Marv’s Garage: the big-block V8 deathkart

From the mid-1960s 'til the mid-'70s Can-Am racing was the richest prize in motorsport and almost a free-for-all when it came to car design, with no limits on engine capacity or anything else that ruins parties. So the world's best drivers and engineers jumped on that train and turned race car design on its ear in a few short years.

Former military intelligence officer Don Nichols founded Advanced Vehicle Systems in 1968, pairing with freelance designer Trevor Harris to build the Shadow Mk1. The premise was to fit a big-block Chevy V8 and Hewland transaxle into the smallest chassis possible.

Reducing the frontal area of a Can-Am car by 35% is no easy feat, as they were already low-slung lightweight (800kg) machines of brawn (+700hp) and terror. The Shadow, however, was basically a go-kart with an 8.1L engine.

It featured 10in (f) and 12in (r) diameter wheels, spanning 11in across up front and 16in behind. The driver didn't sit in the car but had to lay down, while the water and oil coolers were moved to between the rear wheels to help packaging.

The tiny diameter of the front wheels limited the size of the brakes there so cooling fans were built into the wheels, while the in-board mounting of the rear brakes meant no size restrictions there.

The chassis was designed to be modular to make the Mk1 easier to work on, and the compact dimensions meant there was no room for a conventional spring/shock assembly. Three small springs lay in each corner, operated by a rocker assembly and running a compact friction shock.

The Shadow was originally designed with driver-adjustable air brakes, rear wheel spats, and a slimline intake though these were outlawed by officials or did not survive testingn with George Follmer and Parnelli Jones in late 1969.

Overheating proved to be the Shadow's biggest issue, in all 3 races it ran in 1970. The Mk1 survives today and is still run at exhibition events, helping remind people of how awesome life can be with fewer rules.