This race car was built around an original straight-8 racing engine.
It’s not a cheap decision to buy a prewar race car. Many of these cars will end up in dusty collections. Frans built his pre-war car from scratch despite the high price tag. Barcroft Cars’ most recent YouTube video gives us a glimpse into what it takes for a pre-war car to be built.
Franz loved the look and feel of prewar race cars, and he dreamed of owning them. He decided to build his car instead of buying a period piece. Dutchie is the result of his efforts and it’s an original creation that uses a period-correct drivetrain.
Dutchie was inspired by old race cars and would compete against the Indy 500. It was built around a straight-8 engine with a transmission from pre-war parts.
Franz assembled the frame and drivetrain and placed a chair where he wanted to be seated. Then he began building the car’s body. To get an idea of the final result, he started with a frame made from metal. He then added blankets. Franz was able to modify Dutchie’s body according to his specifications.
Franz collaborated with a metal artist to place sheet metal over his custom frame. This beautiful vehicle would look great with a prewar racecar, but it is also unique in its design.
The beautiful creation does not spend much time in museums. Franz drives Dutchie every day and is sure to bring a smile on the faces of anyone who sees his handy work.
If you don’t have the budget to buy the race car you want, you might consider building one like Franz.