1980

This 1980 Parnelli VPJ6 is said to be one of two examples that were modified by Ted Field’s Interscope Racing for use with a turbocharged Porsche engine for the 1980 USAC season. The car spent 20 years in a California museum before it was acquired by the selling dealer in 2021. Absent an engine, the car retains a Weissman gearbox, a single seat, a three-spoke steering wheel, and gauges, and it wears a white and red Interscope/Porsche/Panasonic livery. This VPJ6 is now offered at no reserve in Marina Del Rey, California, on a bill of sale. The VPJ6 was designed by John Barnard for Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing, and this example is said to be one of two that was modified by Ted Field’s Interscope Racing with assistance from Porsche for competition in the 1980 USAC Series. The car was reportedly tested by Danny Ongais at Ontario Motor Speedway before USAC rule changes caused Porsche to pull support a month before the start of the season. The bodywork is finished in white and retains its hand-painted Interscope livery as well as Panasonic graphics. The car is fitted with front and rear wings. The centerlock wheels are mounted with staggered-width Goodyear Blue Streak Speedway Special slicks. The suspension features double wishbones at all four corners and coilover shocks out back. Disc brakes are retained at each corner. The cockpit features a seat trimmed in black vinyl, a right-handed shifter, a three-spoke steering wheel, and instrumentation consisting of a Hewitt Industries pyrometer, Smiths gauges for oil pressure and temperature, and a manifold pressure gauge. The USAC registered serial number sticker identifies this car as chassis 0025. Originally fitted with a Valentin Schaeffer-developed twin-turbocharged flat-six based on the unit found in the Porsche 935, the engine was removed under previous ownership. A Weissman gearbox remains fitted.