Specifications:Est. 300+hp, 273 cu. in. flathead V8 engine, high compression Grancor aluminum cylinder heads, Grancor aluminum intake manifold, quad Stromberg 81 carburetors, three-speed manual transmission, solid axle front suspension with leaf springs, four-link rear suspension with transverse leaf spring, hydraulic hand-operated drum brakes. Wheelbase: 100"The Indy 500 is almost universally hailed as America's greatest motor race. After a wartime hiatus, 1946 marked a new beginning for the Indy 500. Of the 58 cars that appeared for qualifying that year, only two of them were up-to-the-minute. Most of the field was comprised of specials built on 1930s chassis and this practice carried forward into the early 1950s.In 1947, Thane Houser, along with his son Norm, purchased an old Offenhauser-powered race car from an Indianapolis garage owner named Thorne. They proceeded to install a Ford flathead V8 in place of the Offy. With the help of sponsorship by local Indianapolis realtor, Robert Allison, the car was resurrected for that year's race, but it failed to qualify. In 1948 it was sold to an Indianapolis policeman named Ed Shreve who had a local legend, race mechanic Art Hoyt (father of driver Jerry Hoyt who once took pole position at the Indy 500), rebuild the motor, upgrading it with aluminum Grancor heads and intake manifold with four double-barrel Stromberg 81 carburetors, race magneto and replace its prewar two-seater configuration with the purposeful single-seat body which remains on the car today (and rechristened as the 'Shreve Special').Indianapolis Ford dealer and famous Indy 500 track announcer George Hoster sponsored the car for entry to the 1950 event. Designated driver Mike Burch (an employee of Hoster's) ran his qualifying session successfully but was ultimately ineligible to race due to failure of his physical exam. Then, his last minute replacement Billy Earl had no luck bringing the car to qualifying speed. Ultimately the car was retired and put into longterm storage until it was re-discovered in the 1990s and acquired by noted Indy car collector Chuck Davis who had it restored to the impressive standard at which it is presented today.Titled as a 1948 Hoyt, the Shreve Special carries a current Michigan street registration. The vendor purchased the car in 2003 and has shown it at Meadow Brook in 2004 and ran it at the 2005 Indy 500 vintage event, at which it is welcome each year. A large history file and storyboards accompanies the car, including period photos, Ed Shreve's 1950 AAA drivers' credential and a letter from George Hoster's son documenting his remembrances of the car in its era. An original set of Rudge wheels shod with period Indy Firestone tires (still holding air and very rare) are another valuable addition to be included with the sale.Historic Indy cars have enjoyed a significant revival in recent years, as evidenced by the Indy roadster title feature at this year's Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca. In addition, this very interesting flathead racer will also be welcome and eligible to compete at most hotrod events as well as just about any vintage race meeting on the planet.