1950 Ford Class Winner at Auction Looks the Part of a Vintage Carrera Panamericana Racer

Among the many restored cars at Monterey Car Week, a 1950 Ford Standard Sedan stands out, not for a flashy pedigree, but for its race history and period-correct look. This car, covered in stickers and crossed American and Mexican flags, is a class winner from the Carrera Panamericana, the famous Mexican road race that originally ran in the early 1950s before being halted after the 1955 Le Mans disaster and its own fatalities.

The race was revived in 1988 as a vintage stage rally, which still runs today. Notably, Pink Floyd entered in 1991, with Nick Mason finishing eighth and David Gilmour crashing out.

This particular Ford, old enough to have run in the original 1950 race, instead competed in the 1995 modern edition, where Bob Primmer and his son Rob drove it to a class win. It also ran the 1998 California Mille, making it a vintage racer twice over. Inside, the original speedometer was swapped for a tachometer, with a custom central gauge cluster for both driver and co-driver.

A CB radio and exposed fuse box aid communication and quick repairs, while a spare tire sits in the back seat and another in the trunk, along with a 22-gallon fuel cell.

Under the hood, the classic Ford flathead V8 was enlarged from 239 to 290 cubic inches by tuner Art Chrisman. The auction claims it makes nearly three times the original horsepower, a bold statement without paperwork, though Chrisman was known for powerful builds. Power goes through a Borg Warner T10 four-speed manual.

The car goes up for auction on Friday, August 14. A 1954 Dodge Royal Club Coupe from the same team, which ran the race three times without a class win, is also for sale.