john zink 52 rear engine 1958

[Deleted]

Over on the H.A.M.B. board, someone posted a photo of a JZ rear engine Offy from 1958. Does anyone have any more photos of this oddball, looks like it could be kitbashed from a Kurtis roadster Need some rear shots tho' only front that i have seen.

[Deleted]

can you post a pic or tell me where to find it? I searched with no luck

[Deleted]

Zink experimented with a rear engine car, but not in 1958. I think I have a photo of it somewhere, but I'm not sure. I'll post it if I can find it.

Gary

[Deleted]

I knew of '61 and '62, but nothing as early as '58. just curious as to what the OP was talking about that it looked like he could make one from a Kurtis kit. sure would be an interesting build........

[Deleted]

Sorry, can't seem to find it either, but still looking. There was a shot of the car under construction and one while practicing at Indy, looked like Cheesbourg was driving. I've seen other shots of the car at Pikes Peak with a Chevy instead of the Offy. The car looked like they shoved the driver forward and to the center and slid the Offy behind him. The nose looks like a 50's Kurtis and the car is wide with saddle tanks. I believe there's also a shot in the book 'Indy's wildest years" i'll check tonite.

Rick

[Deleted]

"Indy's Wildest Decade", if that's the book you're talking about, was based on cars of the 60's to 1970.

I found a link online with a pic of a car being restored. similar to what was described as 'under construction'. its a Brabham chassis with Sir Jack himself in the pic.......here's the link:

www.psychoontyres.co.uk/tag/arnaudin/page/2/

just scroll down several pics.

[MrIndy77]

This is the only one I have found that fits your description...this one was turbine powered.
www.duckuscrapuspond.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6954&page=2

[Deleted]

Try this, not the lotus based turbine!

jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=504642&d=1222442680

[MrIndy77]

Appears to be the same chassis as link I posted with different engine perhaps.

[MrIndy77]

Another pic..

[Deleted]

BINGO!!!! Sure looks like the thought of putting a turbine in the car was considered. The car doesn't look as wide as i oeiginally thought but still looks like a Kurtis, or definately Kurtis style. This may become a project,altho all my stuffis packed away for an out of state move, at least i can collect photos for reference. Thanks for all the help,hope more photos show up.

Rick

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2012 11:43:41 GMT -5 MrIndy77 said:

Another pic..

Dan Gurney?

(guess so, after reading the description of the pic for sale on ebay. Dan left the Zink project and qualified Mickey Thompsons car)

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2012 11:33:41 GMT -5 MrIndy77 said:

Appears to be the same chassis as link I posted with different engine perhaps.

appears that this was either 61 or 62, not 1958. in the background you see on the pit wall "Parnelli Jones". since PJ was a rookie in 1961, either that was taken his rookie year or practice for 1962, before they repainted the pit walls from 61.

just a thought.......

[Deleted]

here's a pic of it for sale on ebay.



www.ebay.com/itm/61-RARE-INDY-500-OFFY-REAR-ENGINE-JOHN-ZINK-RACE-PHOTO-/360234106330

here's the description of the car in the pic:

"THIS IS A RARE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE 1961 #52 JOHN ZINK TRACKBURNER PROTOTYPE REAR-ENGINE OFFY POWERED INDY CAR. THIS RACING CAR WAS BUILT IN 1961 AND ENTERED IN THE INDY 500 FOR TROY RUTTMAN TO DRIVE. THE CAR NEVER RACED A COMPETITIVE LAP. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN DURING A TEST SESSION AT THE INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY IN 1961. IT WAS ENTERED BY JOHN ZINK AND DRIVEN BY DAN GURNEY IN PRACTICE, BUT IT FAILED TO MAKE THE RACE. DAN GURNEY DID MAKE THE RACE IN THE #34 MICKEY THOMPSON CHEVY POWERED REAR ENGINE CAR. I HAD AN HISTORIAN TELL ME THAT THIS IS QUITE A RARE PHOTO OF THIS CAR: HE SAYS: THE PHOTO IS NOT OF THE ZINK TURBINE. IT'S A PHOTO OF A "MULE" REAR ENGINE PROTOTYPE BUILT BY DENNIS MOORE. IT WAS NEVER ENTERED IN THE RACE. THE PIPE IS THE EXHAUST OF A 255 OFFY. THERE IS A PICTURE OF A SIMILAR ZINK CAR (KIMBERLY SPECIAL) ON PAGE 79 OF THE 1962 FLOYD CLYMER INDY 500 YEARBOOK, IT IS #'D DIFFERENT AND APPEARS TO HAVE A DIFFERENT ENGINE IN THE REAR, BUT IT IS PROBABLY THE SAME "MULE" CAR. THIS PICTURE IS AN UNUSUAL ONE AS I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PICTURE OF THIS CAR IN THIS CONFIGURATION IN A CLYMER YEARBOOK AND THERE ISN'T ONE IN THE BOOK "THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 1911-1994" BY JACK C. FOX. VERY INTERESTING! LOOK AT HOW FAR UP THE DRIVER IS TO THE FRONT END!"