1952 Unicorn

Much like the animal it was named for, the precise origin of the Unicorn H-Modified sports racer remains a mystery. Legend has it that the car was built in or around San Francisco in 1952 by a police officer. However, years and years of research by subsequent owners have failed to uncover the builder’s identity or absolutely confirm his profession. As the tale is told, the constructor sold or traded the car shortly after finishing it. Some have speculated that a wicked girlfriend cast an evil spell causing him to turn against the four-wheeled creature. Others have said that the beast vanished in the middle of the night. What seems certain is that no one knows for sure.

The Unicorn was built on a mild steel, round-tube chassis as an all-out 750-cc racing weapon. The car rode on 1937 Simca-Fiat components with Topolino drum brakes front and back. Power came from a Crosley four-cylinder with speed equipment from specialist Nick Brajevich. The engine breathed through twin Tillotson carburetors on a “Braje” intake manifold. The side cover and oil pan were also from Brajevich’s shop. The four-speed gearbox was from a Fiat Topolino. The body was a tidy package of all aluminum construction with clam-shell fenders up front. The original paint scheme was blue with a white stripe, although this color pattern was reversed at some later point in the Unicorn’s long life.