Exceptional speedster-Photo

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Exceptional speedster-Photo
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Iffrig on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 11:37 pm:



From a period postcard.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 12:00 am:

Notice the Ford scarab behind the seat.

I believe "M" indicates a manufacturers license plate. I don't think Indiana used prefix letters on their regular passenger plates.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 12:07 am:

Note: Shocks mounting arrangement front axle.

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 04:06 am:

Yeah, that is a good one! Wire wheels even. Very unusual on Ts during the brass era.
Thanks again Herb!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Iffrig on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 07:42 am:

It has, what appears to be 1911 torpedo style fenders. The body is not a torpedo body though.
The steering column looks to be lower than a regular one. It could be a torpedo column.
What about the headlights? They look unusual.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Tomaso - Milton,WA on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 10:00 am:

Hartford friction shocks on the front, Bob.

I really like the top assembly - wished I'd have installed one on my Racer when I built it 20 years ago !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 02:01 pm:

Not to "nitpick", but your comment raises an interesting question in my feeble mind Steve:

You refer to that beautiful car of yours as a "racer". The really neat looking car in the picture that Herb posted above, Herb refers to it as a "speedster".

Your racer Steve, is legal on the highway with headlights and all, right? If you had put a top on the car when you built it Steve, would it then still be referred to the as a "racer"? I guess what I'm saying is,....what's the difference between a speedster and a racer? To me, a racer would be a car designed and built for competition on a race track or road course, whereas I would think that a speedster is designed, built and equipped to be legal on the highway. Your car with a top on it seems like it would be getting pretty close to what we'd call a speedster I'd think. Not that any of this matters, just curious,......harold

P.S. In fact, my son Craig would say,...."dad,....you need more to do!"


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 02:03 pm:

Hmmmm,.....looking at the picture again,.....maybe licensing makes the difference too, huh?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Tomaso - Milton,WA on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 02:12 pm:

No fenders on a "Racer", Harold.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 03:22 pm:

Well,...that's pretty simple! Would of thought I could have figured that one out, huh? And then again, I think I've seen cars that were called speedsters, with and without! Hmmm....some guys must have racers and don't know it! Well, that's like me,.....not sure if I have a depot hack or a "shooting brake"! Yeah, maybe Son Craig is right!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 10:46 pm:

Speedster? Racer? A rose by any other name would be just as much fun to drive. The simple fact is, that their is no real rule about that. The silly thing is, that a lot of people get really worked up about it. I never did. I thought this debate was silly the first time I heard it more than forty years ago.
Maybe more later.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathan Bright on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 11:34 pm:

is that a clear plastic windshield he can roll down made into the top?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Barker - Dayton, OH on Friday, September 26, 2014 - 01:51 pm:

I dunno. "Racer" or Speedster"?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John H. Nichols on Friday, September 26, 2014 - 03:04 pm:

Dave Barker: A Racer and a beautiful one too boot.

John
RTFM


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Friday, September 26, 2014 - 05:38 pm:

Dave B,
Either one. Not all speedsters had fenders. Not all race cars were run without them. The same goes for windshields. Call it what you like best. I tend to call mine "roadster" because it is a generic and common term. It tends to not raise red flags with law enforcement and insurance companies.

And RATS!! I just noticed I used the wrong "there" above. I haven't figured out how to edit yet at all, besides, from what I read on another thread, it is probably too late anyway.
I hate it when I do that.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Tomaso - Milton,WA on Friday, September 26, 2014 - 07:25 pm:

Never seen fenders on any Indy racer !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Barker - Dayton, OH on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 01:06 am:

John - Thanks. It's been a labor of love. The car's been in my family since 1927. Just got her back on the road after 35 years storage disassembled.

Wayne - Thanks as well for the comments. I've felt the same way. Though she was designed and built to resemble home built racers of the period, she was never in any "sanctioned" races as far as I know. For all legal purposes I've called her a speedster, but when describing her to anyone else I call her a home built racer. As you said, either one will work!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Iffrig on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:13 pm:

Another view:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Brand on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:30 pm:

Is that a winged pyramid on the ends of the gas tank?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Iffrig on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:35 pm:

I think someone else said so up above in this thread.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Barker - Dayton, OH on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:38 pm:

Andrew - is this what you're referring to?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Brand on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:54 pm:

Herb and Dave, you're both right. Erik mentioned the scarab above.


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