Car Catcher: Own a Piece of Indy Racing History

While behing the wheel of this March 82C, former Formula 1 driver Hector Rebaque would take the win at the 1982 Road America 200 as part of the CART PPG Indy Car World Series.

The 82C would change hands at the end of that season, when McLaren Engines, Inc. purchased the car. There, it would serve as a test mule for developing Buick's turbocharged V6 that would debut at the 1984 Indianapolis 500.

Before being donated to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in the early ’90s, this Buick-powered March was covered with a livery featuring Jim Crawford, Mac Tools and King Motorsports as a display of Buick's Indianapolis 500 efforts.

Now, you can have to chance to win this very 1982 March 82C/Buick Indy Car when it crosses the auction block on July 19 as part of Dana Mecum's 33rd Original Spring Classic Indy Auction.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, situated just outside of Daytona International Speedway (and a stone's throw away from the world headquarters of Classic Motorsports).

Fitted with a 3.3-liter, turbocharged Buick Indy V6, the March still wears its Jim Crawford, Mac Tools and King Motorsports livery. Find it available over at Mecum Auctions.

For more information about the auction, read the press release below or visit the Mecum Auctions website.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 13, 2020) — This Saturday, July 18, an important piece of motorsports history will cross the block at the Mecum Indy 2020 Auction with all proceeds to benefit the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA).

"This is a chance for one very lucky racing enthusiast to own an important piece of IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 history," said MSHFA President George Levy. "The winning bidder will not only acquire a significant race car but will also support the vital work of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in preserving the legacy of our sport."

March 82C No. 1 — the first March 82C built — was purchased by Forsythe Racing for former Formula 1 driver Hector Rebaque, who scored a sensational win over MSHFA inductees Al Unser (MSHFA Class of 1991), Bobby Rahal (MSHFA Class of 2004) and Rick Mears (MSHFA Class of 1998) at that year's CART Road America 200 IndyCar race. It was the Mexican driver's first and only IndyCar victory and his greatest international win.

The March goes on the block as auction item "S94" on the final day of Mecum Indy 2020 as one of Saturday's "Star" offerings. Learn more about the March and Mecum Indy 2020 at https://www.mecum.com/auctions/indianapolis-2020/lots/featured/.

The Robin Herd-designed chassis was purchased at the end of the season by McLaren Engines, Inc. in Livonia, Michigan to serve as a test bed for the development of the 209 cubic inch "stock block" Buick V6 Turbo engine that would debut at the Indianapolis 500 in 1984.

In the later '80s, March 82C No. 1 was adorned with its current Jim Crawford/Mac Tools/King Motorsports livery to serve as a show car for Buick's later Indianapolis 500 efforts. It was donated to the MSHFA in the early '90s and has been on static display since.

This historic March-Buick IndyCar, Lot S94, will cross the auction block Saturday, July 18 at Dana Mecum's 33rd Original Spring Classic Indy Auction at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. You can bid in person or online at https://bidnow.mecum.com/auth/login.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit the MSHFA, located on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, which preserves the history of the sport and honors motor racing's "Heroes of Horsepower."

The MSHFA's Class of 2020 inductees includes NASCAR's first premier series champion Red Byron (Historic), 7-time AMA Grand National champion Chris Carr (Motorcycles), motorsports publisher, promoter and competitor Floyd Clymer (At Large), IndyCar winner and chief steward Wally Dallenbach (Open Wheel), one of NASCAR's most successful owners Rick Hendrick (Stock Cars), 1979 Can-Am champion and endurance racer Jacky Ickx (Sports Cars), 1963 Daytona 500 and NASCAR Grand American champion DeWayne "Tiny" Lund (Historic), 8-time NHRA champion "Ohio George" Montgomery (Drag Racing), and 10-time off-road champion Ivan "Ironman" Stewart (Off Road).

For more information about the March 82C or the MSHFA, contact George Levy at (248) 895-1704 or at glevy@mshf.com.

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