From time to time, “barn finds” become available for the average Joe to purchase. Sometimes it’s a rare car that’s been stored for years, sometimes it’s an engine that holds a lot of history, as in this case. 

According to the engine’s current owner, Ed Shargabian, “I was told this engine was one of the few that made for the Wild Weslake Colt  that was shown in Car Craft‘s July 1971 issue. We were told by an actual Chrysler employee that this was one of the few that was used in that vehicle – he could tell by the magazine and the casting number on the pictures. There were a few made with the Dodge Rod Shop lettering and Plymouth lettering, I heard there were ten in the beginning. I am not sure how true that is but I know there are only two left – this one and the one in the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska.”

Information we’ve been able to glean from a variety of sources state that the engine was run in 1969 only in Indy racing, along with a number of races in Formula 5000 competition. It features a set of overhead-cam Weslake cylinder heads and slide-port fuel injection, considered state-of-the-art back then. The engines were provided to the Granatelli STP team in mid-1969 for competition.

Various other high-end tricks were applied to the engine at that time, including dry sump oiling, the aforementioned Weslake cylinder heads that offered a straight shot to the valve from the port opening, a front-facing cam-driven distributor, and more. Spare parts are also included in the sale.

“This engine has a story on it too, somehow it disappeared from Chrysler by an employee – or who knows – and the Rod Shop lettering was scraped off. I am thinking whoever took it didn’t want any affiliation or it to be recognized. The engine was gone for years until it was found crated up in a warehouse, and now here it is. The engine is in dry storage at this time. The info I have is from an actual Chrysler employee of that era, an engine specialist, and a few other enthusiasts of that era. The engine is in excellent shape – running condition – and should be ready to go,” says Shargabian.

If you’re up for owning a piece of Mopar history, and have $161,499.95 (gotta get that extra 95 cents in there!) burning a hole in your pocket, go ahead and click that Buy It Now button. You can also make an offer on the engine, and as of this writing there are 86 watchers on ebay. One has to wonder if any of them plans to pony up the bucks?

Free shipping included in your purchase price.