Mark Donohue’s 1972 28’ Cigarette Production Class

[Factory5]

1972 28’ Cigarette OS- #66 Retired Production Class Racer. This ultra-rare time capsule is one of the first of its kind and has retained its original Cigarette Racing Team Colors for nearly 40 years. Built as one of the very first 28’ Cigarettes our boat was possibly the first to be rigged with V8s and set up for racing.


In 1973 Legendary Sports Car Racer Mark Donahue bought this boat from the factory and raced it, occasionally with Roger Penske prior to moving up to a larger 40’ Cigarette. Mark Donahue went on to sell the boat to fellow racer and founder of the IROC series, Jay Signorie. Signorie owned the boat and used it throughout the 1970s and early 80s then went on to store it inside his racing shop for years. Prior to Jay Signorie posting the boat for sale in 1994 the boats IROC Series Motors were rebuilt from the pans up.

Since 1994 we have owned this boat and spared no expenses keeping it in top notch condition. The motors have perfect compression, the interior is in amazing shape and the hull gleams like it was just popped from the mold.

In a world of six figure starter offshore boats, this is a chance to own an absolutely amazing rig for a steal. So, if you are interested please call me first then we can exchange emails. I will be glad to walk anyone interested in buying this boat through the details of this fully documented, one of a kind craft.

Asking $24,000 OBO

My name is Chris – my number is (609) 922-2149

[Offset]

Chris really nice boat owned at one time my a true hero of mine. I do not doubt for a moment the information you provided and I believe that Donohue had a couple of offshore boats prior to his early demise. So time ago I googled for information on his boats and one to my surprise one came up for sale I believe in Ohio.

The drives on this boat were painted yellow although the hull did not match the color, I expected it to be Sunoco blue. So I now wonder about the boat if it was the second one or perhaps not legit at all.

If I recall correctly Donohue nearly lost his thumb trying to hitch the boat to his truck in the Penske race shop, it hampered his driving for some time. He said he loved the boats, he could go really fast without the pressure of major league automobile racing.

Good luck selling this great looking boat with lots of history.

[silverghost]

Chris~
Has this boat been used for the last few years in Ocean City NJ ?
If so~
I know this boat very well.

Why does it's present deck & cockpit configuration differ now~~~ & in the older race photo ?

[Factory5]

Brad,
Our boat has been used in Ocean City since 1994. As for your inquiry about the deck; some of the very early 28s ran tonneau covers when they were set up for racing. We currently have two versions of the tonneau that go with the boat, one with a lower profile and the original style as seen in the picture from somewhere around 1973.
As for the hatch, once Signorie bought the boat, he made the teak hatch you see today… Other than that she is still very true to form and comes with everything you can imagine to document her pedigree.
That said, feel free to flag me down next time you are on the water…

[silverghost]

Ah~Ha !

CHRIS~
I thought that I knew your rare Cigarette boat .
It's very unique indeed~

We have based our boats each & every summer in Ocean City NJ since the mid- 1950s

In fact you have driven past our place on Sunny Harbor lagoon & Walnut St. many times.

You may remember seeing Dad & I in our bright fire engine red 24 foot American Skier Super-Eagle near the 16-20th street lagoon areas where we used to fish just off the intercoastal waterway?
We have always commented about this great super rare Cigarette hull style not knowing it's past race & ownership history .

Were you based , or in storage , at All Seasons Marina at 34th street ?

We did actually speak a few times while passing each other on the Great Egg Harbor bay.

I have a friend "Jim C" who may be calling you about your boat.

What a super-rare Cigarette cockpit style.

How many Cigarette 28s were built with this open-cockit style ?

Brad Hunter

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Are you the Chris who called me a few months ago about my Volvo speedmaster (e-drives) for this Cigarette? I am in Texas. Just curious. It sure is a tempting boat! Bill

[Just Say N20]

The history makes sense. I had a fraternity brother who lived in Florida (Coral Gables Estates). We stayed at his parent's home a couple of times during Spring Break (1977-ish). Jim knew I was a boat nut, and said he wanted to show me something.

