• Log In
  • Become A Subscriber
  • News
  • Features
    • Special Features
    • Moss Special
    • Photography
    • Featured Editorials
    • Racecar Features
    • Roadcar Features
  • Race
    • Racecar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
      • Racecar Gallery
    • Columns
      • First Turn
      • Fast Lines
      • Fabulous Fifties
      • Heroes
      • Legends Speak
      • Stirling Speaks
      • Greatest Racecars
      • Last Lap
    • Profiles
      • Grand Prix History
      • Can-Am Racing
      • Grand Prix Cars
      • Mille Miglia
      • Race Profiles
      • Racecar Profiles
      • Driver Profiles
    • More
      • Art History
      • Fast Exposure
      • Hidden Treasure
      • Hot Laps
      • Time Capsule
      • Market Guide
      • The Golden Age
      • Hard Drive
  • Road
    • Roadcar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
    • Columns
      • From The Editor
      • By Design
      • Driven
      • Flashback
      • Roadcar Gallery
      • Roadcar Video
    • More
      • Roadcar Articles
      • Roadcar Features
      • Roadcar Interviews
      • Roadcar News
      • Roadcar Profiles
  • Brands
    • A to C
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Alpine
      • Auburn
      • Audi
      • Austin
      • Aston Martin
      • Bentley
      • BMW
      • Bugatti
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chrysler
    • D to L
      • Dodge
      • Duesenberg
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Ford
      • Hispano Suiza
      • Honda
      • Koenigsegg
      • Jaguar
      • Lagonda
      • Lamborghini
      • Lancia
      • Lexus
      • Lincoln
      • Lola
      • Lotus
    • K to R
      • Maserati
      • Mazda
      • McLaren
      • Mercedes
      • MG
      • Mini
      • Mitsubishi
      • Morgan
      • Nissan
      • Packard
      • Pagani
      • Porsche
      • Renault
      • Rimac
      • Rolls-Royce
    • S to Z
      • SCG
      • Shelby
      • Spyker
      • Subaru
      • Sunbeam
      • Toyota
      • Triumph
      • Vauxhall
      • Volkswagen
      • Volvo
  • Events
  • Cars
    • Iconic Cars
    • SCD Car Profiles
    • VRR Car Profiles
    • Car Profiles
    • Garage & Collection Profiles
    • People Profiles
  • Market
    • Auctions Hub
    • Buyer Guides
    • Cars for Sale
  • For Sale
    • Cars for Sale
    • Dealer Showcase
  • Members
    • Become Member
    • Premium Content
    • Member Help
    • Free Newsletter
Reading
Otto Linton (1917-2018)
ShareTweet
Racecar Articles

Otto Linton (1917-2018)

Avatar photoVR Staff

The last surviving racer from America’s first post WWII road race, at Watkins Glen in 1948, Otto Linton, has passed away at the age of 100. Having fallen in love with the automobile at age 11, the Vienna-born Linton, engineering degree in hand, arrived in the USA during the early days of World War II and found work in a Philadelphia factory where defense work was being done. By 1943 he’d become one of the first members of the Antique Automobile Club of America, and was subsequently among the founders of the Philadelphia Region of the SCCA.

For that milestone 1948 race at Watkins Glen he drove a supercharged MG J4, but did not finish, although he went on to race a variety of cars, including the Siata 208 CS shown above (photo by Alix Lafontant), at more than 30 circuits across the country. His record shows 11 starts in the 12 Hours of Sebring, where he enjoyed a pair of class wins — with Harry Beck and Hal Stetson in an OSCA MT4 in 1958, and with Thomas Fleming and Jim Diaz in an Abarth Simca in 1964.

To support and allow his racing, Linton turned his hobby into a business, doing racecar maintenance and preparation for imported cars from his Speedcraft operation in Exton, Pennsylvania, which became known as the go-to shop in the Delaware Valley. He also developed a business relationship with fellow Austrian immigrant Max Hoffman, the famed auto importer, for whom he sold several Mercedes-Benz Gullwing Coupes. In 1966 he designed and built his own Toyota dealership, which he ran until 1984.

Over the years he received several awards from Watkins Glen, Sebring and the Veteran Sports Car Club of America, and was ultimately made a Legend of Watkins Glen.

Linton’s son, Roger, reported his passing, saying: “He was over 100 years old, suffered no illness, and maintained clarity of mind. You can’t ask for much more!”

