Description
Lot #1250.1 - Albert Layne "Buddy" Taylor claimed several midget driving titles over the years. In 1953 and 1954, he won the Arizona Midget Owners & Driver Club Championships. In the late '50s, '60s and into the early '70s, Buddy dominated the Southwest region of Supermodified Racing. He had won 11 New Mexico State Championships, including eight consecutive titles and two Arizona state titles. Buddy's career spanned 31 years. On September 23, 1978, Buddy was involved in an accident where his car flipped violently and unfortunately he passed away on the way to the hospital. It was built in 1962 by Gardena, CA, fabricator/racer Hank Henry, with extensive Southwest racing history. Fully restored to as-new condition with correct vintage racing equipment, including Halibrand quick-change rear axle, Gordon Schroeder steering box, dual-piston rear disc brakes, magnesium 16" Halibrand knockoff wheels, chromed single-hoop roll bar and hand-formed aluminum body and belly pan with Kurtis-style aluminum nose piece and gorgeous chrome-plated grille insert. An in/out direct drive transmission connects the Hilborn fuel-injected Chevy small-block engine to the period-correct Firestone DeLuxe Champion 8.90-16 grooved racing tires. The fully chrome-plated front suspension features a steel tube axle and Monro-Matic shocks riding on Goodyear 5.50-16 Blue Streak Speedway DT tires. The fully chromed rear suspension employs a transverse torsion bar and Monro-Matic shocks. All sponsor lettering and gold leaf decoration is hand applied rather than modern shortcut vinyl. The vast majority of these open wheel sprint cars were destroyed on the track or parted out to fund the next season's effort. This pristine restoration has escaped the ravages of the banked oval and is ready for a place of prominence in any museum or collection of fine race cars. Formerly part of the Ron Pratte Collection.
**SOLD ON BILL OF SALE ONLY**