His parent's house was just a couple down the street from the Aronow home. He told me Don and Mark Donahue were friends, and Don had "turned Mark onto boat racing." I believe he also said Don had fixed him up with a boat. Jim was the furthest thing from a boat guy, so I don't know if what he said was true. But they were neighbors, so I guess it makes sense he would know something about a famous neighbor, who lived just a couple houses down.

He also said that in exchange for this, Mark had given Don a specially prepared car. I do know this is true, because we walked up the driveway, and in the garage was a radical looking Camero (I think, ahh, college Spring Break) that had a plaque on the dash, which I personally read, that said something like, "This car was custom built for Don Aronow" signed Mark Donahue.

[BUIZILLA]

The history makes sense. I had a fraternity brother who lived in Florida (Coral Gables Estates). We stayed at his parent's home a couple of times during Spring Break (1977-ish). Jim knew I was a boat nut, and said he wanted to show me something.

His parent's house was just a couple down the street from the Aronow home. He told me Don and Mark Donahue were friends, and Don had "turned Mark onto boat racing." I believe he also said Don had fixed him up with a boat. Jim was the furthest thing from a boat guy, so I don't know if what he said was true. But they were neighbors, so I guess it makes sense he would know something about a famous neighbor, who lived just a couple houses down.

He also said that in exchange for this, Mark had given Don a specially prepared car. I do know this is true, because we walked up the driveway, and in the garage was a radical looking Camero (I think, ahh, college Spring Break) that had a plaque on the dash, which I personally read, that said something like, "This car was custom built for Don Aronow" signed Mark Donahue. that's very true, I used to live just outside the Estates entrance off Old Cutler, and remember the Aronow house very well, in fact a girl I dated in high school lived right across that canal to the east next to the Ryder's, I was in/out of the Estates virtually every day, and a good friend, Doug Bull, lived about 4-5 houses west of the Aronow's, and he had a 19 Cary, ... everybody knew everybody back then, the best skiing was in the basin in front of Aronow's house on the south side of the Estates..

[mdonzi]

sweet boat i love the old cigs:wink:

[Greg Guimond]

Talk about a rare piece of history along with some very cool insights from Forum members!

[Conquistador_del_mar]

In case any of you want to bid on the Cigarette - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.m748&item=260799294825&viewitem=&_trkparms=clkid%3D657089098287414823

[silverghost]

Keep in mind that this has been a saltwater boat for many years.
I don't know IF it has freswater cooling ?

In all my years of boating I never saw another open Cigarete exactly like this boat.

A rare & unusual find with great past ownership hstory.

[woz58]

[ QUOTE=$originalposter]{$pagetext}[/QUOTE]
I know its been a while, but does anybody know if the boat is still for sale or any other open 28's out there. Thanks.

[smidgen too]

Woz58 your not thinking of selling your Mag CC ???? :boggled: I wish I could have keeped the 29' Mirage I bought from you. :yes: Mark

[woz58]

No, love the mag but have a friend lookin for a 28 cig

[MDonziM]

What about the OSO thread with the Mecum auction one? Looked pretty nice. And onother post mentioned a different one for sale.

[XMETAL]

Thats a cool boat. FYI the very first 28 rigged with V8s is in Islip Long Island. It belongs to an older gentleman Don Softness who raced it in the Henessey Cup back in the day. The second that was rigged the same way was purchased by George Bush Sr.

[johnnywhale]

XMETAL are you in Islip? There are a few of us who live around here.
John

[Lively-one]

[ QUOTE=$originalposter]{$pagetext}[/QUOTE]

Interesting thread. I saw the 28 Cig owned by George Bush Sr. you speak of in the Bush Family Museum a couple of years ago here in Texas...great boat and very cool history.

[XMETAL]

Johnny no I dont live in New York. I met Don through a mutual friend. Sorry for the delay on getting back to you. Im not receiving emails when theres a reply to a post that I posted on.