The Ford-Chevrolet-Indianapolis connection - Auto Racing Memories

Steven G Percifield · 03-03-2011, 08:36 AM

For several years, the Indy 500 was won by cars powered by hot-rod Model T Ford engines.

The key features of these racing engines were aftermarket cyclinder heads featuring (in their later versions) twin OHC and 16 valves. They were produced by an after-market speed shop based in Indianapolis. The principal in the speed shop was a gentleman named Louis Chevrolet (yep, THAT Chevrolet).

Since Louis lost (to GM) the rights to use his own name on automotive products the heads were marketed as "Frontenac Heads for Fords" and the Fronty-Fords as they were popularly called dominated a lot of US racing during the 1920s.

03-03-2011, 08:36 AM	#1
Steven G Percifield Rookie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Chicago-area Age: 71 Posts: 12	The Ford-Chevrolet-Indianapolis connection For several years, the Indy 500 was won by cars powered by hot-rod Model T Ford engines. The key features of these racing engines were aftermarket cyclinder heads featuring (in their later versions) twin OHC and 16 valves. They were produced by an after-market speed shop based in Indianapolis. The principal in the speed shop was a gentleman named Louis Chevrolet (yep, THAT Chevrolet). Since Louis lost (to GM) the rights to use his own name on automotive products the heads were marketed as "Frontenac Heads for Fords" and the Fronty-Fords as they were popularly called dominated a lot of US racing during the 1920s.