Europe….. ..a ’29T with Frontenac head, the 1949 & 51 INDY Cantanaro Spl with a 12 Port Wayne 6cyl, and the 28 Buick Speedster
………..I still have this AAA-8 which is for sale now, also a ’38 Boattail Flathead V8 dirt car, and the 28 Studebaker Speedster project that we will sell later. I’m getting too old to keep them all.
………Modified for roadracing, the car will be welcome at SVRA and other similar Groups
………..I won’t apologize for the decals, they were issued by the tracks, and the previous owner put them on at the time…. A painted ‘8’ would have been nice, but I didn’t restore it. I don’t think it is a much of a negative reflection on the first class restoration this car went through 30 years ago, as it was built to DRIVE, not just look at.
…….The hundreds of solid rivets are original, were not added during restoration, The 8BA race motor is appropriate for the period, and there is no evidence it did not originally have any motor other than a V8. The motor runs great and has a beautiful sound…..and the car is FAST .