Vehicle Description
Chassis #00137, engine number 889318. Successful period race
history, known ownership history. Original engine, suspension,
bodywork. Perhaps the last all-original, unmodified Stanguellini FJ
anywhere. Exquisite! This particular Stanguellini FJ is chassis
number 00137, built in June 1959, and was purchased new by a young
American named Peter Carpenter, who was traveling in Europe when he
discovered Formula Junior racing in late 1958. The car competed
throughout Europe during the 1959 and 1960 Formula Junior seasons,
earning several impressive finishes for its admittedly amateur
owner/driver. After 1960 races in Cuba, however, it was abundantly
clear that rear-engined cars were the way of the future. Its last
known race was at Sebring in April 1960, with Carpenter moving on
from his Stanguellini to a Lotus in 1961. We do not have history on
chassis #137 between when Carpenter stopped racing it and 1971,
when it went on display in a private museum in Miami, Florida, but
it is likely that Carpenter kept the car in his possession as it
remains largely in as-raced condition without updates or
modifications that would suggest it continued to race under
different ownership. It retains its original Fiat 1100 cc
four-cylinder engine (serial number 889318), original Weber
carburetors, original suspension and brakes, and even original
Borrani wire wheels. Unlike so many other Stangurellini racers, it
has not been updated for modern vintage racing, it shows no signs
of period injuries and repairs, and it has never been fully
disassembled for restoration or renovation. As such, it is one of
the most significant and original of all the FJ Monoposto cars,
showcasing period workmanship and engineering as it was, not as we
wish it would be. Under the third owner's care following his
purchase in 1994, it was extensively serviced to put it into 100%
operational condition (although we should note it is not race-ready
or certified for current track use). It was repainted in its
original Rosso Corsa bright red livery, although the owner found
the shiny perfection of the fresh paint to be incompatible with the
vintage racer and its history. Pete's Custom Coachbuilding was
commissioned to 'age' the finish and give it a more period-correct
look, including re-creating Peter Carpenter's #31 'gumballs' on the
nose and tail. It now looks very much like an appropriate vintage
artifact from the golden age of Grand Prix racing. Sitting on those
almost delicate Borrani wire wheels, it is simply beautiful from
any angle. The single seat was also restored with period red
pleated leather, replacing a vintage racing seat that was probably
installed by Carpenter himself. The remainder of the interior
remains original, including the transmission tunnel next to the
driver's right thigh, the lovely wood-rimmed steering wheel, and
engine-turned instrument panel. The only gauges are oil pressure,
water temperature, and a tachometer, and you'll note red markings
on their faces indicating optimal operating ranges. There is also a
small switch panel to the right of the shifter with a master
battery cut-off switch, ignition switch, and starter button, with
the battery and a vintage fire extinguisher just after. The inner
panels are painted aluminum and the various scuffs and bruises are
authentic, earned over the decades. The pedals, the Perspex
windshield, and the snap-on black canvas cockpit tonneau are all
believed to be original to the car. Formula Junior was a spec
racing series built on production car components, with the
Stanguellini running a 1089 cc inline-four from a Fiat Topolino.
Tuned with dual Weber DC0E28 carburetors and other tricks
Stanguellini learned over the years, it made a rather robust 78
horsepower-not a big number until you realize that the entire car
weighs less than 1000 pounds. This is the car's original engine and
while it has surely been rebuilt over the years, it remains in
original specification and retains most of its original parts, with
only service items being replaced over the years. The transmission
is a 4-speed manual, also from the Topolino, feeding a live axle
rear end suspended on coil springs. The car's custom tube frame
chassis is very visible throughout the engine bay, integrating the
Topolino's front suspension, steering, axle, and drum brakes, all
of which were effective yet designed to control costs. Again, we
believe all the chassis components are original to the car with
only service items having been replaced. The car sits on its
original painted Borrani knock-off wire wheels with vintage-looking
4.50-12 front and 5.5-14 rear Dunlop racing tires. In addition to
its notable racing history, this car has been extensively shown and
invited to gatherings of exceptional automobiles, including the
Meadowbrook Hall Concours d'Elegance, the Concours d'Elegance at
Stan Hywet Hall, as a featured car in the 'bunker' at the
Greenbrier Concours, the Cortile at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand
Prix, and has been featured in countless magazine features,
photography books, calendars, and websites. A rare (and expensive)
English-language copy of the Orsini & Zagari book 'Stanguellini -
Big Little Racing Cars' is also included with the sale (chassis
#00137 is listed in the book). Chassis 00137 is also available with
a custom-made enclosed trailer. Stanguellini FJ #00137 represents a
rare and unique opportunity to own what is arguably the most
beautiful Formula Junior car ever built, one that was also dominant
in its day and with a genuine period race history. As an artifact,
it remains exquisite in authenticity and detail, and would be ideal
for display purposes in any collection. With appropriate upgrades,
it could also be used for vintage racing where these cars continue
to be competitive and easy to drive, not to mention economical to
race. It remains the quintessential front-engined Formula Junior
racer from the golden age of racing where men were men and the cars
were elemental and exquisite. NOTE: Sold on bill of sale only.
