For Sale at Auction: 1959 Bocar XP-4 in Monterey, California

Chassis No. 004

Born from the enigmatic vision of Bob Carnes in Denver, Colorado, the Bocar-named after the combination of the first letters of his names, BOb CARnes-appeared in the late 1950s as one of America's most compelling limited-production sports cars. Carnes himself remains a figure shrouded in uncertainty, variously described in period accounts as an ex-Detroit engineer, aeronautical engineer, mechanical engineer, or aerospace worker. What is certain is that this mysterious figure possessed genuine engineering talent, evolving his design from the experimental X-1 in 1957 into the production XP-4, XP-5, and XP-6 models.

These sleek, low-slung fiberglass-bodied machines concealed a sophisticated chrome-moly tubular space frame chassis with an amalgam of parts including Volkswagen/Porsche suspension, Buick brakes, and the choice of a Chevrolet or Pontiac V8 engine. Built to customer order with no two Bocars alike, the blistering combination of 314 horsepower in standard tune and a featherweight 1,650-pound dry weight created truly explosive performance, achieving zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and exceeding 160 mph in period road tests.

Despite widespread praise from the automotive press, Carnes's bespoke creation was hampered by an enormous $8,700 to $11,700 list price when new-more than triple the cost of a Corvette-and his operation was plagued by inconsistency, failed deliveries, and lawsuits. The dream ended tragically on 26 December 1961, when the Bocar manufacturing facility was destroyed by fire under circumstances that prompted an arson investigation, though no charges were filed. With total production believed to number just 25 complete cars, today these diminutive Colorado-built rockets serve as tangible reminders of both extraordinary engineering ambition and the mysterious man whose vision-and troubled legacy-created one of the most captivating American sports cars ever built.

Among the surviving examples, chassis 004 surely stands as one of the most well documented and restored examples extant, and represents one of just four XP-4s built. Originally completed with a 389 cubic-inch Pontiac V8 engine and a three-speed manual, 004 reportedly served as Bob Carnes's own testing vehicle before being sold to its first private owner, Jack B. Oldham of Houston, Texas. Oldham retained the Bocar for eight years during the height of the American sports car boom, parting with it in 1967 when it was sold to Irvin W. Henson of Palacios, Texas. Previous registration shows that the car remained in the coastal Texas town with Henson for over two decades, even mounting a Fiat windshield and a convertible top for added practicality during his college commute-a modification that actually aligned with Carnes's original vision, as Len Griffing of Sportscar Graphic noted that Bob intended the Bocar "to handle hillclimbs and city traffic as easily as it handles D-Types."

Chassis 004 would embody the latter part of that vision under the ownership of Al Morris III of Salem, North Carolina, who acquired the car in 1988 and embarked on an ambitious vintage racing campaign that would span nearly two decades. Two well detailed SVRA log books chronicle the Bocar's exploits at tracks throughout the Midwest and Southeast, including Mid-Ohio, Road Atlanta, and West Palm Beach, even making the pilgrimage to the legendary Road America. Period images on file depict Morris's comprehensive transformation of 004, which involved removing Henson's practical modifications and renewing the body in red-with its log books noting the car was at that point powered by a 308 cubic-inch Holley-carbureted Chevrolet V8 engine mated to a four-speed transmission. As recently as 2010, Morris recounted to the current owner that he spent years perfecting the suspension for safety and performance. Following a rewarding vintage racing career, Morris returned the car to street-use specification, lacking a roll bar and wearing a burgundy finish.

The Bocar's next owner, Doug Karon of Plymouth, Minnesota, acquired it in 2005 in "driver-quality" condition, and elected to conduct a comprehensive frame-off restoration, returning it to original specifications. Mechanical work included fitting a correct 283 cubic-inch Chevrolet Corvette engine, said to produce around 400 horsepower, mated to a Muncie four-speed transmission. An extensive file of parts receipts and invoices dating from 2008-2009 document the monumental scope of the project, which saw the car renewed in its current silver livery with a red center stripe and a black-upholstered interior. Shortly thereafter, the Bocar was acquired by the current caretaker and subsequently shown at the 15th Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2010, where it was showcased in the Forgotten Fiberglass Class. There, it attracted the attention of its former owner, Al Morris, who commented that the exquisite restoration had reversed his suspension modifications and thus restored "all of Bob Carnes's flaws!" To rectify this, the current owner then invested over $10,000 in 2014 to realign the front axle, replace the torsion-bar front suspension with coil-overs, and fit new Dynamics dampers and custom swing arms, entrusting the work to O'Leary Motorsports in Lake Zurich, Illinois.

In current ownership, this exceptional Bocar has seen regular use on the challenging mountain roads of Colorado-just as Carnes envisioned-partaking in numerous editions of the Colorado Grand including in 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2024. The Bocar also returned to Road America where it was driven in exhibition laps and was also presented at the 2015 Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's in Plymouth, Michigan. Throughout its current stewardship, requisite maintenance and mechanical refinements have been performed to ensure that it remains a consistent performer.

Today, chassis 004 stands as perhaps the finest surviving example of Bob Carnes's indelible legacy, serving as a tangible reminder of an era when individual vision and engineering talent could still challenge the established order of the automotive world.