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title: Vollstedt · HICONIUM
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> On this page: [On the block · Monterey Car Week 2026](#on-the-block--monterey-car-week-2026) · [Rolla Vollstedt’s Portland-built Indy cars.](#rolla-vollstedts-portland-built-indy-cars) · [A bloodline, not a list.](#a-bloodline-not-a-list) · [Used rear-engine layouts](#used-rear-engine-layouts) · [Sold the 1966 pair to fund new cars](#sold-the-1966-pair-to-fund-new-cars) · [Reworked chassis over seasons](#reworked-chassis-over-seasons)

![Vollstedt — manufacturer stage](https://hiconium.dev/_derived/images/marques/stage/vollstedt.jpg.w1920.q75.webp)

[Manufacturers  /  Vollstedt](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers)

# Vollstedt

USA · est. 1963

Rolla Vollstedt’s Portland-built Indy cars.

Vollstedt brought a rear-engined Offenhauser to Indianapolis for 1963 tyre tests; Len Sutton qualified it eighth for the 1964 Indianapolis 500.

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| On the block | 1 lots |
| Top value | — |
| Period | 1963– |

[Explore models](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/vollstedt#essential) [Manufacturer profile](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/vollstedt#house-profile)

![Vollstedt — manufacturer stage](https://hiconium.dev/_derived/images/marques/stage/vollstedt.jpg.w1920.q75.webp)

Forthcoming lots

## On the block · Monterey Car Week 2026

1 forthcoming lot · Monterey 2026

The house

## Rolla Vollstedt’s Portland-built Indy cars.

Rolla Vollstedt fielded Len Sutton in late-season National Championship dirt events in 1955 and 1956. In summer 1963, he brought a rear-engined, normally aspirated Offenhauser to Indianapolis for tyre tests; Sutton qualified eighth for the 1964 Indianapolis 500, ran fourth and retired after 140 laps.

The 1965 Vollstedt reused the 1963–64 chassis jig and was designed for Ford’s quad-cam engine. For 1966, Vollstedt drew two aluminium monocoques, had their panels made by California Metal Shaping and sold the pair to the Jim Robbins Company after the season.

Two wider Ford-powered cars followed for 1967. Jim Clark qualified one second for the Rex Mays 300 at Riverside, took the lead for one lap and retired after a valve failure; it was his last Indy car race. Larry Dickson finished ninth in a Vollstedt-Ford at the 1969 Indianapolis 500, completing 180 laps.

The 1972 No. 12 followed McLaren M16 lines, while the second monocoque was built up differently in 1973; both were modified through 1975 and 1976. Janet Guthrie became the first woman named to drive an Indianapolis 500 entry in 1976, but mechanical problems prevented a qualifying attempt. Vollstedt died in Portland on 22 October 2017.

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| First Indianapolis appearance | 1963 |
|  | A rear-engined, normally aspirated Offenhauser ran in summer tyre tests with Len Sutton driving. |

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Builder and entrant | Rolla Vollstedt |
|  | He fielded National Championship cars with Len Sutton in 1955 and 1956, and died in Portland on 22 October 2017, aged 99. |

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Base | Portland, Oregon |
|  | The 1967 Ford-powered cars were designed and built by Vollstedt’s Portland team. |

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Best Indianapolis 500 result | Ninth, 1969 |
|  | Larry Dickson completed 180 laps in a Vollstedt-Ford entered by Vollstedt Enterprises. |

Selected milestones

### A bloodline, not a list.

1. 1963

  Rear-engined Offenhauser at Indianapolis

  Vollstedt brought a rear-engined, normally aspirated Offenhauser to summer tyre tests. Sutton qualified it eighth for the 1964 Indianapolis 500 and retired after 140 laps.
2. 1966

  Two monocoques sold to Jim Robbins

  Vollstedt designed two aluminium monocoques using panels formed by California Metal Shaping. Both went to the Jim Robbins Company after the season.
3. 1967

  Clark leads at Riverside

  Jim Clark qualified the No. 21 Vollstedt second for the Rex Mays 300, led for one lap and retired after damaging a valve. It was his last Indy car race.
4. 1969

  Ninth at Indianapolis

  Larry Dickson finished ninth in a Vollstedt-Ford for Vollstedt Enterprises, classified running after 180 laps.
5. 1976

  Guthrie entered at Indianapolis

  Janet Guthrie was the first woman named to drive a 500 entry. Mechanical issues forced Vollstedt’s team to withdraw before she made a qualifying attempt.

What defines Vollstedt

### Used rear-engine layouts

The 1963 Indianapolis car placed a normally aspirated Offenhauser behind the driver; the 1965 car was designed around Ford’s quad-cam engine.

### Sold the 1966 pair to fund new cars

After the 1966 season, Vollstedt sold both monocoques to the Jim Robbins Company and built new cars for 1967.

### Reworked chassis over seasons

The 1967 cars remained in Vollstedt’s programme through 1971. The 1972 and 1973 monocoques were revised in 1975 and 1976, with one later used as a backup as late as 1981.