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If the 1960 Watson Roadster were a rock star, it would be the Mick Jagger of race cars — charismatic, daring, and absolutely unforgettable. A few years back, I had the distinct pleasure of working on a book and documentary with the legend himself, Parnelli Jones, to discuss his illustrious car collection. We spent a good chunk of time reminiscing about Ol’ Calhoun, the 1960 Watson Roadster — the Willard Battery Special.

Buckle up, because this ride through history is going to be as thrilling as the Indy 500 itself. Let’s roll back to 1960. In the vibrant, sun-soaked car-building capital of Glendale, California, a mechanical maestro named AJ Watson was busy crafting what would become an icon in the racing world.



This wasn’t just any car; it was a masterpiece of engineering and sheer chutzpah. The late, great chief mechanic Jim Dilamarter, who we sadly lost last year, often spoke about the precision and passion that went into building the Watson Roadster. It was as if Watson had sprinkled a little bit of magic into every bolt and screw.

Cary Agajanian, son of the legendary car owner J.C. Agajanian, gives us a peek behind the curtain.

“The car was built in Glendale, California. That’s where the hotbed of building race cars in those days was, and AJ Watson was the person building it,” Cary explained. These weren’t just cookie-cutter cars; they were finely-tuned beasts designed to eat up the track, with modifications inspired by none other than Parnelli Jones him.

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