1947 Norm Olson Special
- Engine
- Drake-built Offenhauser inline-four
- Colour
- Black and white
The Norm Olson Special is an Offenhauser-powered Indianapolis roadster built in the late 1940s by Norm Olson of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, incorporating a chassis closely derived from or based on a Maserati 8CTF design. The car competed in the 1949 and 1950 Indianapolis 500, driven by Duke Dinsmore and Jackie Holmes respectively, the latter race counting toward the inaugural Formula One World Championship. After decades abroad, including reported use in Jamaica, a restoration in the 1970s returned it to 1950 race livery before subsequent ownership in the United Kingdom and eventual return to the United States.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$134,400
- → 2017Acquisition unknownDavid Clarkepartial documentation
Principal at dealer Taylor & Crawley and later McLaren Cars sales director; fitted a Borg Warner Super T-10 gearbox and drove the car at Silverstone and Goodwood.
- 2017 →Acquisition unknownSam and Emily Mannpartial documentation
American collectors who repatriated the car; it retains an earlier restoration and a Drake-built Offenhauser engine reportedly installed in the early 2000s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownNorm Olsonpartial documentation
Grosse Pointe, Michigan privateer who built or assembled the car, entering it at Indianapolis from 1947 through 1950. Brother of Olsonite Corporation's Oscar Olson.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJim Gorepartial documentation
Junkyard owner and alligator catcher who took the car to Jamaica, fitted it with a Chevrolet V-8, and raced it there before the car ended up in his junkyard.
- Date unknownPrivate saleGraham Capelpartial documentation
Lotus historian who acquired the car from Gore's salvage yard, shipped it to the UK, commenced a restoration in the 1970s to 1950 Indianapolis livery, and sourced a correct Offenhauser engine by 1980.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSeries of UK ownersnone documentation
Multiple unidentified British owners during which the car was featured in a 1990 Classic & Sports Car magazine article.
Competition
- 19471947 Indianapolis 500 qualifying attemptFailed to qualify
Local press reported the car was nearly finished in May 1947, but it did not make the field that year.
- 19481948 Indianapolis 500Failed to qualify
Car entered but again unable to secure a starting position.
- 19491949 Indianapolis 500Driver: Duke Dinsmore15th place
Dinsmore qualified 15th at 127.750 mph, completed 174 laps before a radius rod failure ended the run; prize money of $2,565 awarded. Car ran as number 29 despite some pre-race images showing number 28.
- 1950FIA Formula One World Championship1950 Indianapolis 500Driver: Jackie Holmes23rd place
Holmes qualified 30th at 129.697 mph; retired after spinning in turn two at lap 123, collecting $2,119 in prize money. Race counted toward the inaugural F1 World Drivers' Championship.
- 19621962 Jamaican Grand Prix2nd place
Car run by Jim Gore in Jamaica, fitted with a Chevrolet V-8 by this point; reportedly finished behind a Lotus.
- —Silverstone circuit runningDriver: David Clarke
Clarke exercised the car at Silverstone during his ownership period.
- —Goodwood circuit runningDriver: David Clarke
Clarke also ran the car at Goodwood while it was in his collection.
- —Millers at Milwaukee
Historic gathering held at the Milwaukee Mile; the car participated under Mann family ownership after its return to the United States in 2017.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
The Offenhauser engine was removed and replaced with a Chevrolet V-8 at some point prior to the 1962 Jamaican Grand Prix.
Carried out during Jim Gore's ownership in Jamaica; the Offenhauser was reinstated in a later restoration.
- —Restoration
A restoration was undertaken in the 1970s, returning the car to its 1950 Indianapolis 500 appearance and livery. An appropriate Offenhauser engine was sourced and fitted by 1980.
Commissioned by Graham Capel after the car was shipped to the United Kingdom.
- —Modification
A Borg Warner Super T-10 four-speed gearbox was installed to better cope with the torque of the Offenhauser engine.
Carried out during David Clarke's ownership.
- —Mechanical
The engine was replaced with a Drake-built Offenhauser unit, reportedly sourced and installed in the early 2000s.
The car was in this configuration when acquired by Sam and Emily Mann in 2017.
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.