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• Auction House:
  Theodore Bruce
• Sale Name:
  Classic Cars Auction
• Sale Date:
  26 Oct 2013 ~ 6.30pm
• Lot #:
  108
• Lot Description:
  1972 Project 500 Jet Car (C5B-08) - THIS VEHICLE IS OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
  1972 Project 500 Jet Car (C5B-08)
• Notes:
  The Project 500 Jet car was designed and constructed for an attempt on the Australian Land Speed Record which at that time was held by Donald Campbell's Bluebird. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Derwent jet engine it produced 2750 lbs of thrust and 4125 lbs of thrust with its custom designed afterburner engaged Braking was assisted by two specially designed slotted parachutes fitted to the ejection tubes at the rear of the fuselage. Its estimated cost at the time of production by Australians Terry O'Hare and driver Jack McDonald (a Korean War Pilot veteran) in 1972 was Aus$150,000. Project 500 recorded a top speed of 378 mph (604.8 km/h) and was also wind-tunnel tested at over 500 mph (800 km/h) during the project's design phase. This jet car never fully achieved its potential due to the unseasonal rains that flooded Lake Eyre that year causing its record attempt to be postponed. Further attempts were planned for the following year but apart from a test run at Lake Hindmarsh in northern Victoria in 1974 where it reached 378 mph, Project 500 never managed to compete a competitive run to challenge Campbell and Bluebird's record. Project 500 has been fully restored and, if anyone is brave enough, it is believed the vehicle will run as intended with only minor work required for starting. It has only been seen on display at the Ford Discovery Centre from November 2004 until January 2005 and at Motorclassica in October 2012 in its entire 40 year history. Project 500 is being offered for sale without reserve and is to be sold with its purpose-built trailer.
• Estimate:
  A$30,000 - 50,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.