BODACIOUS BOCAR XP-7R

Posted on December 21, 2025December 21, 2025 by MartynL

One of just three built by Bob Carnes in 1959, this BODACIOUS BOCAR XP-7R owned by Carlos Melo is powered by a Rochester fuel-injected and GMC-blown Corvette small-block. Road racing Specials, lightweight fiberglass-bodied, tube-framed competition cars often powered by popular American V-8 engines, were among the most interesting cars at major sports car racing venues in the 1950s-1960s. They gave legendary marques like Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz fits, and in many situations received chec...

SPORTS RODS: ROAD-RACING V-8 HYBRIDS!

Posted on September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 by MartynL

Rod & Custom historian, Pat Ganahl blogs about the birth of hot-rod-engined Imports, also known as California Specials: SPORTS RODS: ROAD-RACING V-8 HYBRIDS! In the 1950s, imported English Allards, could be ordered with American V-8 engines – Ford Flatheads to Caddys and Chrysler Hemis – while MGs, Austin-Healeys and others required hot rod surgery to replace anemic four-bangers with V-8s. Plus, there were limited-production domestic Kurtis 500-S sports cars available with as much V...