Simon Taylor's 5.7 litre V8 HWM Stovebolt Special

Learn about the history of the HWM Stovebolt Special, it's connection to Stirling Moss and to Kirk Douglas and how Simon Taylor became the owner of the car for the last 25 years after seeing it as child.
Recorded at Shelsley Walsh hillclimb, June 2023.
See www.shelsleywa... for the latest information on events at Shelsley Walsh.

[@roywilmot9306]

Thanks!

[@HillClimbTV]

Thank YOU Roy. That's very kind of you.

[@RoyCousins]

It was great to see Simon enjoying the Stovebolt last Sunday. 😎

[@AlteredCarbons]

man, the i love this old man's religion ! DOWN WITH TRAILERS!!!!

[@scotlaughlin2487]

I was fortunate enough to help restore the Stovebolt here in the PNW several decades ago...I believe it was the first (or possibly second ) restoration after the car had been retired from active racing. Our shop took it to Laguna Seca, for one of the vintage racing events there, and I won the coin toss that let me drive it into La Mesa for display for the afternoon. A fifteen minute drive was NOT enough, it's the quickest car I've ever driven, by a large margin (around 320 hp at that time, probably not much more than 1500 lbs wet ) I could put my fingers on the ground from the driver's seat, without stretching (avoiding the hot sidepipes ) When the progressive linkage on the six pack manifold opened the outer pair of carbs, the thing just leaped forward. Driving it was one of the high points of a gearhead life., I can only imagine what it would be like to own.

[@HillClimbTV]

Great to hear Scot. 👍

[@philipbain]

I remember seeing Simon driving this car at Gurston Down a few years back, great to see it being used properly and not just sat in a "collection" somewhere.

[@HillClimbTV]

Totally agree. Thumbnail image was from him getting it very sideways at Gurston Down. It must get some looks when it pulls up next to people at traffic lights!

[@eeblatter]

I've seen this car at Riverside at VARA events in the 1980's. Loved the looks of it and glad to have found it again.

[@GTD40CarClub]

Simon and I were in the same class at Prescott once (I was in my GT40 replica). A true Gent and oh do I love that car!

[@philipparkes5682]

Possibly showing my age, but this has to be my favourite competing hill climb car today. I have a photograph in my office wall, taken by Dennis Wood, and signed by both Stirling Moss and Simon Taylor. Will not part with this in my lifetime. Thanks to Simon as custodian of this great piece of motoring history.

[@willsilk1492]

Quite a few legends in American race car engineering came together to construct this car in V-8 form. The car was supposedly wrecked during filming and Tom Carstens purchased it in bent condition. Carstens wanted it for the chassis and independent suspension. He had Vic Edelbrock's shop build a then new small block Chevy V-8 for the car. Once the mill was done, Carstens commissioned Eddie Kuzma, a legend in race car fabrication, to fit the small V-8 to the HWM chassis. It's noted that Ted Hallibrand fitted the quick change rear to the car. Carstens then had Bill Pollack drive the car at the 1956 Pebble Beach Road Race where the car failed to finish. Pollack was a driver of considerable skill and is seen now as he was then, a force equal to Tatum, Shelby, and Phil Hill on track. A very nice special and its great to see the car out and running so many decades after it was originally raced.

[@AlteredCarbons]

man, i love that sound

[@HillClimbTV]

It's a great sounding car, and it looks good too. One of my favourites.

[@erichlausch9886]

Ein ,interessantes Auto wieder von Chris perfekt vorgestellt 😉

[@chrisdr221]

Danke Erich, es hat Spass gemacht

[@chrisdr221]

Erich, your question yesterday on Prescott commentary. The answer is Wilhelmsfeld am Odenwald. Chris

[@gothicpagan.666]

Now there is a man that enjoys his motorsport, with a underlying steely resolve every time he breaks that timing beam

[@78Outlaw]

One of my all time favourite race cars, my dream is to race an in period vintage v8 car around the UK’s hillclimbs 😎

[@mikecolyar5628]

This car was raced a few times in Washington State, USA in the early sixties by one Ray Reardon. A somewhat larger than life guy who drove in his sock feet for what ever reason. About six feet tall with an athlete's physique, jutting jaw, blond hair and always with an immaculate white driving suit. Made Kirk Douglas seem quite frail. It was hell on the U-joints in the upper half shafts. Ray, I believe, had a previous career in oval dirt track competition and it was a sight to see the car sweeping on to the front straight, fighting for traction and leaping about. Frightening one and all including the driver. Twice too much power for the chassis. Mike Colyar