1935 Welch-Ford Indy Car

Offered from the Price Museum of Speed, where it has resided since its acquisition in March 2010, this fascinating Special traces its origins to the Ford Motor Company. With the Miller-Ford posing a potential threat at the 1934 Indianapolis 500, Ford is reported to have authorized top manager Ray Dahlinger to build two cars as “insurance policies” for the race. As head of Ford’s Experimental Garage and test facility, Dahlinger entrusted the project to a team overseen by Lewis Welch, later of Novi fame, which constructed the pair in the thencurrent two-seat configuration. Entered as Bohnalite Specials in recognition of sponsorship from the Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation, the cars were driven by Chet Miller, who qualified 33rd with a test speed of 109.252 mph. Remarkably, he survived an 11th-lap incident that sent the car over the wall. History recounts that the two 1934 cars were rebuilt by Dahlinger’s garage for a second Indianapolis campaign. The No. 24 car, driven by Herb Ardinger, was tested at speeds up to 109.184 but failed to qualify, while mechanical issues prevented the No. 54 car from running. Both were fitted with sectioned 1935 Ford V8 grilles, giving them the distinctive appearance retained by this example today. The cars sat out the 1936 race, receiving their next qualification in 1937 after being rebuilt by Ford engineer Johnny Wohlfeil, who fitted a supercharged 255 cid Offenhauser engine to the No. 54 car. That car was entered as the Chicago Rawhide Special – and allegedly still discreetly supported by Ford, with Herb Ardinger at the wheel again – and its performance increased dramatically. Ardinger qualified 3rd on the grid, with a top speed of 123.423 mph. However, he fared less well in the race, as a broken connecting rod curtailed his race on lap 106, leaving him in 22nd place – but still with a share of the prize money. That marked the end of the Indy chapter for the two cars, which remained dormant through the war years. In the mid-1940s, Dahlinger modified both cars to look more like road-going machines, adding headlights and taillights and clothing the frames in aluminum paneling. It is understood that this car was sold to actor Keenan Wynn and made a cameo appearance in the 1947 film The Other Love, starring David Niven and Barbara Stanwyck. The car subsequently disappeared from public view until it was found by Al Atlee in 1988 and comprehensively restored by him and his son, Rich. During the restoration, the car’s 1940s road-going guise was removed and returned to its 1934 No. 24 Indianapolis racing form. The workmanship was extremely thorough and is documented in a binder containing more than 100 pages of photographs. Once completed, the Special embarked on a circuit of concours and display exhibitions. It was certified by the Early Ford V-8 Club as a Special Project Car and earned Dearborn First Place honors at the club’s Grand National Meets in 1991, 1993, 1998, and 2003. The AACA also certified the Special as a Competition Indy Race Vehicle, and it was featured in a thoroughly researched article published in the Early Ford V-8 Club’s V8 Times. Purchased in 2010 by the Price Museum of Speed, under whose care it has rubbed shoulders with many Indy alumni, the car’s maintenance has included the acquisition and fitting of a new 21-stud V-8 built by H&H Flatheads in California, all while being carefully maintained. With its distinctive configuration and Ford Motor Company association, this rare and authentic two-man Indy car is an important piece of history deserving of inclusion in any collection of Ford or Indianapolis icons. Please note that this vehicle is titled by its engine number. car

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