Puzzler: Vehicle, #9626, Week of 6/29

Ray: This came from Morris T. Ericson from Sacramento, California. A special vehicle was first produced in 1949. It was powered then by a Jeep engine but now uses a Volkswagen engine. It has a base price of fifty thousand dollars. It has never raced but can often be found in a closed course, so to speak. A famous sports celebrity was the first sales representative for this vehicle. What is the vehicle and who is the famous sports celebrity that we know so well.

Tom: Oh so this is a two or three part question.

Ray: Two. What's the vehicle and who is the sports personality?

[ Car Talk Puzzler ]