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Details
Photo credit: Gordon McCall
The ex-Al Unser "Johnny Lightning Special"
1968-70 LOLA-COLT
Chassis No. SL-150-2
Blue with yellow and red trim - 1970 "Johnny Lightning" team livery
Engine: V-8 four cam Ford, 159ci., turbocharged, c900bhp at 8,500rpm and 70-80 inches boost; Gearbox: four-speed Hewland LG 500; Suspension: four wheel independent, wheelbase and track both adjustable; Brakes: discs front and rear. Single seat racing car.
1967 had been a turbulent year for USAC competitors. Having adjusted to the rear-engined invasion that rendered their beloved roadsters obsolete, the traditionalists were confronted by four wheel drive chassis and even a turbine powered machine that dominated 490 miles of the Indianapolis 500 while sounding more like a vacuum cleaner than a racing car. For 1968, legendary crew chief George Bignotti ordered a four wheel chassis from Eric Broadley's Lola Cars in England for Al Retzloff's Chemical race team. The car was unique in that it was the only 4WD Lola powered by a four cam Ford engine. Bobby Unser's younger brother Al was the chosen driver and the car was delivered in early May, just in time for the practice and qualifying at the famed Indianapolis Speedway. Unser, who had finished second in 1967, qualified in the second row and was holding his own in the race when a broken spindle put the car into the first turn wall at only 40 laps, a promising but disappointing beginning. The damaged Lola was sent back to England for repair and returned in time for July's 200-mile race on the road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Al Unser, who had won his very first Championship Trail event the preceding week on the dirt oval at Nazareth, showed that he had truly arrived by winning both halves of the two heat affair over Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and brother Bobby. Al further backed up this fine performance by winning at Langhorne the following week in the team's other Lola. The lucky streak faded as quickly as it had begun, but Unser and the new Lola did manage a pole position at Trenton in September before retiring with a blown turbocharger.
Following the 1968 season, Parnelli Jones and Vel Miletich, with the help of Firestone Tires, formed Vel's Parnelli Jones Ford Racing and purchased the assets of Al Retzloff's team, obtaining the Lola as well as the services of George Bignotti, co-chief Jim Dilamarter, and driver Al Unser. For 1969, USAC regulations had strangled the turbines and limited tire width to ten inches on four wheel drive cars, so the Lola was extensively modified by Bignotti and Dilamarter, becoming the Vel's Parnelli Jones Special. In addition to conversion to rear wheel drive, the car gained side mounted fuel tanks and the distinctive 'coal chute' fairings for the external oil coolers. Al debuted the modified car at Phoenix by putting it on the pole. He led from the start, but the glory was short lived as a dropped valve put the Vel's PJ car out after 14 laps. The team went to Indianapolis with high hopes and Al swapped fast practice time with Andretti and Foyt until the weather closed in, washing out the first week of qualifications. A cruel twist of fate then intervened as Unser, waiting out the weather and killing time in the garage area, fell off his motorcycle and broke his leg. With Al unable to race, Bud Tingelstad got the nod when pole day rolled around again and qualified in the sixth row. Unser feels to this day that the car could have won the race, but Tingelstad retired with engine trouble, winding up in fifteenth place. The following week at Milwaukee, Jim Malloy qualified the Lola on the outside of the front row ahead of A.J. Foyt. Malloy took a fine second behind Art Pollard with the car and was back in the Lola a week later at Langhorne. Not as fortunate in Pennsylvania, Jim finished seventh in the rain-delayed Langhorne event and was out of a ride as Unser's leg was pronounced race ready by the next event. At Milwaukee in August, Al won from the pole. He started again from pole at Brainard's two heat affair but clutch failure left him with a fourth place finish overall. Unser capped an eventful season with the VPJ Special by again qualifying fastest and winning the November 200 miler at Phoenix.
