Vehicle Description
1946 Hillagas Midget Race Car
Midget racing came into its own around 1950. This era had very
powerful cars (usually 300-400hp) and low weight ratio (typically
less than 1000 lbs.) which made this sport very dangerous. Add this
to the fact that these early race cars did not have a roll cage or
even a roll bar, and you were really winging it!
A 1946 Hillagas restored midget race car is presented for
consignment at Classic Auto Mall. Very little history of this car
is known, but consigner states that it MAY have been raced mostly
at Bone Stadium in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Other than this small
bit of history info, nothing else can be traced to this racer.
Exterior
Very nicely restored this open cockpit midget in black and red
livery, emblazoned with a number 3 and a Ford 60 denoting the horse
power of the engine. Chromed suspension, as well as intake pipes on
the long hood, are in excellent condition. Bumpers are painted
steel, and front of the car is a nicely restored oval vertical
ribbed grille. New Firestone dirt tires are bolted on all 4
corners.
Interior
The red leather seat has little padding to minimize the effects of
the bumps in a dirt track, although does have racing seat belts. A
snap on cowling protects the driver from the edges of the cockpit
entrance and runs upward to the machined dash that is fronted by a
simple steering wheel. A center mounted gearshift leaves little
room for the drivers' legs to fit into the cockpit.
Drivetrain
A 60hp Flathead 21 Bolt V8 fits snugly under the hood. It is fitted
with a Harmon Collins Magneto, new head gaskets, pump seals, and
oil pan gaskets. 2 Stromberg carburetors feed the engine which
growls through two long pipes that vent the exhaust safely past the
driver's cockpit. A 1937 3-speed transmission is attached to the
back, as well as a racing clutch, and starter motor.
Undercarriage
A model "A" rear, new wheel cylinders, and brake shoes have been
recently installed. A fairly clean underside is seen with a quick
inspection of the underside.
A piece of history that if you are small enough you can actually
get in it and drive. Mechanically sound, ready for a dirt track and
some drifting in the dirt.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 300 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania,
conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76
Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and
our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for
more information or to come see the vehicle in person.