1959 Bocar XP-5 "Meister Bräuser III"
- Engine
- Turbocharged inline-four M12/9, approximately 600 hp
The Bocar XP-5 was a limited-production American sports racer designed by Denver aeronautical engineer Bob Carnes, featuring a chromoly space frame, Porsche-derived torsion-bar suspension, and a fuel-injected 283 cu. in. Corvette V-8. This particular example, one of no more than fifteen XP-5s built, was campaigned as 'Meister Bräuser III' by the Peter Hand Brewing-backed racing team in 1959, driven by Harry Heuer Jr. and Augie Pabst. After long-term dry storage, the car underwent a comprehensive sympathetic restoration and won an award at the 2015 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$412,500
- 1959 → 1960Factory deliveryHarry Heuer Jr.partial documentation
Purchased new to serve as the second car for his Meister Bräuser racing team, backed by the Peter Hand Brewing Co. family business. Displayed at the 1960 Chicago Auto Show after the racing season concluded.
- 1960 → 1970Acquisition unknownGordon Mertenspartial documentation
Acquired the car shortly after the 1959 season and held it for approximately a decade before selling.
- 1970 → 2014-04-01Private saleWorth Hillpartial documentation
Racing enthusiast who kept the car for over four decades in a dry, climate-controlled garage, maintaining its well-preserved state throughout.
- 2014-04-01 →Private saleBocar collector from Plymouth, Minnesotapartial documentation
Commissioned a thorough yet careful restoration covering mechanical rebuilding of the original drivetrain and cosmetic renewal of the Meister Bräuser livery, including the Borrani wire wheels.
Competition
- 1959Riverside 200 MileDriver: Harry Heuer Jr.Did not qualify
Car failed to make the field at this event.
- 1959-05-31USAC1st Annual Meadowdale 505 RaceDriver: Harry Heuer Jr.13th
Debut appearance for the XP-5 under the Meister Bräuser banner; a promising first outing.
- 1959-09-27Vaca Valley raceDriver: Harry Heuer Jr.17th
- 1959-10-18SCCASCCA Regional at Road AmericaDriver: Augie Pabst2nd
Pabst narrowly missed the lead and came home second, the car's strongest result of the season.
- 1959-12-01Bahamas Speed WeekNassau Trophy RaceDriver: Augie PabstDNF — clutch failure
Pabst substituted for this car after his Scarab was damaged in transit. He briefly led early in the first lap before fuel injector trouble dropped the car to the rear; a failing clutch ended the race after just three laps.
- 20152015 Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceAmelia Award — Pre-1959 Race Cars class
First public showing after restoration was completed; the car took class honors.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2014Restoration
Comprehensive yet sympathetic restoration encompassing a full mechanical rebuild of all original drivetrain components and a cosmetic renewal of the Meister Bräuser livery, including hand-painted period-correct accents and retention of the original Borrani wire wheels.
Commissioned by the consignor following purchase in April 2014; photographic documentation of the restoration process is included with the car.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.