Chaparral race cars were among the most dominant and iconic cars in endurance racing in the 1960s. Swoopy, snub, purposeful-looking cars, usually in basic white livery, they were as innovative as they were successful.
Chaparral is perhaps best known for racing in the Can-Am series, a North-American-based circuit. And now’s your chance to own one, currently for sale on Bring A Trailer. But there’s a catch.
This Chaparral 2E doesn’t run. Okay, that’s common for vintage race cars, which are notoriously finicky and fragile, especially the power plant. But this one never ran. It’s a model.
Okay, but models of their cars have been available since day one. Hot Wheels offered a similar model in 1969, in every color but white. Solido made a few versions way back when, too. Scalextric made a slot car version, possibly the coolest way to go.
This model here looks amazingly detailed, though. Absolutely large scale. How about 1/1 scale? Yep, it’s a full-size, nonrunning replica. According to BAT, “This 1/1 scale model was constructed by the seller over the course of approximately 3,000 hours between 2017 and 2021. The chassis is assembled with fiberglass and wood, while the bodywork was fashioned in fiberglass using epoxy molds based on a seller-designed clay model.”
That’s quite a kit. Due to the materials used, this could never be converted into an actual running car, but it would make quite a conversation piece. And if you collect them all, you really need this one.
The auction ends Monday, and it’s currently going for around $5,100, which feels like a bargain. Better hurry, it’s going fast. Well not literally, but you get the picture.
You can learn more and see some gorgeous photos at Bring A Trailer. Also, bring a wheelbarrow full of money.
Update: It sold for $33,500.
LS it!
Neat but if I was going to spend that much time making it 1:1, I’d for sure would want to drive it.