Scarab F1 Offenhauser (1960) - Chuck Daigh

This Scarab F1 Offenhauser is chassis #001 of three built. The Scarab Project was an attempt to make an all American Formula 1 race car. In 1958, Lance Reventlow, an heir to the Woolworth's fortune, decided to get into auto racing by building his own cars and hiring drivers to race them. In preparation for the 1960 season, Reventlow assembled a group of engineers in California with the goal of building an all American car to complete and win in the Formula 1 Series. At a time in which most of the F1 teams had switched to mid-engine chassis, Scarab built their car around a front-engine chassis. The car was powered by an aluminum (block and head) 4-cylinder Offenhauser motor linked to a Corvette 4-speed transmission. The body was built from aluminum and the chassis was a steel "spaceframe". The car weighed 1213 lbs and had a top speed of 155 MPH.

Maximum displacement for an F1 motor at the time was 2.5L. The top F1 teams were able to achieve 280HP out of their motors. The Scarab could only achieve 220HP. The car was hopelessly under powered. The first race they attempted was Monaco. They were 8 seconds off the pace and earned a DNQ. The second race the team entered was Spa in Beguim. The Scarab qualified last and during the second lap of the race, a piston punched a hole in the block ending the racing for the team. The third and final race they entered was Riverside. The Scarab started 16th and suffered vapour lock through most of the race, but the driver, Chuck Daigh, still managed to pull off a 10th place finish. Discouraged, Reventlow withdrew from racing after that season.

After its F1 days were through, chassis #001, was fitted with a Chevy V-8 and continued to compete in races in the US. This particular car was also the star of a short feature called 'The Sound of Speed' which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. After Reventlow died a plane crash in 1972, chassis #001 was sold to Don Orosco who completely restored the car to its original condition which included the Offenhauser motor. This car sold for $1,038,735, including buyer’s premium, at Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale on September 12, 2015.