This 1930 Oakland Eight was custom built by its owner over 10 years as a re-creation of the V8-powered race car that was assembled and campaigned by racing driver and promoter Ira Vail en route to an 11th-place finish in the 1930 Indianapolis 500. After its completion in 2016, the car was selected by the Indianapolis 500 committee to represent the 1930 race year in festivities celebrating the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Featuring hand-formed steel bodywork over the shortened chassis of a 1930 Oakland Eight, the car is powered by an Oakland 90° V8 that was overhauled to a displacement of 254ci and features 180° horizontal valves, a flat-plane crankshaft, and dual Winfield downdraft carburetors. Additional features include a three-speed manual transmission, a custom-built rear end, mechanically actuated four-wheel drum brakes, Gabriel Triple-Hydraulic lever-arm shock absorbers, custom-made 20” wire wheels, a battery, an electric starter, removable headlights and taillights, and a bench seat upholstered in black. This Oakland V8 Indianapolis race car re-creation is now offered by the seller on behalf of his father with photos from the build, historical documentation, and an Ohio title. The Oakland Eight model was introduced for 1930 with power from a newly developed V8 “special” powerplant that was carried over into 1931 before General Motors’ discontinuation of both the Oakland marque and the engine in 1932. In early 1930, former racing driver Ira Vail constructed his racing special based on a modified production Oakland rolling chassis and campaigned the car as a stock-class privateer entry in the Indianapolis 500 with Claude Burton at the wheel along with riding mechanic George Howie. After qualifying 16th with an average speed of 95 mph, the car finished 11th with an average speed of 87 mph on race day. The original car is said to have been dismantled after a brief Oakland dealership tour. This re-creation was constructed based on period photos while utilizing period parts and fabrication techniques. The car is built around a 1930 Oakland frame that was shortened by 14” and narrowed at the rear by 3” on each side to accommodate shortened rear leaf springs. The rear of the frame was dropped to accommodate the hand-formed steel bodywork, which is finished in white with black and gray number 38 graphics on each side of the hood as well as on the left-rear panel. Features include a shortened Oakland Eight grille with a body-color shell and a custom honeycomb radiator, a centrally hinged hood with open sides, leather hood straps, a full-width body-color wind deflector ahead of the cockpit, and a boattail rear profile. A set of headlights and combination taillights/brake lights can be installed or removed via six bolts to allow the car to be driven on public roads. Black-painted Dayton wire wheels are said to have been fabricated to replicate the spoke pattern of the original Indy 500 car and are secured by two-eared knock-offs. Denman tires measuring 6.00-20 are mounted at each corner. Stopping is handled by cable- and rod-actuated drum brakes all around, while suspension incorporates semi-elliptical leaf springs and Gabriel Triple-Hydraulic lever-arm shock absorbers at each corner. Photos from the re-creation’s construction are included among items that accompany the car along with approximately 300 pages of historical documentation from the 10-year build process.

The cockpit houses a two-person bench seat upholstered in black with matching trim over the side panels. Features include latch-and-link lap belts, a central shifter, and black-painted floor surfaces. The four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a body-color dash panel that houses a Smiths 5k-rpm tachometer and gauges monitoring oil pressure, amperage, fuel pressure, and coolant temperature. The car is not equipped with an odometer, and total mileage is unknown.

The 254ci Oakland V8 features a 90° V-type cast-iron block, 180° horizontal valves actuated by a central camshaft and roller rockers, angled cylinder head mating surfaces, a flat-plane crankshaft, and a cam-driven synchronizer lever for vibration compensation. The engine was overhauled during the build with .020”-over Aries forged pistons and Mahle .030”-under connecting rod bearings. Additional features include twin Winfield downdraft carburetors, a battery, an electric starter, a generator, and carburetor chokes. Oil changes and chassis lubrication are said to have been performed regularly with the most recent service in June 2023. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission and a custom rear end.