Description
The ready-to-Vintage-race H-Mod special was restored about 5 years ago but has only been raced about a dozen times. Article in “Sportscar Specials” of the 1960’s Of the hundreds of Panhards built-up for racing, Dr.Bill Molle’s is a standout. Winning the H-modified Division in California Sports Car Club’s Pacific Coast Championship two years in succession (1958-1959) is quite a feat….the competition is rough, rugged and fast. He also copped 2nd in H-modified standings in SCCA Regional awards in 1958, and Class H-modified number two spot in Motoracing’s Pacific Coast Championship in 1959. Aside from the fact that Bill Molle is a leadfoot, the secret of this car’s winning ways lies in it’s Fairchild Panhard power-plant
History
This car was found about 15 years ago neglected and minus the original twin overhead cam motor. When Don Racine found it; he already owned the first of the “Nichols Special”, now raced by JP Molerus of France. This is the third of the Nichols as originally raced by Perry Peron (built at least in part by Stan Bucklin). After a little research Don was able to contact both J. Fairchild and Dr. Molle, the original builder & driver. After restoration, Dr. Molle drove the car at Laguna Seca on its maiden run after restoration. After Jerry passed away, Doc contracted Don and said he had a gift – that Don should come visit him one day. Several months later Don paid him a visit and was stunned by the sight – he presented to Don the original twin overhead cam motor that Jerry had kept for years (Jerry has passed away about 5 months earlier). Although Don still has the motor (intact) and most of the fuel injection set-up, he has never tried to run it. Throughout the history of the Fairchild it was raced with various versions of Panhard power units, in addition to the fuel injection twin overhead cam, one of a kind Panhard engine developed by Jerry Fairchild. This car was also run with a production supercharger as used on the Panhard Junior! Currently the car is run with a motor developed by Don Racine which is a copy of the of the motor as used in the Aardvark. Of the hundreds of Panhards built-up for racing, the Fairchild is a standout. Winning the H-Modified Class in the California Sports Car Club’s Pacific Coast Champion two years in succession (1958-59) was quite a feat….the competition was rough, rugged and fast. Molle also copped 2nd in H-Modified standings in SCAA Regional awards in 1958, and Class H-modified number two spot in Motoracing’s Pacific Coast Championship two years in 1959. Aside from the fact that Bill Molle was a lead foot, the secret of this car’s winning was it’s unique Fairchild-Panhard power plant….the first successful fuel-injector system for two cylinder, four-stroke engines. The chassis, with tubular space frame and stressed inner paneling, was originally built by Perry Peron, and raced by him in West Coast events. The fiberglass body was designed and rebuilt by Jim Byers, of El Segundo, California, Jerry Fairchild built the exotic engine.
Performance Data
Class: H-Mod
Weight: 975 lbs
Engine
Engine Builder: Don Racine
Manufacturer: Panhard
Type: 2 cylinder, 4 stroke
Displacement: 850cc
Horsepower: 75HP
Induction: single 2 barrel Weber
Heads: one peice aluminum barrel and head, Hemi design
Block: Aluminum- reinforced
Main Caps: Roller bearings
Crankshaft: roller crank- race mods
Connecting Rods: Roller bearings
Pistons: Custom
Camshaft: Roller by Isky
Valves: Custom oversized
Valve Train: Torrsion bar, overhead valve
Clutch: 4 puck metallic
Pressure Plate: Panhard spring type
Flywheel: Lightened stock
Exhaust: Custom
Total Time: 1 hour
Races: None
Fuel System
Fuel Tank
Manufacturer: Weber
Capacity: 8 gallons
Fuel Type: Race Gas
Oil/Water System
Radiator: Air Cooled
Electrical System
Ignition: Crank Fired
Alternator: None
Transmission
Manfacturer: Panhard
Gears: Close ratio 4 speed
Shifter: floor shifter
Rear End
Manufacturer: Panhard
Body
Construction: All fiberglass
Color: Green and white
Chassis
Builder: Bill Nichols
Front Suspension: Upper and Lower Leaf Springs
Rear Suspension: Independent torrsion bar
Shocks: Tube shocks in front and lever type in rear
