Hughes-Kircher Special: An Ode to American Racing Heritage

Auto JEWEL - In the nostalgic era of the 1950s, the automotive world witnessed the emergence of a remarkable gem aiming to dominate the European racing circuits—the Hughes-Kircher Special. Crafted through the combined vision and skills of Charles Hughes and Kurt Kircher, both American' World War II veterans, this sports racing car embodied their shared ambition to outshine the European competition.

The Hughes-Kircher Special crafted in 1953 through the combined vision and skills of Charles Hughes and Kurt Kircher, and this sports racing car embodied their shared ambition to outshine the European competition. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Originating from the post-war enthusiasm of American servicemen, inspired by Europe's nimble roadsters, the Hughes-Kircher Special's genesis story began with Hughes' purchase of a  Jaguar XK120 from Kircher, sparking a mutual passion for racing. Kircher drove behind his Allard J2X racer, and Hughes, eager to race his XK120, united to realize their dream of designing a unique racing machine.

The Hughes-Kircher Special defined by sleek lines, deep creases, and ridged sides with airflow channels, the body aimed at optimal engine temperature management. (Picture from: Silodrome)

With Kircher's automotive engineering prowess, honed at GM post-war, and Hughes' physics background and well-equipped machine shop, the duo aimed to rival automotive giants like Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and Ferrari. Their design embraced cutting-edge elements—a lightweight chrome-moly tube frame, Jaguar XK120's independent front suspension, De Dion rear suspension, Halibrand differential, and a 3.4-liter DOHC Jaguar XK120 straight-6 engine coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission.

The Hughes-Kircher Special's distinct aluminum body, handcrafted by Charlie Lyons, blended Italian and British roadster aesthetics. (Picture from: Silodrome)

The car's distinct aluminum body, handcrafted by Charlie Lyons, blended Italian and British roadster aesthetics. Its two-piece construction facilitated maintenance, while the single passenger-side door mandated a peculiar entry technique—folding into the leather bucket seat. Noteworthy were the grille-integrated headlights, reminiscent of the 1952 Nash Healey by Pinin Farina.

The Hughes-Kircher Special's two-piece construction facilitated maintenance, while the single passenger-side door mandated a peculiar entry technique—folding into the leather bucket seat. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Defined by sleek lines, deep creases, and ridged sides with airflow channels, the body aimed at optimal engine temperature management. While detailed competition records of the Hughes-Kircher Special are scarce, Kircher proudly recalled their victories, highlighting consistent top-tier finishes.

As the mid-1950s rolled in, European competitors raised the bar, dimming the Hughes-Kircher Special's competitiveness. To revitalize its prowess, a decision was made to install a more potent engine, eventually fitting the SOHC straight-6 fuel injection from the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing snugly into the engine bay. Empowered by this high-performance engine and a racing camshaft pushing power to over 240 bhp, the Hughes-Kircher Special delivered outstanding speed and agility, exceeding expectations for its time.

The Hughes-Kircher Special eventually fitting the SOHC straight-6 fuel injection from the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing snugly into the engine bay. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Post-competition, the car found itself in the hands of its designer, Charles Lyons, before becoming a prized possession for Bugatti collector Carlton Coolidge and later, the Blackhawk Museum. Its global journey included appearances in New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia, securing an invitation to the prestigious 2014 Amelia Island Concours.

Empowered by this high-performance engine and a racing camshaft pushing power to over 240 bhp, the Hughes-Kircher Special delivered outstanding speed and agility, exceeding expectations for its time. (Picture from: Silodrome)

After undergoing diverse engine configurations, including its original 300SL Gullwing unit, the Hughes-Kircher Special has recently undergone a cosmetic restoration by the Moore Automotive Archaeologists team, presenting itself in excellent condition.

This automotive masterpiece is estimated to fetch between $300,000 and $400,000, making it a highly sought-after acquisition for enthusiastic collectors and automotive aficionados participating in the Quail Lodge Auction 2019. Ultimately, the Hughes-Kircher Special found a new owner, selling for $304,200 inc. premium, as quoted from Cars.Bonham. ✨Happy Holiday...⛄*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SILODROME | CARS.BONHAM | MOTORTREND ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.