Nov 8, 2017 • Uncategorized •

What set sprint car races apart from other forms of auto racing in the first half of the 20th century was the short distances they covered. In an era when going the distance was all the rage, sprint races kept the action short and sweet. These cars tore up short tracks around the world and hardly, if ever, required stops for fuel, driver changes or other maintenance during the races. If you want to own your own unique piece of sprint car racing history, check out this custom built 1947 Sprint Car found here on craigslist in Northwest, Indiana with an asking price of $5,000. Thanks to Pat L for the tip!

This car is said to have been built in 1947 by the seller’s grandfather, Floyd Kroft, who raced the vehicle through the 1960s. At that point the seller’s father took the wheel and kept it on the track through the 1970s. It is said to have been used for exhibition and shows through the 1990s before being put away. Storage issues resulted in water damage and rust, and the Ford 272 Y block will likely need to be rebuilt, though the frame is said to be solid. The seller also has numerous photo albums and a long letter regarding the car’s history, but they don’t mention much of it in the ad. Does anyone have any memories of this car?

The term sprint car became popular with auto racing media in the 1950s, but some historians state that sprint car racing developed right along side most other forms, starting in the 1890s. In 1951 AAA cited sprint car racing as, “… the class between midget and championship speedway cars” in a narrative discussion of their non-championship divisions. Some cite this as the time in which sprint car racing became its own division of open cockpit racing. While the history of sprint racing is not definitive, this car is definitively cool. Who is ready to hit the track?