1966 Eagle AAR Indianapolis 500 single-seater, chassis 201
- Engine
- 255 cu in (approx. 4.2L) DOHC V8 with Hilborn fuel injection, ~425 bhp
Chassis 201 is the first of six Eagle Indy cars constructed for the 1966 season by All American Racers, the team founded by Dan Gurney. Designed by Len Terry and powered by a Ford four-cam V-8, it started the 1966 Indianapolis 500 with Gurney at the wheel before being eliminated in a first-lap accident. It subsequently raced at Indianapolis in 1967 (Jochen Rindt), 1970, 1971, and 1972, then passed through several private owners before a full restoration and a period of vintage competition including three appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed under the care of the Riverside International Automotive Museum.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$962,500
- 1966 → 1970Factory deliveryAll American Racers (Dan Gurney)partial documentation
Car built as first of six 1966 Indy cars; used as factory entry and later as development testbed for the Weslake V-8 engine program.
- 1970 → 1972Acquisition unknownTassi Vatispartial documentation
Entered the car at Indianapolis in 1970, 1971, and 1972, and at Pocono in mid-1972 with multiple drivers.
- 1978 → 1978Acquisition unknownBob Johnsonpartial documentation
Brief ownership before passing the car on to Jim Mann in the same year.
- 1978 →Private saleJim Mannpartial documentation
Acquired from Bob Johnson; subsequently the car moved on via Joe and Don Tarwaki to Bob Sutherland.
- 2008 →AuctionRiverside International Automotive Museum (via Doug Magnon)full documentation
Purchased at auction by Doug Magnon on behalf of the museum; underwent full mechanical restoration under Bill Losee and was campaigned at multiple vintage events including three Goodwood Festival of Speed appearances.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJoe and Don Tarwakipartial documentation
Intermediary owners in the chain between Jim Mann and Bob Sutherland.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBob Sutherlandpartial documentation
Had the car restored by Jim Robbins during his period of ownership.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJim Robbinspartial documentation
Restored the car for Sutherland and subsequently sold it to Joe McPherson in Tustin, California.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJoe McPhersonpartial documentation
Based in Tustin, California; the car passed to auction following his death.
Competition
- 1966USAC Championship1966 Indianapolis 500Driver: Dan Gurney27th — involved in opening-lap crash
Car entered as #31 for AAR; Gurney was eliminated in a large multi-car accident triggered at the start when Billy Foster was forced into the wall, which also eliminated A.J. Foyt and others.
- 1967USAC Championship1967 Indianapolis 500Driver: Jochen Rindt24th — retired with valve failure
Entered as AAR #48 and fitted with a larger-displacement Gurney-Weslake Ford V-8; Rindt retired after dropping a valve on lap 108.
- 1970USAC Championship1970 Indianapolis 500Driver: Sam PoseyDNS
Entered as Tassi Vatis #95; failed to qualify or start the race.
- 1971USAC Championship1971 Indianapolis 500Driver: Bentley Warren23rd — retired with gearbox failure
Again entered as Tassi Vatis #95; Warren retired on lap 76 due to a broken gearbox.
- 1972USAC Championship1972 Indianapolis 500Driver: Carl Williams29th — retired with oil cooler failure
Entered as Tassi Vatis #95; Williams qualified 22nd at 180.469 mph but was sidelined on lap 52 by a broken oil cooler.
- 1972-07-011972 Pocono raceDriver: Carl Williams
Noted as the last known competition entry for this chassis, raced when the car was approximately six years old.
- —Goodwood Festival of Speed
Car appeared on three separate occasions during museum ownership, consistently drawing attention for its visual appeal and historical importance.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2008Restoration
Comprehensive mechanical restoration undertaken after the Riverside International Automotive Museum acquired the car, overseen by Bill Losee.
Bill Losee supervised the refurbishment programme; the car was then returned to active use at vintage events.
- —RestorationJim Robbins
Full restoration carried out by Jim Robbins while the car was in Bob Sutherland's ownership.
- —Engine rebuildLarry Slutter
Full engine rebuild by Larry Slutter: the unit was removed from the car and fitted with new connecting rods and a new crankshaft. Since completion the car has only been run on a dynamometer.
Work completed after the museum's ownership period; car had not raced again as of cataloguing.
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