For 1970, Vel's PJ master fabricator Joe Fukashima further modified the bodywork to its final configuration, reflecting the knowledge of aerodynamics that was only beginning to impact USAC racing at the time, and the car was now referred to as a Lola-Colt. Bignotti and Dilamarter produced a further two new cars for the 1970 season using this Lola-Colt as a model. Topper Toys became the primary sponsor of the Vel's Parnelli Jones effort, and the cars were painted in the electric blue and yellow color scheme representing Topper's Johnny Lightning die-cast miniatures. It would be a successful partnership, as Al Unser and the Johnny Lightning cars proved to be nearly unbeatable in 1970. Using this Lola-Colt on the short ovals and road courses, he took five pole positions and won the season opener at Phoenix, IRP in July, Milwaukee in August, and the October race at Trenton on his way to the USAC Championship, all in this car. Al also won his first Indianapolis 500 in one of the team's new cars, now known as P.J. Colts, and nearly repeated at Ontario before breaking with a two lap lead at 465 miles. In perhaps the most impressive display of dominance during that historic year, Unser wheeled the team's upright car to victory in all five of the dirt hundred-milers run in 1970. Unser's first place at Sacramento in 1969 gave him a string of six straight victories in the final championship dirt races, as the fairgrounds mile events were dropped from the Championship Trail in 1971.
In 1971, this car again went to Indianapolis as a back up for the Johnny Lightning team, but was sold before the race to Agajanian-Faas Racers, whose own cars proved too slow to qualify. The Agajanian team did not repaint the car, merely masking over the distinctive lightning bolts with white and renumbering the car with Aggie's familiar #98. Running as the Wynn's Kwik-Kool entry, Sammy Sessions qualified the car inside on the ninth row but had the engine let go at quarter distance, finishing 27th in the race that saw Al Unser score his second consecutive Indy 500 win with the primary Johnny Lightning car. Sessions would also drive the car to an 11th place finish in the Pocono 500. Following the 1971 season, the car was retired and kept by Leonard Faas until his death. Sadly, the crowd-pleasing Johnny Lightning color scheme would become just a memory as the Federal Trade Commission ruled that a toy company's use of racing might have a harmful influence on children. For 1972, the primary sponsor for the Vel's Parnelli team became Viceroy Tobacco with no complaint from the FTC. Since 1978, when the car was sold by the estate of Leonard Faas, the Johnny Lightning Special has slumbered unmolested on a farm in California's great Central Valley until discovered in 2000 by the current owner. Supplied with its original 4-cam turbocharged Ford unit which was rebuilt (but not run) by racing engine specialist Joe Baghosian, the car is absolutely complete and as it was thirty years ago when purchased by Leonard Faas. It has not been restored, but the car has been cleaned and the white stripes and Agajanian number has been removed, revealing the original paint and Johnny Lightning livery beneath. Appearing today as it did in 1970 and wearing the Johnny Lightning #2, the car is in incredible condition and has avoided the fate of nearly every obsolete racing car, losing only the safety harness shoulder straps during its long hibernation.
The Johnny Lightning Special represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of racing history that accurately depicts the state of the art as it was three decades ago. Four time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser scored his first championship race victory on pavement in this very car, and it was a major factor in Al winning the 1970 USAC driving Championship. The Johnny Lightning cars are among the most successful and recognizable cars in American racing, and this car was the first, serving as the prototype for the Johnny Lightning pavement cars. With nine Championship race wins, twelve pole positions and nineteen podium finishes, it is arguably the most successful of the Vel's Parnelli Jones entries, lacking only a winning record in the Indianapolis 500. While the car is complete, no attempt has been made to run the vehicle and due to its age all mechanical and safety systems should be carefully checked and re-commissioned prior to operation by the new owner.
Memorabilia accompanying the car includes:
- Two crew uniform shirts (period) by Bowler Supply, Los Angeles.
- William E. Porter, Johnny Lightning. An original watercolor, 1989. Framed. 24x36in. (approximately).
- William E. Porter, Johnny Lightning with Al Unser. An original watercolor, 1989. Framed. 24x36in. (approximately).
- Photograph of Al Unser in Johnny Lightning.
- An unopened liquor decanter in the shape of the racecar by Lionstone. - A 1:43 diecast model by Playing Mantis.
