For many, it’s just a bunch of dented metal, but what you see in the image was once a car, specifically a Formula car that raced in the Indianapolis 500, driven by Mike Mosley in 1971, and previously by Bobby Unser, a three-time winner of the race.
But more than its sporting achievements, what makes this remaining piece of car coveted by collectors is its special history. This was the race car in which Mosley had a serious accident during the 500 miles, crashing into the wall and then colliding with another stationary vehicle outside the track, ultimately catching fire. Mosley was saved thanks to the quick intervention of Gary Bettenhausen, who stopped to help rescue his teammate from the flames.
It was the car builder A.J. Watson himself who, seeing the state of the destroyed race car and believing that Mosley would not return to the track after the brutal accident, ordered the vehicle to be converted into this metal cube and offered it to Mosley as a reminder of the day he miraculously survived.
Far more than just a pile of dented metal, this piece with a history has just been auctioned off for €7750.