Tag Archives: MimboloveVintage Race Cars
The Dolphin Engineering Company was established in 1958 in San Diego by an aerospace industry craftsman, and an English race car designer. They made a handful of these Americas, most powered by four cylinder 750cc or 1100cc Coventry Climax engines, while at least one was powered by a larger Porsche engine that is depicted in the drawing below. Fiberglass over a space frame was stout but weighed about 1000 lbs. This race car is owned and raced by Joseph DiLoreto. Took this picture at October’s vintage races at the Circuit of the Americas.
This is a significant car. Powered by a Chrysler FirePower Hemi. See and hear it running at YouTube.
Impressive race car competing at the vintage races at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, based on a 1952 Indy 500 chassis powered by a 1954 DeSoto 291 cu. in. Fire Dome Hemi. Kurtis made 2/3’s of the chassis that competed at the Indianapolis 500 in 1952. There are only three with this body, made of fiberglass and plywood by a California boat builder. This engine also powered the 1955 Facel Vega, a very expensive French luxury sports car.
At the recent historic races at our own Circuit of the Americas, I discovered this appealing 904R replica built by Beck.
The original Porsche 904 was available in 1964/5, also called the Carrera GTS. Its 1966 cc, four-cam, flat, four-cylinder “hemi” engine produced 198 hp, called “probably the most complex four-cylinder” ever. The car weighed only about 1,450 pounds allowing it to reach 60 in less than six seconds, and a top speed of 160 mph. They built 100 street versions and about 16 racers, so they are hard to come by. This replica is more powerful and a bit heavier. Still, a very desirable car.
Browse my Pics on Posters & Notebooks
