Three cars at Indy 500 1955

[brickyard]

Hi,

I have some doubts about three cars that raced at Indy in 1955:

according to 4 different sources, the cars appeared with diferent makes. The sources are Phil Harms, Popely's "Indianapolis 500 Chronicle", indy500.com (photo section) and indy500.com (boxscores). The cars are:

#37 Dr. Sabourin Spl. (Eddie Russo)

Harms, Popely and photo section - it's a Pawl-Offy
official boxscore - it's a Allen-Offy

#71 Martin Bros. Spl. (Al Herman)

Harms and boxscore - Silnes-Offy
photos and Popely - Curtis-Offy

#83 McNamara Spl. (Eddie Johnson)

indy500.com (both sections) and Popely - it's a Trevis-Offy
Harms - it's a Turner-Offy

Any ideas of who's right and who's wrong?

(please note that in two cases the indy500.com gives two different cars in their sections.

Thanks

[Niseguy]

I believe that the McNamara car is Trevis built. I have seen it listed on a picture of the restored car as Trevis. (check out thevintageracer.com)

Phil Harms did a wonderful job collecting data from long ago, but there are a few lapses, which I believe are to be expected.

In the 50's, many of the car builders were teams of people, sometimes one or the other get top billing. Watson/Phillips, Nickels/Russo, Blough, Pankratz, Pawl, Silnes, Kuzma, Turner, Trevis, Curtis, Kurtis, modifications to one might be called by a new name.

Good luck!

[brickyard]

Hi,

two years latter and I still have the same doubts. Any more help?

thanks

[ZOOOM]

In "The Indianapolis 500 (Worlds Most Exciting Auto Race) Lyle Kenyon Engle,
The Dr Sabourin is listed as a Pawl...
ZOOOM

[ZOOOM]

Same book says the MvNamara Spl. is a Trevis...

[ZOOOM]

Same book... Al Herman's ride is listed as a Kurtis.

ZOOOM

[brickyard]

Same book... Al Herman's ride is listed as a Kurtis.

ZOOOM

thank you ZOOOM.

But it's a Curtis or a Kurtis?

[ZOOOM]

The cars were KK500 (A-B-C-D)
Vuky's was a KK500A
KK was Kurtis Kraft
ZOOOM

[brickyard]

Same book... Al Herman's ride is listed as a Kurtis.

ZOOOM

so the mistery grows:

in 2 sources, a Silnes
in another 2, it's a Curtis
and now a Kurtis Kraft.

A photo would help a lot...

[Niseguy]

I'm very certain Al Herman's car was a Silnes. Butt ugly. I'll look for the confirmation picture.

[brickyard]

I'm very certain Al Herman's car was a Silnes. Butt ugly. I'll look for the confirmation picture.

Thanks Niseguy.

[Niseguy]

I can't seem to find the picture of Al Herman, but this picture of the Leightenberger car has the identical lines.

[Littleman]

Jim (Niseguy), I'll be sending you a photo of Herman in the car. I found it in the article about Vuky and his last race. I still have not figure dout how to post pics on the internet.

[Niseguy]

Got the pic Tommy, but couldn't find where on the link it came from to be able to post.

[Bernie_TR6]

Here is a picture of Vukie going below Herman about the 56th lap or so. Compare with the others.....I think it's a Silnes.