To Linton’s family and his friends in the sport, Vintage Racecar offers is sincerest sympathies.

 

Tags
Brand (Abarth-Simca)Brand (Abarth)Brand (OSCA)Brand (Siata)Group (AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America))Group (SCCA (Sports Car Club of America))People (Otto Linton)Racetrack (Watkins Glen International)

Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter

We bring you all the latest from the world of vintage and classic cars each week. News, auctions, events, vintage racing and more.

Avatar photo
VR Staff
Related

Porsche Fans Unite at the 2025 Air|Water

25C0091_009 Mercedes-Benz AG - Mercedes-Benz Classic Communications

Le Mans Winner Jochen Mass Passes: Age 78

Marketplace: 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”

Patrick GOSLING

McLaren W1 Sub-Zero Testing

2025 Hagerty Hill Climb at Shelsley Walsh

2025 Velocity Invitational Postponed

2 Comments

  1. Avatar photo Dave Nicholas says:
    January 10, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    Indeed a great man has passed. My condolences to Roger and the family.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Avatar photo Nigel Russell says:
    January 13, 2018 at 10:28 pm

    I met Otto and son at Watkins Glen recently. He was showing an interest in our Formula Juniors. Otto had driven one in period. Otto had amazing recall for a 100 year old; way better than many to years younger. Otto was wonderfully humble considering his achievements. Commiserations to Ottos family and friends. In the 15 minutes I spoke with him he truely made an impression.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Free Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Paid Subscription
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Cars For Sale
  • Special Feature
  • The Cars
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Meet the Team
Copyright © 2025 A07 Online Media
  • News
  • Features
    • Special Features
    • Moss Special
    • Photography
    • Featured Editorials
    • Racecar Features
    • Roadcar Features
  • Race
    • Racecar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
      • Racecar Gallery
    • Columns
      • First Turn
      • Fast Lines
      • Fabulous Fifties
      • Heroes
      • Legends Speak
      • Stirling Speaks
      • Greatest Racecars
      • Last Lap
    • Profiles
      • Grand Prix History
      • Can-Am Racing
      • Grand Prix Cars
      • Mille Miglia
      • Race Profiles
      • Racecar Profiles
      • Driver Profiles
    • More
      • Art History
      • Fast Exposure
      • Hidden Treasure
      • Hot Laps
      • Time Capsule
      • Market Guide
      • The Golden Age
      • Hard Drive
  • Road
    • Roadcar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
    • Columns
      • From The Editor
      • By Design
      • Driven
      • Flashback
      • Roadcar Gallery
      • Roadcar Video
    • More
      • Roadcar Articles
      • Roadcar Features
      • Roadcar Interviews
      • Roadcar News
      • Roadcar Profiles
  • Brands
    • A to C
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Alpine
      • Auburn
      • Audi
      • Austin
      • Aston Martin
      • Bentley
      • BMW
      • Bugatti
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chrysler
    • D to L
      • Dodge
      • Duesenberg
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Ford
      • Hispano Suiza
      • Honda
      • Koenigsegg
      • Jaguar
      • Lagonda
      • Lamborghini
      • Lancia
      • Lexus
      • Lincoln
      • Lola
      • Lotus
    • K to R
      • Maserati
      • Mazda
      • McLaren
      • Mercedes
      • MG
      • Mini
      • Mitsubishi
      • Morgan
      • Nissan
      • Packard
      • Pagani
      • Porsche
      • Renault
      • Rimac
      • Rolls-Royce
    • S to Z
      • SCG
      • Shelby
      • Spyker
      • Subaru
      • Sunbeam
      • Toyota
      • Triumph
      • Vauxhall
      • Volkswagen
      • Volvo
  • Events
  • Cars
    • Iconic Cars
    • SCD Car Profiles
    • VRR Car Profiles
    • Car Profiles
    • Garage & Collection Profiles
    • People Profiles
  • Market
    • Auctions Hub
    • Buyer Guides
    • Cars for Sale
  • For Sale
    • Cars for Sale
    • Dealer Showcase
  • Members
    • Become Member
    • Premium Content
    • Member Help
    • Free Newsletter
All Access
  • Free Newsletter
Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
Featured (Racecar Feature) Events All The Market (Auctions & Market) The Market (Auctions) Featured (Vintage Car Racing)
See all results

Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter

We bring you all the latest from the world of vintage and classic cars each week. News, auctions, events, vintage racing and more.