STP vs. United States Automobile Club
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Granatelli, Andy, 1923-2013
label: Collection Donor
content: Granatelli, Vincent, 1944-2022
label: Collection Creator
content: Grancor Automotive Specialists
label: Collection Creator
content: Hurricane Hot Rod Association
label: Collection Creator
content: Studebaker Corporation
setName: label: See more items in
content: Andy Granatelli Collection
label: See more items in
content: Andy Granatelli Collection / Series 4: United States Auto Club  (USAC)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1932-1968
label: Date
content: bulk 1968
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1403, Subseries 4.2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The materials in this subseries consist of legal documents--depostions, exhibits, and trial proceedings--for the STP Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (Anthony Granatelli) and Studebaker Corporation vs. the United States Automobile Club, Inc. and Indiana Corporation in 1968. 

Granatelli's complaint alleged that the United States Automobile Club moved to withhold membership from Granatelli and his STP Corporation depriving them of all rights to participate in USAC sanctioned auto racing events. 


Granatelli debuted the STP-Paxton Turbocar in 1967, with a Pratt and Whitney aircraft engine modified for ground transportation and stationary power. This engine ultimately led Granatelli into litigation. The United States Auto Club (USAC) imposed restrictions on the turbine engine used at the 1967 Indianapolis 500, citing "power output." Specifically, the USAC restricted the air intake area from 23 inches to 15 inches. By reducing the air intake, the turbine engine was on more equal footing with the piston engine in terms of horsepower, reducing it to 480 HP and torque. The 1967 STP-Paxton Turbocar had a 23-square-inch air intake area and 550 HP capacity. The new ruling by the USAC became effective on January 1, 1968.