Faithful recreation of Ak Miller's La Carrera Panamericana special, featuring manifold and carburetors from the original car. This 1950 Ford 'El Caballo de Hierro' Tribute is built on a '50 Ford chassis, with an Olds Rocket 88 engine, '27 Ford T Roadster steel body, and Caddy 3-speed transmission.

In 1954, Ak Miller and Doug Harrison competed in the grueling 1,900 mile Pan American Race, Carrera Panamericana, with their handmade entry, El Caballo de Hierro. Despite needing differential repairs, they finished 8th as the only American entrant in the 'Large Sports Car' class. The original El Caballo was built on a 1950 Ford frame and outfitted with a 1951 Olds 357 V8 engine with four Strombergs, running a '53 Lincoln rear end.

Ak Miller's career in racing was launched with this attempt, cementing him as a legend in the Hot Rods community. He was a key figure in the establishment of the NHRA and one of the earliest Presidents of the SCTA, with a career spanning decades and including record runs at Bonneville and participation in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

This tribute was conceived and built under the guidance of Martin Swig, patriarch of the Swig Family Collection, in 2011. The build followed closely to the specifications of the original, with a 1950 Ford frame, 1953 Lincoln rear axle, and Olds V8 engine. The intake manifold and four Stromberg carburetors were refurbished and installed, replicating the original construction.

The build progressed from 2012-2013, with careful attention to detail and reference to period photos and magazine archives. The car was completed with a comprehensive build, including fortifying the frame with structural steel members, using high-grade fasteners, and installing Pertronix ignition and a modern coil.

Today, this one-of-a-kind El Caballo Tribute is beautifully presented in gleaming red, white, and blue colors. The restoration, although done some years ago, remains at a high level with excellent details throughout, including beautiful paint, handmade features, and excellent panel fit.

The interior continues the sparse competition theme, with high-back formed aluminum bucket seats, dark red leather seating inserts, and a set of Crow competition wide band lap belts. The dashboard features a set of four Stewart Warner small dial gauges and a large column-mounted Stewart Warner tachometer. The car is ready for the next dedicated performance enthusiast to drive and enjoy, in tribute to the legacy of American automotive ingenuity.