Fred Davies Special
- Goodwood eligible
- One off
- Can Am Series
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Description
Specs
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This unique Racecar is a Fred Davies Special ‘Can-Am’ Sports-racer built in 1961. Fred Davies is an English engineer who moved to Canada in the 1950s, ending up working for racing car manufacturer Bill Sadler. He was involved with building the Maserati ‘Birdcage’-like Sadler Mk3 sports-racer and the Sadler Formula Junior monopostos.
In 1961, Fred Davies moved to Los Angeles and found himself a workshop. He fancied building his own sports-racer. He constructed a sports-racer of his own design using a beautifully made tubular spaceframe, aluminium body, Chevrolet V8 engine and Huffaker gearbox.
In 1961, Fred Davies moved to Los Angeles and found himself a workshop. He fancied building his own sports-racer. He constructed a sports-racer of his own design using a beautifully made tubular spaceframe, aluminium body, Chevrolet V8 engine and Huffaker gearbox.
The FDS chassis is a one off, being made of 16g aircraft grade chrome moly and 14g in high stress locations, making for a very rigid structure. Other design changes along the way were the brakes, from Girling front, Dunlop rear, to all Girling and the original Hilborn injection was rejected for a four barrel Holley carb. The short stub rear exhausts were vetoed for a rear exit system, allowing F104 ducts to the side openings to help with cooling.
The FDS chassis is a one off, being made of 16g aircraft grade chrome moly and 14g in high stress locations, making for a very rigid structure. Other design changes along the way were the brakes, from Girling front, Dunlop rear, to all Girling and the original Hilborn injection was rejected for a four barrel Holley carb. The short stub rear exhausts were vetoed for a rear exit system, allowing F104 ducts to the side openings to help with cooling. 
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By the time his car was finished, Davies’ priorities had changed and he never raced it. Using on the road occasionally, it came to the UK in 1973, was stored until 1975 and then sold to the dealer Brian Classic in the UK.
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Brian Classic sold the Davies to a Dutch collector from whom it was purchased in 1978 by a Belgian neurologist and gentlemen driver, Pierre Haverland. Unsure of what the car was, he registered it with the FIA as a Genie, an understandable mistake as the Joe Huffaker-built Genie sports-racers do resemble the Davies car. Haverland had the Davies completely restored by Peter Denty in the UK and raced it in European historic events until 1983.
He then sold the car to Sweden where it raced until 2004. The owner in Sweden managed to have the Car Road legal and registered it to drive on Swedish roads.
He then sold the car to Sweden where it raced until 2004. The owner in Sweden managed to have the Car Road legal and registered it to drive on Swedish roads.
The current owner did a complete overhaul with new FIVA Papers. The Car was raced at the Goodwood Revival at the incredible Whitsun Trophy in 2018 and at the Members Meeting in 2019 as well as the Silverstone Classic in the Can-Am Class in 2019. Fred was piloted by Matt Menderson.
The current owner did a complete overhaul with new FIVA Papers. The Car was raced at the Goodwood Revival at the incredible Whitsun Trophy in 2018 and at the Members Meeting in 2019 as well as the Silverstone Classic in the Can-Am Class in 2019. Fred was piloted by Matt Menderson.This Car is a sure ticket to all the Bucket List Events and a definite Eye Catcher.
Here you see the Highlights from the Goodwood Revival Whitsun Trophy in 2018. By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
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Fotocredit to Gem Classic Cars
| Year | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Engine | chevy v8 |
| Displacement | 302 cuin |
| Horsepower | 400 |
