Julian Bronson has confirmed that his Scarab Grand Prix car should be ready to race at the Silverstone Classic, 22-24 July. The American-built F1 car – the brainchild of Lance Reventlow, which made its debut at Monaco in 1960 – had been in the Donington Collection for many years.
Don Orosco owns the other front-engined Scarabs, but this one – Chassis three – was one of the original trio of cars taken to Zandvoort in 1960 as a spare and with no engine. It was then acquired by Tom Wheatcroft in 1964. It will race at Silverstone with a 2.5-litre Offenhauser engine, which has been built in Cincinnati and was delivered to Bronson in May.
Bronson said: “I bought it from the Donington Collection,” confirmed Bronson. “It’s going to be close to be ready for Silverstone, but we should do it. It would be lovely to give it a debut race at the Silverstone Classic. It’s really exciting. I’ve always wanted a front-engined Grand Prix car and this is just about the last of them. It’s just incredible; such an exciting car.
Bristol-based Bronson has been working flat out to get the car ready to race at the end of July and has had a replica set of bodywork made so that the original can be safely stored away in case of damage. “It will run in exactly the same livery,” he confirmed.