1963 Watson Indianapolis Roadster
- Engine
- 2.75L (168 cu. in.) DOHC inline-four Offenhauser with fuel injection
- Colour
- Diet-Rite Cola Special livery
This 1963 A.J. Watson Indianapolis roadster is powered by a 168 cu. in. fuel-injected Offenhauser four-cylinder and was originally campaigned by the Leader Card team under Len Sutton. After missing the 1963 Indy 500 field, it ran as Chuck Stevenson's mount in the 1964 race before further USAC championship outings with Bobby Grim. Sold in 1966, it was modified for short-track racing in Canada before being fully restored by collector Bob McConnell in the Diet-Rite Cola Special livery, and subsequently driven in vintage events at Goodwood and California Speedway.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$250,000 – US$350,000
- → 1966Factory deliveryLeader Card team (Robert Wilke)partial documentation
Wisconsin-based team owner Robert Wilke operated the car under A.J. Watson's supervision, with Len Sutton as primary driver and Sonny Meyer as chief mechanic.
- 1966 →Private saleJack Conleypartial documentation
Michigan-based buyer who acquired the car after its USAC championship racing career concluded.
- → 1970Private saleKenny Andrewspartial documentation
Burlington, Ontario-based racer who substantially modified the car with a Chevrolet V-8, roll cage, and revised livery for short-track competition in Canada and the northeastern US, retiring it at the end of the 1970 season.
- 2010 →Acquisition unknownCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Had the Offenhauser engine rebuilt by VanDyne Engineering in 2012 and actively drove the car in vintage events; reached 147 mph at California Speedway in 2014.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBob McConnellpartial documentation
Prominent Indianapolis racing car collector and restorer who reunited the original frame with surviving components and commissioned a full restoration to 1964 Diet-Rite Cola Special appearance, carried out by Steve Miller and Classic Craft Motorsport.
Competition
- 1963USAC Championship1963 Indianapolis 500Driver: Len SuttonDid not start — bumped during qualification
First time a new Watson roadster failed to qualify for Indianapolis; mechanical or setup difficulties persisted throughout the qualification period.
- 1963-06-01USAC Championship1963 Milwaukee 100Driver: Len Sutton6th overall
Sutton qualified 6th fastest and matched that position at the finish.
- 1963-08-01USAC Championship1963 Tony Bettenhausen 200Driver: Len Sutton12th
Final race Sutton drove for the Leader Card team.
- 1964USAC Championship1964 Indianapolis 500Driver: Chuck Stevenson28th
Entered as Rodger Ward's backup car under the Diet-Rite Cola Special name, starting 29th; Stevenson was involved in the well-known second-lap crash.
- 1965USAC Championship1965 Milwaukee 200Driver: Bobby Grim8th
Grim qualified 9th and finished 8th.
- 1965USAC Championship1965 Trenton raceDriver: Bobby Grim3rd
Grim qualified 6th and brought the car home third.
- 1966USAC Championship1966 Trenton raceDriver: Bobby Grim7th
- 1966USAC Championship1966 Atlanta raceDriver: Arnie Knepper8th
- 20072007 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Car was featured at the event following its restoration to Diet-Rite Cola Special livery.
- 20092009 Goodwood Festival of Speed
- 2012Vintage Auto Racing AssociationCalifornia Speedway VARA event
- 2013Vintage Auto Racing AssociationCalifornia Speedway VARA event
- 2014California Speedway speed runDriver: Current owner147 mph top speed recorded
Speed achieved was within 3 mph of the car's 1964 Indianapolis qualifying pace.
- —Oswego short-track featuresDriver: Kenny Andrews5 feature wins; first Canadian track champion in 1969
Andrews raced the heavily modified car regularly at Oswego, New York, during its short-track career through the late 1960s.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1964Restoration
Car was refurbished ahead of the 1964 season and prepared as a back-up entry for the Indy 500, renumbered #95 and presented in Diet-Rite Cola Special livery.
Work carried out under Watson's operation for the Leader Card team.
- 1970Maintenance
Car was disassembled following its retirement from active competition at the close of the 1970 racing season.
- 2012Engine rebuildVanDyne Engineering
The Offenhauser four-cylinder engine was fully rebuilt.
Work performed by VanDyne Engineering of Huntington Beach, California, following acquisition by the current owner in 2010.
- —Modification
Car was converted from its original Offenhauser-powered Indianapolis specification to a short-track configuration: a Chevrolet V-8 engine installed, a roll cage added, and a new colour scheme applied.
Modifications carried out by or under Kenny Andrews for Canadian and northeastern US short-track competition.
- —RestorationClassic Craft Motorsport
Comprehensive restoration carried out by Bob McConnell, reuniting the original frame with surviving original suspension, running gear, fuel tank, and body panels, and presenting the car in its 1964 Diet-Rite Cola Special appearance.
Restoration work executed by Steve Miller at Classic Craft Motorsport under McConnell's direction.
- —Modification
A self-starting system was fitted to the car for operational convenience at events.
Noted as completed prior to the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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