USED CAR ADS—ROAD AND TRACK 1949-1950 PART 1

TALK ABOUT A FASCINATING WISH LIST! In the early days of Road and Track (the “&” didn’t appear until 1954), there were several means of advertising used cars. Here are tidbits gleaned from the magazine, December 1949 through April 1950, courtesy of reissues by Brooklands Books.

“Motor Mart” and “Classified.” ROAD and TRACK listed quite the variety of cars in two separate columns—plus one being sold as an ad by a magazine staff member. “Motor Mart” had photos; “Classified Advertising,” typically not.

Speedway and Sprint Car: “119 mph average at Indianapolis. Engine dry sumped, with magneto. Quick change rear end, 11 changes. Starter and tires for speedway, 9 Rudge wheels and trailer. $3700 complete or $3000 less engine.” 

Gee. Start your own race team in 1949 for $3700. The CPI Inflation Calculator figures this investment at $51,233.24 in current dollars. And to put its 119-mph Indy average in perspective, Bill Holland drove his Blue Crown Spark Plug Deidt/Offy to a winning 121.327 mph in the 1949 Indy.

Grand Prix Bugatti: “Type 35A, 8 Cyl., 2 Litre (122 cu. in.). Single overhead camshaft, refitted and modernized with Scintilla Vertex Magneto, twin Solex carburetors, increased capacity oil pump, high compression (9:1) pistons, positive auto-pulse fuel pump, four wheel hydraulic brakes with hand brake independent on rear wheels. Excellent condition, good tires. Price $1800.”

Bugatti Type 35A. Image from classic.com. 

These days a Type 35 Bugatti goes for 100 times this. For Type 35 details, see “A 1953 Time Capsule—Bugatti Lore And More” and “The Bugatti Type 35 Engine—Pom’s Views.”

The 1949 ad was placed by David Uihlein, 1920–2010, a well-known and highly regarded automotive enthusiast. An Old Cars Weekly tribute by Dana Mecum, president of the Harry A. Miller Club, noted, “Uihlein’s enthusiasm for automotive history found him serving as a wonderful mentor for many fellow car enthusiasts. He took pleasure in sharing his knowledge, and his stories on the background and history of all the cars he restored served as an inspiring and informational education to others who shared his passion.”

Indeed, Mecum noted, “In addition to collecting, Uihlein restored a number of his classic cars, and his work on a 1925 Bugatti—a gift to his wife—won him a blue ribbon in 1989 at the Concours D’Elegance in Pebble Beach, CA.” This was a Type 23 Brescia, similar to others described in “Brescia Tales.”

Bond Sports Car: “160 BHP. 120 mph. 90 mph in 2nd. 60 mph in 1st. 0 to 60 in 10 sec. 2400 lbs. curb weight. 1900 lbs. chassis weight, 104 or 114 wheelbase. Independent fr. suspension. Box Frame. Choice of 3 Engines, 4 to 4 1/2 Litres. Modified Stock Components. World Wide Service. Chassis price, $2400.00.”

At the time of this ad, John Bond was listed last among five Associated Editors, below Editor Oliver F. Billingsley and above Foreign Correspondents Alice Caracciola and Spike Rhiando.  

By January 1950, John R. Bond (Editor/Publisher-to-be) was listed as Technical Editor.

We’ll continue this fun in Part 2 tomorrow, though I won’t guarantee the prospective sellers are well-known (except for one, who has already appeared at SimanaitisSays). ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2026