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Author Topic: SOLVED: FW #119: Fitch Supersprint, Corvair engine, 1964  (Read 3260 times)

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Offline fromwien

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #50 on: June 10, 2023, 02:50:28 AM »
Sorry, yes
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Offline gte4289

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #51 on: June 11, 2023, 07:56:22 PM »
Ford engine?
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Offline fromwien

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #52 on: June 12, 2023, 02:11:09 AM »
No
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Offline gte4289

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #53 on: June 12, 2023, 02:28:02 AM »
GM engine?
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Offline fromwien

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #54 on: June 12, 2023, 03:21:12 AM »
Yes
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Offline gte4289

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #55 on: June 12, 2023, 08:47:21 PM »
The puzzle image seems to match images of Jacques Duval driving a "rented" Formula Vee car for the Fitch Sprint Team (of John Fitch?) at Nassau in 1963, as identified in Jacques Duval's autobiography. Duval says he and several celebrity drivers (Dan Gurney, A.J. Foyt, Bruce McLaren and others) agreed to compete in the Formula Vee Grand Prix to "have fun in these leftover Volkswagens."
« Last Edit: June 12, 2023, 10:22:35 PM by gte4289 »
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Offline gte4289

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #56 on: June 12, 2023, 09:06:49 PM »
Quote from: gte4289 on June 12, 2023, 08:47:21 PM
The puzzle image seems to match images of Jacques Duval driving a "rented" Formula Vee car for the Fitch Sprint Team (of John Fitch?) at Nassau in 1963, as identified in Jacques Duval's autobiography.
It looks as though there were three nearly-identical Fitch Team Formula Vee cars there in 1963 (#18, #19, and #20), but the puzzle car appears to have details which match it to the #20 car driven by Duval (the large, white steering wheel and mirror placement). I have images of all three cars at Nassau in 1963, as well as multiple images of the #19 car (with different race number) at Nassau again in 1964.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2023, 09:55:50 PM by gte4289 »
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Offline gte4289

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #57 on: June 12, 2023, 09:32:41 PM »
Was the puzzle car said to have been upgraded to Chevy power for the SCCA Formula Libre series?
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Offline fromwien

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #58 on: June 13, 2023, 02:09:28 AM »
Yes, Fitch ... with Jacques Duval on the wheel. You are very close the solution.
LOCKED for you to find engine, race series and year, which is very near the Nassau event
Quote from: gte4289 on June 12, 2023, 09:32:41 PM
Was the puzzle car said to have been upgraded to Chevy power for the SCCA Formula Libre series?
Not SCCA Formula Libre series, but Fitch..
« Last Edit: June 13, 2023, 02:14:23 AM by fromwien »
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Offline gte4289

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #59 on: June 13, 2023, 03:25:17 AM »
Quote from: fromwien on June 13, 2023, 02:09:28 AM
LOCKED for you to find engine, race series and year, which is very near the Nassau event
Engine: Modified Chevy Corvair Monza flat-6
Race series: "Super Sprint" single-formula racing series proposed by Fitch but killed off when SCCA decided to go with a Formula Vee racing class.
Year: 1964?

A prototype chassis was fabricated but the body was never completed. However, I don't really understand what all of this has to do with Jacques Duval in the Formula Vee. Did Fitch swap the VW engine for a Covair engine and then have Duval test it? Since Duval appears to be wearing the same gear and driving the same car he drove at Nassau, is it safe to assume this all took place almost immediately following Speed Week (held in August, 1963)?
« Last Edit: June 13, 2023, 03:46:02 AM by gte4289 »
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Offline fromwien

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Re: FW #119
« Reply #60 on: June 13, 2023, 04:43:43 AM »
Quote from: gte4289 on June 13, 2023, 03:25:17 AM
Quote from: fromwien on June 13, 2023, 02:09:28 AM
LOCKED for you to find engine, race series and year, which is very near the Nassau event
Engine: Modified Chevy Corvair Monza flat-6
Race series: "Super Sprint" single-formula racing series proposed by Fitch but killed off when SCCA decided to go with a Formula Vee racing class.
Year: 1964?

A prototype chassis was fabricated but the body was never completed. However, I don't really understand what all of this has to do with Jacques Duval in the Formula Vee. Did Fitch swap the VW engine for a Corvair engine and then have Duval test it? Since Duval appears to be wearing the same gear and driving the same car he drove at Nassau, is it safe to assume this all took place almost immediately following Speed Week (held in August, 1963)?

Engine: Modified Chevy Corvair Monza flat-6: Yes  :thumbsup:
Race series: "Super Sprint" single-formula racing series proposed by Fitch but killed off when SCCA decided to go with a Formula Vee racing class: Yes  :thumbsup:
Year: 1964: Yes :thumbsup:

Did Fitch swap the VW engine for a Covair engine and then have Duval test it?: I think so
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Offline gte4289

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Re: SOLVED: FW #119: Fitch Supersprint, Corvair engine, 1964
« Reply #61 on: June 13, 2023, 05:30:50 AM »
Thanks for the point!
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