The ex-Al Unser "Johnny Lightning Special"
1968-70 LOLA-COLT
Chassis No. SL-150-2
Blue with yellow and red trim - 1970 "Johnny Lightning" team livery
Engine: V-8 four cam Ford, 159ci., turbocharged, c900bhp at 8,500rpm and 70-80 inches boost; Gearbox: four-speed Hewland LG 500; Suspension: four wheel independent, wheelbase and track both adjustable; Brakes: discs front and rear. Single seat racing car.
1967 had been a turbulent year for USAC competitors. Having adjusted to the rear-engined invasion that rendered their beloved roadsters obsolete, the traditionalists were confronted by four wheel drive chassis and even a turbine powered machine that dominated 490 miles of the Indianapolis 500 while sounding more like a vacuum cleaner than a racing car. For 1968, legendary crew chief George Bignotti ordered a four wheel chassis from Eric Broadley's Lola Cars in England for Al Retzloff's Chemical race team. The car was unique in that it was the only 4WD Lola powered by a four cam Ford engine. Bobby Unser's younger brother Al was the chosen driver and the car was delivered in early May, just in time for the practice and qualifying at the famed Indianapolis Speedway. Unser, who had finished second in 1967, qualified in the second row and was holding his own in the race when a broken spindle put the car into the first turn wall at only 40 laps, a promising but disappointing beginning. The damaged Lola was sent back to England for repair and returned in time for July's 200-mile race on the road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Al Unser, who had won his very first Championship Trail event the preceding week on the dirt oval at Nazareth, showed that he had truly arrived by winning both halves of the two heat affair over Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and brother Bobby. Al further backed up this fine performance by winning at Langhorne the following week in the team's other Lola. The lucky streak faded as quickly as it had begun, but Unser and the new Lola did manage a pole position at Trenton in September before retiring with a blown turbocharger.
Following the 1968 season, Parnelli Jones and Vel Miletich, with the help of Firestone Tires, formed Vel's Parnelli Jones Ford Racing and purchased the assets of Al Retzloff's team, obtaining the Lola as well as the services of George Bignotti, co-chief Jim Dilamarter, and driver Al Unser. For 1969, USAC regulations had strangled the turbines and limited tire width to ten inches on four wheel drive cars, so the Lola was extensively modified by Bignotti and Dilamarter, becoming the Vel's Parnelli Jones Special. In addition to conversion to rear wheel drive, the car gained side mounted fuel tanks and the distinctive 'coal chute' fairings for the external oil coolers. Al debuted the modified car at Phoenix by putting it on the pole. He led from the start, but the glory was short lived as a dropped valve put the Vel's PJ car out after 14 laps. The team went to Indianapolis with high hopes and Al swapped fast practice time with Andretti and Foyt until the weather closed in, washing out the first week of qualifications. A cruel twist of fate then intervened as Unser, waiting out the weather and killing time in the garage area, fell off his motorcycle and broke his leg. With Al unable to race, Bud Tingelstad got the nod when pole day rolled around again and qualified in the sixth row. Unser feels to this day that the car could have won the race, but Tingelstad retired with engine trouble, winding up in fifteenth place. The following week at Milwaukee, Jim Malloy qualified the Lola on the outside of the front row ahead of A.J. Foyt. Malloy took a fine second behind Art Pollard with the car and was back in the Lola a week later at Langhorne. Not as fortunate in Pennsylvania, Jim finished seventh in the rain-delayed Langhorne event and was out of a ride as Unser's leg was pronounced race ready by the next event. At Milwaukee in August, Al won from the pole. He started again from pole at Brainard's two heat affair but clutch failure left him with a fourth place finish overall. Unser capped an eventful season with the VPJ Special by again qualifying fastest and winning the November 200 miler at Phoenix.
