Gulf-Miller Special
specifications
brand
gulf
mileage
726 kms
year
1965
engine
7000 cc
gearbox
4-speed manual
price
sold
info
The partnership between Harry Miller and Gulf Oil began in 1937 after Gulf bought out the remaining development of two four-cylinder cars initially commissioned by former driver Ira Vail. Shortly after the project moved to Gulf’s Pittsburgh-area headquarters, an additional program was created to build three all-wheel-drive race cars with mid-rear-mounted, supercharged inline-six engines. Two of the three cars, as well as a replacement car built for the 1940 race, were destroyed by fire by 1941. The lone remaining car was purchased by driver George Barringer and campaigned under sponsorship by Preston Tucker before later joining the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum’s collection in 1958.
The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter Jaguar AJ6 features an aluminum block and an aluminum cylinder head with dual overhead camshafts and breathes through a single GM Bay City carburetor. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a ZF 4HP 18 four-speed automatic transmission mounted rearward of the engine. An externally mounted heat exchanger is plumbed to a transaxle cooler while simulating the appearance of the original race car’s induction setup.
This Gulf Miller race car re-creation was hand-built over the course of several years by Babineau Metal Works in Auburn, Indiana. This re-creation is based on the single surviving Gulf Miller and replicates the original car’s current metallic blue livery, which is based on that worn under Preston Tucker’s sponsorship in the mid-1940s. The aluminum bodywork was crafted by Gary Babineau.
