From a period postcard.
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.
Note: Shocks mounting arrangement front axle.
Bob
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
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.
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 !
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!"
Hmmmm,.....looking at the picture again,.....maybe licensing makes the difference too, huh?
No fenders on a "Racer", Harold.
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!
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
is that a clear plastic windshield he can roll down made into the top?
I dunno. "Racer" or Speedster"?
Dave Barker: A Racer and a beautiful one too boot.
John
RTFM
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
Never seen fenders on any Indy racer !
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!
Another view:
Is that a winged pyramid on the ends of the gas tank?
I think someone else said so up above in this thread.
Andrew - is this what you're referring to?
Herb and Dave, you're both right. Erik mentioned the scarab above.