1961 Scarab Intercontinental Formula Monoposto
- Engine
- 3.0L aluminum-block V8 with four Weber carburetors, ~300 bhp
The sole Reventlow Automobiles Incorporated rear-mid-engine single-seater, this Scarab monoposto was designed by Eddie Miller and built by Phil Remington for a proposed Intercontinental Formula that never materialised. Its only period race came at Sandown Park in March 1962, where Chuck Daigh finished fourth behind Brabham, Surtees, and McLaren, beating Stirling Moss. After decades in obscurity — including a stint dressed as a Brabham for film work — a lengthy restoration completed in 1997 returned it to its Sandown Park configuration, after which Damon Hill drove it at Goodwood.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$196,000
- → 1979Acquisition unknownBurbank, California film rental companypartial documentation
Car was altered to resemble a Brabham F1 car and used as a film prop; true origins were not recognized during this period.
- 1979 → 1986Private salePeter Boydpartial documentation
Purchased the car and identified its authentic RAI origins, despite its modified condition.
- 1986 →Private saleAli Lugo de Armasfull documentation
Undertook a lengthy restoration finished in 1997, returning the car to its Australian-race configuration and livery; subsequently campaigned it at concours and historic racing events.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryReventlow Automobiles Incorporatedfull documentation
Original constructor and owner; car was designed and built by RAI for Intercontinental Formula competition, later used at Lake Tahoe in 1967 before being disposed of.
Competition
- 1962-03-01Sandown Park Formula Libre raceDriver: Chuck Daigh4th
Only period race completed by the car; finished behind three Coopers driven by Brabham, Surtees, and McLaren, but ahead of Moss in a Lotus-Climax after a prolonged battle.
- 1967Lake Tahoe race
Unsuccessful outing; car was by this point fitted with a Lotus-Climax engine, the original V-8 having been sold after the Australian event.
- 19991999 Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceAmelia Award winner
Car appeared following its restoration to Sandown Park specification and earned a major concours award.
- 20012001 Goodwood Festival of SpeedDriver: Damon Hill
Driven by former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill at this hillclimb event.
- 20012001 Goodwood Revival
Car participated later in the same year as the Festival of Speed appearance.
- —Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Laguna Seca
Multiple appearances between 2006 and 2011; specific individual event dates not given.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1997Restoration
A comprehensive restoration, begun in 1986 and completed eleven years later, returned the car to its Sandown Park race configuration, reinstating correct Reventlow livery and fitting a correct-type aluminium-block V-8 engine.
Commissioned by Ali Lugo de Armas; the project took approximately eleven years to complete.
- —Modification
The car was cosmetically altered by a film rental company to replicate the appearance of a Brabham Formula 1 car for use as set dressing.
Modifications obscured the car's RAI identity; the quality of original construction remained apparent despite the changes.
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