This 1961 G-Modified Sports Racer is a custom built one-off created by Peter Dawson. Dawson was an automotive engineer who worked for Lotus Engineering in the late ’50s. He then moved back to the US where he worked 17 years for Chrysler, most notably as Program Manager for the famous Goldenrod land speed record car, and 20 years for Ford. His time at Lotus motivated him to build his own lightweight race car, and he built his first “Ferret” out of the remains of a wrecked Siata 300BC. He raced Ferret #1 from 1959 through 1961 while designing and building this car, Ferret #2, from the ground up using a space frame chassis.

The completed car weighed in at an estimated 600 lbs and Dawson claimed it was a much more sophisticated car than the first Ferret. Dawson campaigned Ferret #2 in G-Modified from 1962 to 1964 with varying levels of success. He sold it in 1964/1965 likely due to an upcoming SCCA rule change that would disqualify the car, which is believed to have been the end of Ferret #2’s racing career. The current seller acquired the car in 2002 and had the engine and transmission rebuilt with the intention of completing a full restoration but other commitments have taken priority over the Ferret.

The body requires a complete restoration as well as the fabrication of a number of missing components. The pontoon fenders, doors, and passenger seat / engine cover are made of hand-formed aluminum while the rest of the sheet metal is 20 ga. magnesium. The right sidepod, lower tail section and interior sheet metal are missing, and the existing magnesium panels should be replaced as well if the next owner chooses to take the Ferret racing. The only compound curves are in the fenders, which are all with the car, so any missing sheet metal will be relatively easy to fabricate. Many of the simple angle metal pieces used to mount the body panels are missing as are the square tube stanchions where the doors met the windscreen. Remnants of the original maroon color and a later yellow repaint are visible.

The interior is incomplete, notably missing the right hand driver’s seat and gauges, though a switch panel and correct but damaged tachometer are included. The engine was mounted roughly where a passenger seat would be expected, and the engine cover doubles as the seat for someone brave or foolish enough to ride shotgun. The initial windscreen did not come with the car and the photos show a cardboard template in its place. The seller is in the process of having a replacement polycarbonate windscreen manufactured that will be included in the sale, though it will need to be cut to fit at installation time.

The chassis is in as-found condition and has only minor surface corrosion. 13″ magnesium BMCD Junior wheels are currently installed.

As with most custom Sports Racers of the period Ferret #2 used an eclectic set of off the shelf mechanical components, modified and replaced when issues were found or a better solution presented itself. The suspension was designed and set up by Christopher Kennedy, Chrysler’s head of suspension design during that period. As last raced the Ferret used the following:

75hp, 1,037cc McCulloch 3 Cylinder two-stroke outboard boat motor

Harley-Davidson Knucklehead 4-speed chain drive transmission

Fiat 500 differential

Airheart four wheel disc brakes with dual master cylinders

Heim-jointed four wheel independent suspension

The engine was recently rebuilt by Bill Price Racing, a well known cart engine builder, and the Harley transmission was rebuilt by Steve Wilson of The Biker’s Emporium. In addition to the rebuilt engine four complete spare engines and numerous additional engine parts are included with the sale.

The sale includes an extensive collection of period photos documenting the build process and the completed car, as well as notes from Peter Dawson and Chris Kennedy, who have both since passed away. Kennedy came to see the car in person shortly after the seller purchased it in 2002 and provided more details on the build.

The seller has posted a YouTube video with more information that can be viewed below:

Serious bidders are encouraged to contact the seller for a detailed writeup on the car’s current condition and history.