An American sports car designed and built by California hot rodders, the Scarab holds a unique place in American road racing history. Funded by Lance Reventlow, heir to the Woolworth fortune, and built by Troutman and Barnes, the Scarab is powered by a small block Chevy from Traco Engineering. The car’s mission was to compete and win against the best European sports cars of the era.
Only three front-engine Scarabs were built in 1958, and they were immediately competitive, winning the SCCA National Championship in 1958. Driven by such notable drivers as Augie Pabst, Chuck Daigh, Reventlow himself, and the legendary Carroll Shelby, the Scarab competed – and won – at road courses around the country from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.
Our MK 1 “Recreation” was originally owned by a noted collector, Larry Wilson of Jupiter, FL. We want to thank the current owner, John Petris of Tyrone, NY, for the opportunity to have this spectacular example of sports car racing history on display here at the Research Center.