1963 J. C. Agajanian/Willard Battery Special Indy 500 Winning Team Jacket
A chance to acquire this fabulous original team only, leather letterman jacket from the J. C. Agajanian owned #98 Willard Battery Special, winners of the 1963 Indianapolis 500.
These jackets were issued to only the half dozen or so pit crew team members that worked on the Parnelli Jones driven Watson Offenhauser Roadster (nicknamed "Ol Calhoun") that took a controversial victory in the 47th running of the prestigious event. Jones led most of the way in the race, but with just 10 laps remaining a crack in the externally mounted oil tank left oil on the track and drivers spinning in its wake. Jones should have been black-flagged out of the race. J. C. Agajanian ran down pit lane remonstrated and convinced race officials that the oil leak was below the level of a known crack and would not leak any further. Jones was allowed to continue and take the chequered flag for his one and only Indy 500 win.
The white zippered leather jacket was produced for J. C. Agajanian by custom sportswear manufacturers Brill Brothers of Milwaukee. It has a red, white, and blue banded knitted collar, cuffs, and hem. On the rear of the jacket is a detailed embroidered Agajanian/Willard Battery Special shield patch which is flanked by a chequered flag to either side. In between these is the car #98 race number. The blue silk inner lining has printed images of athletes and shields in a spaced pattern. The jacket label has a chest size of 44 inches (XL). It is excellent condition for its age with no rips tears or nicks to the leather or lining. This jacket was obtained directly from the estate of race mechanic Cecil Taylor who worked for the Agajanian team at the Indy 500.
These jackets were issued to only the half dozen or so pit crew team members that worked on the Parnelli Jones driven Watson Offenhauser Roadster (nicknamed "Ol Calhoun") that took a controversial victory in the 47th running of the prestigious event. Jones led most of the way in the race, but with just 10 laps remaining a crack in the externally mounted oil tank left oil on the track and drivers spinning in its wake. Jones should have been black-flagged out of the race. J. C. Agajanian ran down pit lane remonstrated and convinced race officials that the oil leak was below the level of a known crack and would not leak any further. Jones was allowed to continue and take the chequered flag for his one and only Indy 500 win.
The white zippered leather jacket was produced for J. C. Agajanian by custom sportswear manufacturers Brill Brothers of Milwaukee. It has a red, white, and blue banded knitted collar, cuffs, and hem. On the rear of the jacket is a detailed embroidered Agajanian/Willard Battery Special shield patch which is flanked by a chequered flag to either side. In between these is the car #98 race number. The blue silk inner lining has printed images of athletes and shields in a spaced pattern. The jacket label has a chest size of 44 inches (XL). It is excellent condition for its age with no rips tears or nicks to the leather or lining. This jacket was obtained directly from the estate of race mechanic Cecil Taylor who worked for the Agajanian team at the Indy 500.