Item Details
- Year: 1970
- Make: Eagle
- Model: 70
- VIN: N/A
- Mileage Shown: 1mi (TMU)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Bill of Sale
- Color: Red
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Wilkes Barre, PA 18706
- Country: United States of America
- Lot #: R-0058041
Developed and constructed by Dan Gurney and his All American Racers team, the 1970 Eagle was engineered for competition in USAC IndyCar racing. This example is said to be an IndyCar prototype, first raced at Texas World Speedway on April 7, 1973 (R1), and associated with renowned drivers including Bobby Unser, John Martin, Rick Muther, Gary Bettenhausen, Bob Harkey, Phil Krueger, Dick Ferguson, and Jerry Sneva. Acquired by the current owner in January 2004, the car was rebuilt for use in Pennsylvania hill climb events, debuting at the Giants Despair Hillclimb in July 2005 and later securing a class win there in 2011. In August 2014, it recorded the fastest time at the Polish Mountain Hillclimb near Flintstone, Pennsylvania. Said to have participated in a total of 16 races, this historic Eagle race car is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Pennsylvania.
The Eagle 70 is characterized by its open-wheel race car design, featuring a wedge-shaped aluminum monocoque chassis. This example is finished in red with white vinyl livery and features an airbox, exposed engine, exhaust, and suspension components, and wide front and rear wings for optimal aerodynamic downforce. The 15” five-spoke wheels are mounted with used Avon tires. Detailed images are provided in the gallery.
The minimalist cockpit is configured for competition use, featuring a quick-release three-spoke MOMO steering wheel and aluminum seat pan with fitted racing harnesses and padded bolsters. Equipment includes dual rearview mirrors, a set of analog gauges, and various switches and warning lights.
Power comes from an aluminum small-block Chevrolet V8, paired with a Hewland L.G. 500 4-speed manual transaxle driving the rear wheels. The engine is said to have been professionally built with no expense spared, while performance upgrades include Penske triple-adjustable shocks, an enhanced braking system, and custom calipers designed by Brake Man.
This Eagle 70 is offered with a bill of sale.
The seller would like you to know: “This is a beautiful piece of race history. After Bobby Unser destroyed the prototype '73 Eagle while testing at Ontario, AAR had just five days to build up a new car in time for the first race, at Texas World Speedway. This car must have been chassis 7302, and photographs show it was the car he raced at Trenton two weeks later. AAR had two more '73 cars ready for the Indy 500 and if Jerry Grant's car has been correctly identified as 7303, Unser's must have been chassis 7304. Exactly how 7302 was then used is still being resolved, but it is assumed for now to be the car he crashed at Milwaukee in August.
The unrepaired chassis then sat on pallets at AAR until the autumn of 1975 when it was bought by Joe Hunt (Torrance, CA) and repaired, to replace the team's antique Gerhardt. The Eagle first appeared in Hunt's colours at Phoenix at the end of 1975, where John Martin drove it, then at Indy in 1976, with Rick Muther in the seat. After the 1976 Indy 500 the car was driven by Gary Bettenhausen, Bob Harkey and Phil Krueger up to 1979. It was then rebuilt with 355 ci Chevrolet V8 for 1981 but was crashed heavily at the 1981 Indy 500.
Apparently repaired and reappeared in August 1981 entered by Joe Hunt Magneto as the #89 for Phil Krueger. Raced again by Krueger in early 1982 and presumably the #89 car raced later in the season by Dick Ferguson and Jerry Sneva. Then unknown until acquired by Jack Danko (Laurel Run, PA) in January 2004, having previously been owned by Jim Cosner. Danko rebuilt the car to be used in Pensylvania hillclimbs by his son Darryl Danko, starting at the Giants Despair Hillclimb in July 2005, an event he later won in 2011. It is reported that this car carries the chassis plate 7302. In August 2014, he set fastest time at the Polish Mountain Hill Climb near Flintstone, PA.
Driven by: Bobby Unser, John Martin, Rick Muther, Gary Bettenhausen, Bob Harkey, Phil Krueger, Dick Ferguson and Jerry Sneva. First race: Texas World Speedway (R1), 7 Apr 1973. Total of 16 recorded races.”
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