1969 Webster Special Formula 5000 and IndyCar

Highlights

• Rare and significant Jerry Eisert built dual-purpose chassis: raced as both Formula A/F5000 and in USAC IndyCar races.
• Documented competition history: driven by Jerry Grant, Jim Malloy, Kevin Bartlett, Ron Grabel, Johnny Parsons Jr. and more.
• Iconic design
• Gurney-Weslake Ford V8 with Weber carburetors, mated to a Hewland LG600 gearbox.
• Short list of all owners.
• Ex-Tom Armstrong Collection car.
• Shown and raced in premier vintage events: 1988–2003, including the Monterey Reunion.
• Eligible for Historic IndyCar and Historic Formula 5000 events.

History

This is the first of a series of three or four dual purpose IndyCar/F5000 cars designed and built by Jerry Eisert. This car was purchased by Marvin Webster/Webster Racing in 1969. Webster’s team began campaigning the car that season in USAC IndyCar races.  

Old Racing Cars reports the following overview history for these Eisert-built cars: 

“Experienced mechanic and car builder Jerry Eisert built a series of ‘convertible’ wedge-shaped cars for Formula A and Indy racing for the 1969 season. Further cars to the same pattern appeared in 1970 and 1972.

Over the winter of 1968/69, Jerry Eisert developed a single-seater intended to be eligible for both USAC racing and the SCCA’s fast-growing Formula A category. USAC allowed stock block engines up to 320 cubic inches, while the SCCA allowed similar engines up to 305 cubic inches (5000cc) in FA. The minimum weights were also very similar, at 1350 lbs for USAC and 1250 lbs for Formula A, but the maximum allowed fuel load for Formula A was much lower. This 1969 ‘convertible’ Eisert had a bathtub monocoque along similar lines to his 1965-1968 cars, but with a much squarer appearance and dramatically wedge-shaped bodywork inspired by the Lotus 56. Eisert replaced the rocker-arm suspension that he had used on his earlier cars with twin wishbones and outboard spring/damper units.

In January 1969, he was reported to have ten such cars under construction at his Costa Mesa shop, but only three or four were built. Marvin Webster’s team bought one to use in USAC events, mainly on road courses; a second went to Stew McMillan to use in Formula A; and a third was run by Eisert’s own team at the 1969 Indy 500 as a test bed for his 202 ci turbocharged Chevrolet engine. Webster’s USAC version used 4-speed and 5-speed ZF gearboxes, while McMillan’s Formula A version was equipped with a 5-speed Hewland LG600.

Webster’s car was always entered as the Webster Special, and was usually driven in USAC events by Jerry Grant in 1969, with a best result of fourth place at Continental Divide in July. Australian Kevin Bartlett drove the Webster-Eisert a few times in 1970, and it continued to appear as late as 1972. Stew McMillan had no luck at all with his Formula A car, and quickly returned it to Jerry Eisert to sell on. Eisert’s own car had an even worse record as it never started a race. Al Miller made an attempt to qualify for the 1969 Indy 500 but came in after a single qualifying lap. Eisert returned to the Indy 500 in 1970 with the car, this time with Arnie Knepper driving, but Knepper left the team after only managing a couple of practice laps at 165 mph. Ironically, Knepper ended up in 1967 Gerhardt and narrowly failed to qualify after setting an almost identical time. The Eisert was then run by Kevin Bartlett at Ontario in September 1970, but he also skipped to another team before qualifying started, and although it was entered for the 1971 Indy 500, it failed to arrive.

Four of these cars appeared in 1970, and although one of these would have been the ex-McMillan car, the fourth is likely to have been new. A further car was built to a similar design for 1972.”
[OldRacingCars]

Old Racing Cars goes on to specifically report on the history of the Webster car (called the “Webster Special”) as follows: 

1. Eisert 69 (Kevin Bartlett): New to Marvin Webster’s Webster Racing and fitted with Webster’s 319 ci stock block Ford V8 engine for Jim Malloy to drive in the California 200 at Hanford Motor Speedway in April 1969. It was later raced by Jerry Grant at Continental Divide, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Seattle and Riverside later that year. He also drove it at Phoenix in November but was too slow to qualify. Kevin Bartlett drove it at Sears Point in April 1970, then failed to qualify at the Indy 500, and later drove it at Continental Divide in June. Ron Grabel raced it at IRP in July, after which it was not seen for over a year until Lothar Motschenbacher raced it at Seattle in August 1971, when it was still black with a red stripe, as it had been since new. Ronnie Bucknum tried it briefly in practice at Ontario, and then Johnny Parsons Jr crashed it while trying to qualify at Phoenix. Its last known appearance was when Don Brown drove it at Ontario in 1972, but again no attempt was made to qualify. According to a later Bonhams auction catalogue, the car was then stored by Webster until 1987, when he sold it to Tom Armstrong (Bellevue, WA). Armstrong restored it with a Gurney-Weslake V8 and used it in US historic racing from 1988 to 2003. It was offered for sale from ‘the Tom Armstrong Collection’ by Bonhams in August 2012, but did not sell.” [OldRacingCars.com]

Other items of note about the car’s history include that the Webster Special made its first appearance at the 1969 California 200 at Hanford. There the car was driven by Jim Malloy. He qualified 15th and finished 6th. Ron Grable raced the Webster Special primarily on road courses in both F5000 and USAC, including a 12th place finish at Indianapolis Raceway Park USAC race on July 26, 1970. 

From 1988 through 2003, the car competed sparingly in U.S. historic racing events, including appearances at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The car was also displayed at the 2015 McCall Motorworks Revival. Since then the Webster Special has been professionally maintained and displayed in a private collection. It will be sold in fully operational condition. 

Specifications

Under Tom Armstrong’s ownership the Webster Special was the subject of a sympathetic restoration by J&L Fabrication. Even the original race-worn driver’s seat upholstery was preserved.

During the restoration a Ford Gurney-Weslake 5.0-liter V8 was installed, backed by a Hewland LG600 gearbox. The slide-throttle fuel injection system was replaced with four Weber downdraft carburetors to make the car much more tractable. The hallmark of the engine, and the car itself, are the wonderful Webster upswept headers that reach for the sky and make fabulous noises. 

The Webster has not seen racing activity in the past few years. However, it remainss professionally maintained and will be sold a fully operational.

Summary

This Webster Special is a unique intersection of IndyCar and Formula 5000 racing from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. This was a time when F1 cars raced against F5000 cars at events  such as the 1971 Questor Grand Prix, and the 1971 Argentine Grand Prix. USAC also began co-promoting Formula 5000 events with SCCA, which later led to an expansion of road course racing for IndyCars. 

These were halcyon days powered by American V8 horsepower and ground breaking aerodynamic innovation. This Webster Special was at the epicenter.  Because of its rare crossover history, today you can run the car at historic F5000 features as well as historic IndyCar feature events. You pick, or do both. Two cars for the price of one.

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

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