Motorabilia

Bill Vukovich "The Mad Russian" drove the #4 "Fuel Injection Special" Kurtis  Kraft Roadster to victory in the 1953 & 1954 Indianapolis 500.

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1:18 scale model of the Kurtis  Kraft Roadster 1953 & 1954 Indianapolis 500 Winner by Carousel 1

Limited to 3000 pcs

Frank Kurtis built his first Indianapolis 500 race car in 1941. His cars won the race in 1950 and 1951. For 1952 he build his first "Roadster" for Bill Vukovich, known as "The Mad Russian" for his high risk driving style. Kurtis' innovation was to offset the the engine 9" from the centreline, so that the drive shaft ran to the left of the driver's seat . This allowed for a lower centre of gravity in the left hand turns,  better aerodynamics and better tyre wear. The car was called a "Roadster" because the driver sat low , with shoulder high bodywork on the left hand side, resembling a street hot rod. Vukovich dominated the 1952 Indy 500 in the Kurtis Kraft 500A Roadster before the steering failed 9 laps from the finish. He went on to win the race in 1953 and 1954 in the very same car. 

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Kurtis continued to refine his designs and in 1955 the series culminated in the cigar shaped KK500C/D. On the KK500C, the offset engine could be mounted vertically or tilted 36 degrees to the right, while a KK500D was a "C" with provision for power steering. Bob Sweikert , in a KK500D, won the Indy 500 in 1955, the year of Vukovick's fatal accident while in the lead. Sweikert;s crew chief, A J Watson improved Kurtis' design to build the Watson Roadster that outran all the Kurtis racers at the 1956 Indy 500. Kurtis' new models were never quite competitive again. 

Front Engine Roadster with fabricated box section rail on the 500A and tube frame chassis on the C/D.    Off-set engine and drivetrain, Meyer Drake "Offy" Engine270 CID / 4.5L / Inline 4 Cylinder / 380HP /  DOHC 16-Valve / Hilborn Fuel Injection. 
2-Speed modified Ford model A Gearbox, Wheelbase 96IN, Weight 1800 LBS.
Top Speed.175 MPH

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1:18 scale model of the Laydown Roadster 1957 & 1958 Indianapolis 500 Winner by Carousel 1

Limited to 2400 pcs

Sam Hanks drove the #9 "Belond Special" Laydown Roadster to victory in the 1957 Indy 500 and Jimmy Bryan drove the same car to victory in the 1958 Indianapolis 500.

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The Laydown Roadster featured a laid down Offenhauser engine tilted over at 72 degrees (18 degrees to horizontal). This had the benefits of  reducing  the frontal area for better aerodynamic penetration and lowering  the centre of gravity to improve handling. It also allowed the gear box and drive train to be located on the extreme left hand side of the car for better cornering in the left hand oval at  Indianapolis 

Front Engine Roadster. Laid down engine and offset drive train. Offenhauser  Engine laid down 72 degrees.  4.2L / Inline 4 Cylinder / 330HP /  DOHC 16-Valve / 4 Carburettors. 2-Speed Gearbox.

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1:18 scale model of the Watson Roadster 1963 Indianapolis 500 Winner by Carousel 1

Limited to 3000 pcs

Parnelli Jones drove the #98 "Agajanian-Willard Battery Special" Watson Roadster to victory in the 1963 Indianapolis 500.

A. J. Watson built his first Indianapolis race car in 1950. He designed &  built  the first Watson Roadster in 1956 and Pat Flaherty drove it to an Indy 500 victory.

Over the next 8 years Watson Roadsters would win Indianapolis 5 times with Rodger Ward in 1959, Jim Rathmann in 1960, Ward in 1962, Parnelli Jones in 1963 and A.J. Foyt, Jr., in 1964.

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A Watson car, built by Floyd Trevis and driven by A.J. Foyt, Jr., won the 1961 Indy 500. Jim Rathmann also won the 1958 Monza 500 and the 1959 Daytona 100 in Watson Roadsters. 

The 1963 Indy field held 14 Watsons, but new rear engines and aerodynamics had begun to take over. Watson himself built rear engine cars for 1964 and Ward drove one of them to 2nd in the Indy 500.  A.J. Watson's record-setting Indy career continued in to the late 1990's. 

”Gentlemen, start your engines!“

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1:18 scale model of the Lotus 38 Jim Clark 1965 Indianapolis  500 Winner by Carousel 1

The Lotus 38 was designed by Colin Chapman and Len Terry  It was an evolution of the previous Lotus 29 Indy design, and was powered by a four-cam Ford V8 fuel injected engine giving out around 500 bhp. The engine was mid-mounted, improving the weight distribution for better handling. The suspension was specially designed with suspension arms of unequal length, better suited for the ovals. The 38 was significantly larger than F1 cars of the time, but was dwarfed by the massive American roadsters.

”Gentlemen, start your engines!“

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Jim Clark qualified on the first row and he led all but 10 laps, then won by two laps from A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. It was payback for losing the race in 1963, when Clark felt that Parnelli Jones' oil spewing car should have been black flagged.

The 38 had proved that mid engined cars could make the grade at the Brickyard, and the days of the front engined roadsters were effectively over. 

If you only have one Indy car in your collection it would have to be this one.

The all-metal model is composed of almost 1000  parts and it is completely hand-assembled. he inviting leather interior and fully detailed V8 engine are so real ....

Roger Ward drove the #5 Leader Card 500 Watson Roadster to victory in the 1959 Indianapolis 500.

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1:18 scale model of the Watson Roadster 1959 Indianapolis 500 Winner by Carousel 1

A. J. Watson built his first Indianapolis race car in 1950. He designed &  built  the first Watson Roadster in 1956 and Pat Flaherty drove it to an Indy 500 victory.

Over the next 8 years Watson Roadsters would win Indianapolis 5 times with Rodger Ward in 1959, Jim Rathmann in 1960, Ward in 1962, Parnelli Jones in 1963 and A.J. Foyt, Jr., in 1964.

”Gentlemen, start your engines!“

Sold Out!

A Watson car, built by Floyd Trevis and driven by A.J. Foyt, Jr., won the 1961 Indy 500. Jim Rathmann also won the 1958 Monza 500 and the 1959 Daytona 100 in Watson Roadsters. The 1963 Indy field held 14 Watsons, but new rear engines and aerodynamics had begun to take over. Watson himself built rear engine cars for 1964 and Ward drove one of them to 2nd in the 500.  A.J. Watson's record-setting Indy career continues in the late 1990's. 

Front Engine Roadster with Tube Frame Chassis Off-set engine & suspension, Meyer Drake "Offy" Engine252 CID / 4.2L / Inline 4 Cylinder / 400HP /  DOHC 16-Valve / Hilborn Fuel Injection. 
2-Speed Halibrand Gearbox, Wheelbase 96IN, Weight 1472 LBS.
Top Speed.180 MPH