1961 Ewing Dean Van Lines Special

Al Dean of Los Angeles was a moving van executive and racing enthusiast. Beginning in 1953 with dirt-track cars, Dean eventually created his own team - the Dean Van Lines team - that continued to improve year-over-year, later joined by driving legends A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. Almost annually, the team introduced a new racecar or two, known as the Dean Van Lines Specials, equipped with Offenhauser power and tuned by team manager Clint Brawner.

Eddie Sachs drove a Dean Van Line Special during the 1960 season which had been built by A.J. Watson metal-shaping specialist Wayne Ewing. It was similar to the Watson roadsters that had been highly successful at Indianapolis from 1956 to 1964, yet different in many details, particularly in the shape of the cowl and windshield support. Power was sourced from a new 252 cubic-inch Offenhauser engine prepared by Brawner which helped it qualify on pole position in both 1961 and 1962. Qualifying speeds were track records in both years at 146.592 mph in 1960 and 147.481 mph in 1961.

Before its appearance at Indy, Sachs piloted the latest Dean Van Lines Special to an 8th place finish at its debut at the Trenton 100 in April 1960. A month later, it rested on pole position at the Indy 500, and quickly leaped to 1st place during the second lap of the race and led during 30 laps thereafter. After 132 laps, a magneto failure sideline the roadster and it ultimately finished in 21st place.

After the disappointing 21st-place finish at Indy, the car raced over the season's final eight races, including a checkered flag victory at the concluding Trenton 100. The Dean Van Lines Special returned to the Indy 500 in 1961, where Sachs again qualified for the pole position at an average speed of 147.481 mph. It wore race number 12 and led for much of the race, even setting a race lap record at 144.505 mph. On lap 197, with less than eight miles remaining, Sachs pitted to change a failing rear tire. This pit stop allowed A.J. Foyt to claim the lead and Sachs never recovered, finishing 8.23 seconds behind Foyt's winning car.

After Indy, the Dean Van Lines Special won at Trenton and finished in 3rd place on two occasions, earning Sachs the runner-up in the driver standings, and the car to finish 3rd in national championship point standings.

At the 1962 Indianapolis 500, Sachs qualified 27th but managed an impressive third-place finish. By the end of the season, Sachs was in 9th in championship driver points while the car placed 5th.

For the 1963 season, the car's final year competing in USAC competition, Chuck Hulse was assigned driving duties, and qualified 11th at the Brickyard, and finished 8th overall. Through the rest of the season, the Dean Van Lines Special achieved one 2nd-place finish and two 3rd-place finishes, earning the car 10th place in championship points.

Clint Brawner sold the car in 1964 to Bill Pewett of Chicago, who prepared the roadster as the Pewett Enterprises special, which only appeared in one race. Over the course of the next two ownerships, the car was modified to run super-modified races in the Cleveland area, and its identity as the 1961 Indy 500 runner-up quickly faded.

Ernie Holden of Cleveland discovered and purchased the racer in 1978 and at the time it was known (incorrectly) as the Watson-built Dayton Steel Wheel car. Holden was able to (eventually) determine its true origins, and began a full restoration to the car's 1961 configuration, with help from Clint Brawner. An Offenhauser engine was sourced and rebuilt by Andy Dunlap, the former chief mechanic for Cleveland's Central Excavating Specials. Del Schmidlen and Jerry Weeks reformed body panels as needed.

Mr. Holden sold the car in 1982 due to health issues and was acquired by Vic Yerardi of Weston, Massachusetts. Yerardi Racing Enterprises specialized in restoration, track preparation, and display of vintage American oval-track racecars. Following four years of effort, the work was completed. The Special was then presented at over 50 events, taking first-place awards at several local shows during the early 1980s, earning an AACA Grand National award in 1988, and winning its class at the 1994 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it also garnered the Tony Hulman Award.

The Racing Special participated in the Annual Vintage Celebration's Magic Mile event at the New Hampshire International Speedway, as well as events at Hershey Stadium, Star Speedway, and Lee USA Speedway. Several top-name drivers, including Mario Andretti and Rick Mears, drove the car on demonstration laps.

The Dean Van Lines Special remained with Mr. Yerardi for 18 years, entering new ownership after his passing in 2000. It was acquired two years later from his estate by its current caretaker, who has owned it for nearly two decades. After the acquisition, the car was submitted to Indianapolis mechanic and former A.J. Watson employee Walter Goodwin, who sorted the car for reliability and optimal performance.

During the week of the 2003 Indianapolis 500, three-time winner Johnny Rutherford piloted the roadster for historic exhibition laps of the track.

In 2021, the car was brought to RM Sotheby's Monterey auction where it entered new ownership.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021