Since their inception, Dan Gurney’s Eagles have been intertwined with America’s most famous race, the Indianapolis 500. In 1965, Gurney formed All American Racers with Carroll Shelby, with the intention of producing race cars built in the United States for use in Formula One and at Indianapolis. Success came quickly with their first win at Langhone in 1966, and the first AAR to win at Indianapolis was driven by Bobby Unser in 1968.

For 1969, AAR introduced the Eagle-Ford Mk 7 and trademarked it as the Eagle-Santa Ana, named for the company’s location in California. This series would be the only Eagle to bear that name. They featured a Ford V-8 engine, and three of the four examples were entered for the 1969 Indianapolis 500.

Chassis 702, the example offered here, was produced for use in the 1969 season. Even though the car did not race in the fabled Indianapolis 500 that year, it was driven by Dan Gurney himself at Indianapolis for a shakedown during free practice, where it wore #7. For the race itself, Gurney used another chassis of similar specification, which was believed to be chassis 701, and he proceeded to place 2nd overall, behind Mario Andretti. While not actively in the fray, chassis 702 remained in the paddock as a spare. Following its brief appearance at Indianapolis, it never raced again, and it is believed that the car was retained by AAR for some time before it was acquired by Robert Jordan, of Investment Motor Auto Inc. in Chicago, Illinois.

In August 1990, the car passed from Jordan and into Bob Pond’s ownership, who intended to campaign the car in historic racing. Just a few short months after purchasing the car, Pond, with professional driver Robert Lamplough behind the wheel, campaigned it in the Palm Springs Road Races, where it raced under the banner of Bob Pond Racing. Both the car and driver proved to be quite competitive, and Lamplough finished 3rd overall in the open-formula event. In 1991, Lamplough and Pond returned to the Palm Springs Road Races, and the car finished 4th in the Saturday race and 5th in the Sunday race. Following that point, the car was placed on static display in his collection, where it has remained to this day.

Chassis 702 is one of only four Eagle-Santa Anas constructed, and it has been part of the Pond Collection for 24 years. It would surely be a compelling addition to any collection of Indianapolis racers.