The excitement of the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week has me dreaming of race cars and collecting historic competition vehicles. Of course, something open-wheeled and iconic would be at the top of my list, but most are out of reach. For today’s Good Find Friday, I’m featuring a historic racer that could be a great buy: a 1959 Stanguellini.

Formula Junior was an entry-level racing class for engines up to 1,000cc. It was ostensibly created to provide a path to Formula One for younger drivers in the late 1950s and early 1960s, kind of like Formula 2 today. In fact, it was believed that the class was devised as a reaction to Italy’s poor performance in 500cc Formula Three. Italian marques dominated the early years, but the British soon surpassed them.

Automobili Stanguellini built sports cars in the same city as that other very well-known race and road car company in Modena. However, Vittorio Stanguellini started out tuning Alfa Romeos, Fiats, and Maserati race cars. He and Enzo Ferrari eventually became frenemies to grow the racing scene in the region in the 1920s. With his competition interests and tuning background, he naturally formed Squadra Corse Stanguellini and actually won the Targa Florio in a Maserati in 1938.

While Stanguellini built some really interesting sports cars for the road, his race cars are what he’s known for and I’ve actually had the pleasure of seeing one of their vehicles in the flesh at Amelia Island this year. It just happened to be the same car as today’s find, a Stanguellini Formula Junior.

On auction at BarnFinds.com, this Stanguellini Junior is a running and operating but non-race ready example of the marque’s iconic FJ racer. Painted in deep red paint with no mention of its original color, this vintage racer is listed by the current owner presumably on a bill of sale.

The exterior panels appear to be rather nice, but the PPG paint could benefit from a light polishing.

The chassis isn’t terribly exposed for inspection, and if you’re truly interested in this car I’d highly recommend a personal inspection with a professional to examine the tubular frame to ensure it’s intact enough to support a return to racing.

The interior actually has a gentle patina befitting a historic car, one I would have no qualms about leaving as-is. If you do intend to go back on the track, the car will need some extensive upgrades to meet modern vintage racing regs. Figure a rollbar and harness at a minimum to be added to the already cozy cockpit.

The engine is said to be its original Fiat 1100 cc four-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed manual. Double Weber carburetors are claimed to help it produce around 110hp. An interesting boast, as the originals might deliver 85hp to the crank. In a car that weighs a scant 881 pounds, 85hp would still be sprightly. Technically, it’s 1 pound under the minimum weight to meet period regulations, but who’s counting.

The suspension on these cars is quite interesting. One of the allowances for Formula Junior, in period, that enabled younger drivers access to racing was the ability to use production car components in the construction of the car. This one features a double wishbone front suspension with a de Dion rear axle, with the driveshaft offset to permit a lower seating position.

I rather like the large wooden wheel and simple dashboard. Sadly, that narrow toe-box almost certainly disqualifies me for entry, literally.

With a current bid of $20,000, where can we expect this car to go? Well, that Stanguellini at Broad Arrow Auctions at Amelia Island ended up selling for $123,000. I’d value this one similarly to that car, however I don’t believe it will reach that height.

It’s a reserve auction, and as much as I love Barn Finds I’m not sure it’s the ideal venue for such an esoteric and niche vehicle. My instinct tells me this will go unsold. Here’s another case where being the high bidder puts you in a place to make a potential post-auction deal on an iconic race car that could be eligible (with work) for any number of race events and concours appearances.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisal and auction services for sellers and buyers of collector European cars. We also provide importation services. Give us a call or drop us a line!