1938 Chevrolet Fangio | Long Distance Endurance Rally Car

Five-time Formula 1 World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio was always known for his stamina as well as his speed. It was a quality that the legendary Argentine developed in the early years of his racing career, when he competed in long-distance endurance events across South America.

In 1940, he won the Gran Premio Internacional del Norte – an epic 15-day race that went from Buenos Aires to Lima and back. The 10, 000km route crossed the Andes and went through jungles and deserts, running mostly on unpaved roads, but Fangio ground out a hard-fought victory at the wheel of a Chevrolet Coupe – a model with which his name has become synonymous.

With its robust engineering and impressive performance, the Chevrolet Coupe has long been a popular choice for historic endurance events, the 1938 car being offered here has competed in some of the world’s most challenging rallies.

A right-hand-drive example that was sourced and shipped over from South Africa by RPS, it was then built into an endurance rally car by us and first registered in the UK in November 2009. It then successfully completed the following year’s Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and continued to compete various events in the hands of subsequent owners. It’s a veteran of the Nile Trail Rally, the Flying Scotsman and the Vintage Cape Horn Rally, and in 2016 it again took part in the Peking-Paris.

Shortly before being acquired by a new owner in 2024, the car had £13, 000 spent on it at for work including a new clutch, engine mounts, propshaft universal joints and rear fuel lines, plus new inner wheelarch panels.

The following year, having changed hands, it was treated to a further round of work before once again successfully completing the Peking-Paris. On its return to the UK, it then received a new clutch, an electronic ignition conversion, new seatbelt brackets and fresh Yokohama tyres all round.

After Rally Preparation Services having multiple overall wins on the Peking to Paris Rally and other endurance rallies as a known specialist of these cars in the endurance rally world, each RPS built and prepared Chevrolet Fangio has been an ongoing evolution combining both period styling with modern engineering, and this car is no exception. Its extensive build specification includes a proven torque-rich 3. 9-litre six-cylinder RPS engine with twin carburettors and an upgraded oil system, plus reinforced brakes, axles, heavy-duty road springs, and a weight-saving fabric boot lid.

There’s a considerable amount of storage space beneath the reclining Recaro seats, a full set of timing equipment, and everything you’d need to conquer thousands of miles across all types of terrain. It also comes with a vast spares package that includes everything from a set of brake shoes and ignition components to engine mounts, a dynamo, a water pump assembly, and much more.

Built and maintained without compromise, this RPS Chevrolet Fangio Coupe has proven its reliability and performance in the toughest environments and would be the ideal choice for a number of classic endurance rallies – including the blue-riband Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

The car is currently with Rally Preparation Services sister Company, the RPS storage facility and available for inspection.

All viewings and test drives welcomed by appointment at Rally Preparation Services.

All enquiries please contact us on using the button below or telephone +44(0)the details below