TrippM

I just watched the 1976 Benihana Grand Prix on youtube which was won by Doc Magoon and Roger Penske in a Cig 40. I was wondering if anyone knew how many 40ft Cigs were made and if any have survived?

larslindroth

Some say there were four original Cigarette 40 racing boats made, others five. The only one I know of is Roger Penske's Sunoco DX, later CAM 2Motor Oil, with several other names later. The boat now has quad 2.4 EFI Mercury and is most likely owned by signature buzmacdowell still. Richie Powers is not that impressed by the wide beam Cig 40. It's a stretched Cig 36. The narrower beam Cigarette 35 is his favorite and also its stretched sister, the Cig 39 is to his liking. Mr. Powers', Charlie McCarty's, and Allan 'Brownie' Brown's words of wisdom always get my attention.

TrippM

Thanks for the reply and the information Lars. The 40 had a good look but I guess it never really caught on.

larslindroth

Got to agree on the looks department. If there had been more horsepower and more durable drives available at the time, knowledge with regards to structural hull design, more advanced materials and layup techniques, I think it could have been a success for a long period of time. At times of rough conditions it was tough to beat and the few made won a considerable amount of races for a couple of years. By the early, to mid-'90s all things were available to make a boat like this truly fly as a competitor, even with its wide 9'6" beam and deep vee, but the true endurance offshore style of racing was gone and thereby these type of boats relevance I think. Just look at the success of the restored 1974 Dry Martini Racing Cigarette 35 in the Cowes-Torquay nowadays. During years when the sea conditions are rough, she still holds her own pretty well. Now, a newly built wide beam 36 or 40 Cigarette with twin Mercury Racing 1750's would be an interesting entry.

Carlo Bonomi in his 3rd 36 Cigarette, a 1973, winning at the 1974 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes.


Ex. Bonomi 1974 Cigarette 35 at the 2015 Cowes race.

TrippM

I agree that a Cig 40 built with modern techniques and power could be a potent package. Call me a dinosaur but I prefer the deep vee and the slower speeds to the current racers.

40fasthawk

larslindroth

40fasthawk, Your boat is almost 2 feet too skinny and 2 feet too long to qualify as a Cigarette 40. That's the 'evolution' of Cigarette design.