If this is chassis number 805, it was originally intended to be a second AAR team car that would serve as a backup for Gurney's chassis number 801. It was then funneled down through AAR drivers Swede Savage, Lee Roy Yarbrough, Jim Malloy, and Bobby Unser.

AAR sold the car in the mid-1980s. The current car owner acquired it in 2020. The car is finished in Gurney's #48 livery from the 1970 Indianapolis 500.

The engine is this car is a 2.6L Offenhauser turbocharged inline 4-cylinder.

I don't know exactly how much horsepower it makes. But I'm seeing figures in the 800 hp range. Given the fact that the car weighs less than 1,500 pounds, that would be quite a wild ride.

A representative for the car owner was happy to pose for pictures.

Next was Class 25, which is for Sports Vehicles. The AACA defines a Sports Vehicle as, "a small, usually two-seat, two-door automobile, designed for spirited performance and nimble handling." There are five sub-classes that are divided according to year and whether or not the vehicle is "open" or "closed."

Class 25C - Sports Vehicles, closed, 1961 - 69.

1969 Iso Grifo Berlinetta.

From the same company that introduced the Isetta bubble car seen earlier, this Iso Grifo is a luxurious "gran turismo" high-performance touring car. But unlike other Italian sports cars, the Grifo can actually be driven reliably thanks to the 327 CID Chevrolet V8 under the hood that makes 300 hp, and sends power to the rear wheels via the Corvette's M21 4-speed manual transmission. This is an extremely rare car, one of 412 produced over the Grifo's model run from 1965 - 74.

Class 25D - Sports Vehicles, open, 1970 - 98.

1990 Buick Reatta convertible.

Power comes from Buick's 3.8L V6 that makes 165 hp.

The idea behind the Reatta, (an elegant but sporty two-seater), was first discussed in the 1970s, but went nowhere for several years. The green light was finally given for a 1984 release. But that was delayed again until 1988. When it finally arrived, the Reatta was introduced as a two-seat coupe, with a convertible becoming available for 1990.

Over its four year production run, a total of 21,751 were produced. This 1990 convertible is quite rare, being one of 2,132 produced that year.

Class 25E - Sports Vehicles, closed, 1970 - 98.

1993 Lotus Esprit Turbo.

I never realized just how low Lotus Esprit production numbers are. According to the information displayed with this car, it is one of only 55 produced. Another source I examined indicated 62 cars. A total of 10,675 cars were produced over the Esprit's 28 year production run.

The idea for the Lotus Esprit, which was to be the successor to the mid-engine Lotus Europa, was developed in the early 1970s. Lotus boss Colin Chapman wasn't impressed at first, but changed his mind after the first prototype was well received at the 1972 Turin Auto Show. A total of 134 cars were completed after production began late into the 1976 model year.

The first Esprit in 1976 was powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine that made 140 hp in US trim, (160 hp in European trim). The engine would later be enlarged to 2.2L, and a turbocharger became available beginning in 1980. By the time this car rolled off the assembly line in 1993, the 2.2L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine was making 264 hp. Acceleration was impressive, zero to 60 mph in around 5 seconds, because the car weighed less than 3000 pounds.

Other Class 25 cars: 1990 Buick Reatta from Class 25E (L), 1997 Porsche Boxster from Class 25D (R).

Up next was Class 26 which is devoted to Production Cars from 1946 - 53.

Class 26B - Production Vehicles excluding 1948 Ford, 1948 - 49.

1949 Ford Custom convertible.

Class 26C - Production Vehicles, 1950 - 51.

1950 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster convertible.

The 1950 Buick line consisted of the entry level Series 40 Special, the mid-level Series 50 Super, and the upper level Series 70 Roadmaster (this car).

In 1949, Buick introduced what would become it's signature look. A series of chrome portholes mounted on both front fenders became synonymous with Buick, and made its cars instantly recognizable. Officially, they were called "Cruiserline Ventiports," but became known as simply "Venti-Ports" or colloquially as "portholes."

Initially, the openings actually passed through to the engine compartment and acted as vents, hence the name "Venti-Port." In subsequent years, they were purely cosmetic. This car being an upper level Roadmaster has four Venti-Ports on each fender, (entry-level Special models and mid-level Super models only had three).

