This home-built sports racer is powered by a 2,000cc Ford “Pinto” inline four and Volkswagen transaxle resting in a custom tube-frame chassis with de Dion rear suspension. Built in the mid-1970s by mechanical engineer, fabricator and friend of the seller Ed Murphy, the car was intended to compete in the now-defunct SCCA class D and was track tested in the early 1980s but never raced. Periodically run during its earlier long-term garage storage, it has most recently sat dormant for over a decade before being brought back to life by the seller. The car has largely escaped alteration from its original build and is sold with a binder of engineering diagrams along with other build documentation.

Laid out with a distinctive air of function over form, body panels are comprised of a fiberglass nose along with squared-off riveted aluminum sheets. The car has reportedly always been stored in a dry garage and most panels remain straight and free of damage while showing the occasional unfilled rivet hole.

Average paint lies under the dust accumulated from storage and is adorned with period SCCA decals. Dished steel wheels are currently mounted with old Goodyear slicks, while several other included wheels and tires are pictured in the gallery.

The driver sits on the right and the cockpit includes minimalist switchgear and a large central tachometer along with supporting temperature and pressure gauges. Protection for the occupant of its single period race seat is provided by a slim Lexan windshield and a roll bar tied into the chassis in at least six places.

The mid-mounted Ford “Pinto” inline four is reportedly a 2,000cc version built with high-compression pistons and a single belt-driven overhead camshaft from Holman Moody along with heavy-duty crankshaft, valve springs and other internals. Induction is from a now-rare Autolite quad inline carburetor similar to those used in period Trans Am racing and breathing through taped-on velocity stacks.

Exhaust is via an unmuffled 4-2-1 header exiting out the rear, and cooling duties are handled by a small radiator and electric fan mounted on the right along with an external oil cooler on the left. Shifting is from a Volkswagen transaxle with Metso gears. Four-wheel disc brakes include inboard rears with custom aluminum brackets to mount single-piston calipers, which are still present but currently uninstalled.

Thought to weigh in at approximately 1,300 lbs., the car reportedly performed well during track testing at Summit Point Raceway in the early 1980s but was never actually raced in competition. Started periodically prior its last ten years of storage, the engine has been successfully fired up by the seller after draining the fuel, changing the oil and installing a fresh battery. It was run only briefly due to a fuel leak, and the seller emphasizes the need for inspection and service before being run for any length of time.

Here is a shot of the car from the 1970s. Built from a variety of square and round steel tubing, the chassis incorporates a de Dion-style rear axle and suspension setup with custom sway bars and is pictured above after completion. Additional period build photos are also included. The sale further includes a binder of engineering diagrams and other documentation which is organized into separate chapters for the chassis, engine, gearbox and more. The car is not legal for use on the street and will be sold as a race car on a bill of sale.