For 1970, Vel's PJ master fabricator Joe Fukashima further modified the bodywork to its final configuration, reflecting the knowledge of aerodynamics that was only beginning to impact USAC racing at the time, and the car was now referred to as a Lola-Colt. Bignotti and Dilamarter produced a further two new cars for the 1970 season using this Lola-Colt as a model. Topper Toys became the primary sponsor of the Vel's Parnelli Jones effort, and the cars were painted in the electric blue and yellow color scheme representing Topper's Johnny Lightning die-cast miniatures. It would be a successful partnership, as Al Unser and the Johnny Lightning cars proved to be nearly unbeatable in 1970. Using this Lola-Colt on the short ovals and road courses, he took five pole positions and won the season opener at Phoenix, IRP in July, Milwaukee in August, and the October race at Trenton on his way to the USAC Championship, all in this car. Al also won his first Indianapolis 500 in one of the team's new cars, now known as P.J. Colts, and nearly repeated at Ontario before breaking with a two lap lead at 465 miles. In perhaps the most impressive display of dominance during that historic year, Unser wheeled the team's upright car to victory in all five of the dirt hundred-milers run in 1970. Unser's first place at Sacramento in 1969 gave him a string of six straight victories in the final championship dirt races, as the fairgrounds mile events were dropped from the Championship Trail in 1971.
In 1971, this car again went to Indianapolis as a back up for the Johnny Lightning team, but was sold before the race to Agajanian-Faas Racers, whose own cars proved too slow to qualify. The Agajanian team did not repaint the car, merely masking over the distinctive lightning bolts with white and renumbering the car with Aggie's familiar #98. Running as the Wynn's Kwik-Kool entry, Sammy Sessions qualified the car inside on the ninth row but had the engine let go at quarter distance, finishing 27th in the race that saw Al Unser score his second consecutive Indy 500 win with the primary Johnny Lightning car. Sessions would also drive the car to an 11th place finish in the Pocono 500. Following the 1971 season, the car was retired and kept by Leonard Faas until his death. Sadly, the crowd-pleasing Johnny Lightning color scheme would become just a memory as the Federal Trade Commission ruled that a toy company's use of racing might have a harmful influence on children. For 1972, the primary sponsor for the Vel's Parnelli team became Viceroy Tobacco with no complaint from the FTC. Since 1978, when the car was sold by the estate of Leonard Faas, the Johnny Lightning Special has slumbered unmolested on a farm in California's great Central Valley until discovered in 2000 by the current owner. Supplied with its original 4-cam turbocharged Ford unit which was rebuilt (but not run) by racing engine specialist Joe Baghosian, the car is absolutely complete and as it was thirty years ago when purchased by Leonard Faas. It has not been restored, but the car has been cleaned and the white stripes and Agajanian number has been removed, revealing the original paint and Johnny Lightning livery beneath. Appearing today as it did in 1970 and wearing the Johnny Lightning #2, the car is in incredible condition and has avoided the fate of nearly every obsolete racing car, losing only the safety harness shoulder straps during its long hibernation.
The Johnny Lightning Special represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of racing history that accurately depicts the state of the art as it was three decades ago. Four time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser scored his first championship race victory on pavement in this very car, and it was a major factor in Al winning the 1970 USAC driving Championship. The Johnny Lightning cars are among the most successful and recognizable cars in American racing, and this car was the first, serving as the prototype for the Johnny Lightning pavement cars. With nine Championship race wins, twelve pole positions and nineteen podium finishes, it is arguably the most successful of the Vel's Parnelli Jones entries, lacking only a winning record in the Indianapolis 500. While the car is complete, no attempt has been made to run the vehicle and due to its age all mechanical and safety systems should be carefully checked and re-commissioned prior to operation by the new owner.
Memorabilia accompanying the car includes:
- Two crew uniform shirts (period) by Bowler Supply, Los Angeles.
- William E. Porter, Johnny Lightning. An original watercolor, 1989. Framed. 24x36in. (approximately).
- William E. Porter, Johnny Lightning with Al Unser. An original watercolor, 1989. Framed. 24x36in. (approximately).
- Photograph of Al Unser in Johnny Lightning.
- An unopened liquor decanter in the shape of the racecar by Lionstone. - A 1:43 diecast model by Playing Mantis.