Solved: Allemano's № 531 - 1955 Howard Keck's Fuel Injection Special (Vukovich streamliner)

Started by Allemano, December 03, 2010, 02:24:31 PM

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Allemano

Please respond below if you know what car this is and which story can be told about it.
One point for the right and complete answer!

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Otto Puzzell

You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!

Allemano


woodinsight

Let's kick this one off - I assume it's American?

streamliner

#4
1955 Howard Keck Fuel Injection Special or "The Last Fuel Injection Special"

Owned originally by Howard Keck and built for the two time winner of Indianapolis Bill Vokuvich. This unique Indy Car was designed and developed to achieve "near zero" drag by adopting aerodynamic principals. A similar approach was first made popular by Auto Union and Mercedes on their pre-war monopostos with a resurgence to this design principal in the early 1950's.

The "Streamliner" project was headed by the legendary Indy car builder Quinn Epperly who was assisted by Jim Travers and Frank Coons. Affectionately known as the "Indy Wiz Kids", they set about to design and build the most advanced and competitive race car of their day. These same individuals would go on to even greater fame as principal players of Traco racing.

In addition to incorporating a voluptuously slippery body, an adjustable aerodynamic spoiler was incorporated in the rear and referred to at the time as an "elevator". Even more radical were plans for an all new purpose built V8 engine.

Howard Keck had arranged with Epperly and his boys to have the car built for Bill Vokuvich who had previously won the Indy 500 back to back in 1953 and 1954. It was hoped that the "Streamliner" would give Vokuvich an "unfair" advantage in attempting his third back to back win.

With Epperly unable to complete the car in time for the 1955 Indy 500, Vokuvich was offered a ride in Lindsey Hopkin's 500 Kurtis. Tragically, Vokuvich was killed in the race ending any further development


Allemano


streamliner

Oops!  I cut and pasted...

That should read Bill Vukovich, not "Vokuvich".  No disrespect meant to his family.  My apologies...   :disbelief:

Otto Puzzell

You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!