Description:

1987 Penske PC16 Indycar 

Rick Mears’ ride 

• Famous Pennzoil colours 

• Three top 10 finishes 

• Last of just four built 

Chassis number: 004 

Engine number: 

Driven by four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears and carrying the iconic Pennzoil colours, this Penske PC16 was developed for the 1987 CART PPG Indy Car World Series. 

It was a transition year for the fabled Penske Indycar team, as the challenge of racing the entirely new PC16 chassis and equally new Ilmor-developed Chevrolet engine simultaneously proved problematic. 

In total, Penske built just four of the new PC16s and this car, chassis 004, the last of them, contested a number of early-season races in the hands of Mears for a best of third at Portland, and two top 10 results at Cleveland and Toronto. 

However, at the Indianapolis 500 the PC16 was still struggling for pace in the first week of practice and Roger Penske made the decision to revert to the previous year’s car for final practice, qualifying and race. 

This lack of ultimate pace led to the mid-season abandonment of the car and the firing of designer Alan Jenkins, though ironically it also served as a platform for the development of the PC17. With new chief designer Nigel Bennett at the helm, the PC17 became one of the most competitive and winning cars in Indycar history.

After its enforced retirement from competition, chassis 004 was owned by Pennzoil and almost immediately sold to Penrite Australia as a display car. It came here without an engine but after some correspondence between the two oil companies, Penske sent a complete engine to be displayed with the car.  

Used primarily for promotions and displays here, the Penske was ultimately placed in storage until 2016/2017, when Alan Hamilton purchased the PC16 and commenced its restoration.  

Since the car had done so little actual racing, it was in extraordinarily good condition but nonetheless everything was stripped, inspected, and replaced as necessary.  

All suspension bearings were replaced, the brake calipers stripped and rebuilt with new brake discs, a new fuel tank bladder fitted, and the instruments checked and calibrated. 

And with little information on the condition of the Penske-supplied display engine, VDS Engines was commissioned to construct a complete, new 750hp (confirmed by a dyno run) unit for the car.  

It is believed that the transmission was assembled for display purposes only, so will need some attention. 

The Penske’s original wheels are with the car, along with two-and-a-half new sets of three-piece wheels, made from 7000-series aluminium centres. There’s also an accompanying folder containing various correspondence and reference materials.  

After this extensive recommissioning, the 1987 Penske PC16 now presents a new owner with the very rare opportunity to purchase a charismatic Indycar racer.  

## Reputed to have been supplied from Penke’s stock of freshly rebuilt engines, the display engine is also available separately. 

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