RM Sotheby’s is offering the AAR Eagle Mk 1, chassis 103, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Formula One cars of all time, auction officials said in a press release. A landmark achievement in American motorsport engineering, the Eagle Mk 1 remains the only American-built Formula One design to ever win a Formula One Grand Prix.
Conceived by Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers (AAR), with early support from Carroll Shelby, the Eagle represents one of the most ambitious efforts ever undertaken by an American builder in Formula One. Combining breathtaking design with advanced engineering, it has become an enduring icon of Grand Prix racing, the release noted.
The car is currently on display through Aug. 4 at Sotheby’s New York galleries as part of the 250 Years of American Art & Culture exhibition. It will then travel to California for display at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction, taking place Aug. 13-15, before being offered via RM Sotheby’s Sealed, with bidding open Sept. 23-30.
The Eagle Mk 1 remains the only American-built Formula One design to ever win a Formula One Grand Prix.
Chassis Number 103 – The Second Westlake V-12 Eagle
The car offered is the second of the three V-12-powered Eagle chassis constructed, chassis 103, which made its race debut on March 12, 1967, at the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. AAR entered two cars for the race, with Gurney taking the wheel of chassis 102 and fellow Californian Richie Ginther assuming 103.
The day’s proceedings took the form of two 10-lap heats followed by a 40-lap final, with Gurney securing pole position and a maiden race win for Eagle in heat 1. In the second heat, Gurney prevailed, once again taking overall. Ginther would finish third and then second in the two heats driving Chassis 103.
After a retirement from the Monaco Grand Prix, chassis 103 headed to Mosport in Canada and then to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, to be entrusted to ex-Ferrari Formula 1 refugee Ludovico Scarfiotti. Gurney’s engine failed after just four laps, and Scarfiotti’s engine in 103 failed just a lap later.
One of three such chassis equipped with a 2,997-cc DOHC Gurney-Westlake V-12 engine, producing 390 bhp at 10,500 rpm.
Post-Competition History
After passing through the hands of several privateer competitors in North America, chassis 103 returned to the U.K. in 1998, after which the car made several notable appearances, including participations at the 1999 Goodwood Revival, 2000 Goodwood Festival of Speed and 2002 Monaco Historic Grand Prix. In 2002, 103 was acquired by the consigning owner in whose collection it has remained ever since. A notable participation in the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed aside, it is understood not to have run competitively since, auction officials said.