This Series 70 Roadmaster convertible is a very rare car, being one of only 2,964 produced for 1950.

Power comes from Buick's 320 CID inline 8-cylinder engine that makes 152 silent and vibration-free hp.

Class 26C - Production Vehicles, 1950 - 51.

1950 Ford Custom Crestliner 2-door sedan.

The luxury Crestliner 2-door sedan was only produced for two years, 1950 and 1951, and featured upgraded exterior paint and interior appointments. Introduced very late in the 1950 model year, only 17,601 were produced for 1950, which is nothing compared to the almost 400k standard Tudor sedans sold that year. Power comes from a 239 CID "Flathead" V8 that makes 100 hp.

The Crestliner was available again for 1951, but only found 8,703 buyers. For 1952, the Crestliner model disappeared, but the name Crestline was applied to Ford's entire upper level line.

Class 26C - Production Vehicles, 1950 - 51.

1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88.

Power comes from Oldsmobile's revolutionary overhead valve 304 CID "Rocket" V8 that was introduced for 1949 and made 135 hp.

Class 26C - Production Vehicles, 1950 - 51.

1951 Ford Custom Victoria.

This was the first year for the name "Victoria," which Ford applied to its new pillarless hardtop coupe body style. The style was an instant success with more than 110k sold that year.

Class 26C - Production Vehicles, 1950 - 51.

1951 Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser.

For anyone who associates the name "Land Cruiser" with Toyota, it should be known that Studebaker began using the name in 1934. The upscale Land Cruiser was a model available in each of Studebaker's car lines, (entry level Dictator, mid-level Commander, and upper-level President).

From 1936 - 40, the model was known as the "Cruising Sedan." The Land Cruiser name returned for 1941 and was available as a mid-level Commander and upper-level President, (entry-level Champion models were still called the Cruising Sedan).

After WWII, the Land Cruiser returned, but was only available in the upper-level Commander series. The final Land Cruiser was produced for 1954. This 1951 Land Cruiser is one of 38,055 produced that year.

Class 26C - Production Vehicles, 1950 - 51.

1950 Ford Custom convertible.

This is one of 50,299 Custom convertibles produced for 1950, which makes this a rare car, relatively speaking. Of the more than 1.2 million Ford cars produced that year, only about 4% were Custom convertibles.

Power comes from Ford's famous 239 CID "Flathead" V8 that makes 100 hp.

I love the instructions for the Oil Bath air cleaner !

The photo above was supposed to be a picture of the cowl tag. But my camera decided that the small number on one of the heater hoses would make a better picture and focused there instead.

Class 26C - Production Vehicles, 1950 - 51.

1950 Ford Custom 2-door sedan.

Next to the 1950 Custom convertible seen above was a 1950 Custom 2-door sedan. This was the most popular Ford that year with 399,060 produced.

Class 26D - Production Vehicles, 1952 - 53.

1952 Ford Crestline Victoria.

The Victoria name had been introduced the previous year to designate Ford's pillarless hardtop coupe. Production was down by almost 33k cars, but still quite successful at 77,320 produced for 1952

Class 26D - Production Vehicles, 1952 - 53.

1953 Dodge D-48 Coronet convertible.

I was trying to take an interior picture through the door glass and managed to get a great shot. The Dodge emblem on the horn ring is remarkably clear. Hooray for me !

The car owner saw my excitement and opened the door for me so I could get a better view, which was awesome ! However, my camera said "thanks" by focusing on the gray material of the door panel instead of the door tag where I was aiming.

Dodge introduced the Coronet name mid-year 1949 as an upper trim level for its D-30 Series. For 1953, the Coronet became its own upper-level series that was available as a coupe, sedan, convertible, and wagon. This was also the first year for Dodge's Hemi engine. The 241 CID 'Red Ram' Hemi V8 makes 140 hp.

This car is also equipped with Dodge's "Fluid Drive" system.

The Fluid Drive system first appeared on Chrysler products in 1939.

Class 26D - Production Vehicles, 1952 - 53.

1953 Ford Customline Club Coupe.