Old Photo - Race Track Speedster

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Old Photo - Race Track Speedster
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Monday, December 15, 2014 - 11:22 pm:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 - 04:23 am:

The near car (number 5?) does appear to be a model T. It made me wonder for a moment because part of that distinctive pan profile his hidden behind some grass (but it is there if you look closely). The car IS lowered considerably (in reference to a recent discussion on another thread). The rear end is tough to say what was done. I can't say for certain whether I think it even has a rear spring or not. The front spring is definitely there, and in front of the radiator from the look of it. It also appears the top of the front spring is at about the level of the top of the frame rails, perhaps even slightly higher.
The body is very interesting. The cowl is much deeper than anything common in the era, yet the body workmanship appears very professional, perhaps even factory made. The look and fit of the hood and radiator shell adds to that professional appearance.
I would guess the car and the photo both date from the mid to late '10s. It is tough to guess the actual year of the car. The wood wheels are non-demountable and I would guess round felly (although with my limited computer skills, I haven't zoomed in for a better look). I can't decide whether I think the front wheels are 30X3 or 30X3.5. I actually lean toward believing the front wheels/tires are 30X3.5 even though that may seem unusual. It may not have been really common to change the wheel size in this country, but it was done occasionally. Especially with speedsters and race cars. And, of course, it could be a Canadian car.
The gasoline tank could be from a 1911 or '12 T torpedo, or from any of dozens of other cars. It may also have been an after-market tank, even part of the body kit.
It looks like a speedometer cable hanging down. Unusual in that it is run off the left front wheel, however speedometer drives were made to do that. Also interesting how the cable/housing seems too long and is not well supported. But I see that in many photos of typical automobiles of the era.
I can see the bottom of the model T brake handle under the body, alongside the frame. Given the depth of the cowl, I wonder if the handle was modified inside in some way to make it easier to reach?

The other car is interesting also. Difficult to see with all those people standing in the way. Can't really tell much about it. The one thing that caught my eye. On the end of the gasoline tank. That appears to be the very stylized Buick logo that was used on the ends of the gasoline tanks of Buick sport roadsters for several years (about 1911 through about 1914). Is the other car a Buick? Or is only the gasoline tank from a Buick? We may never know. Frank Harris! We need a picture of your Buick!
Thank you Jay!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 - 09:53 am:

The shape of that body is similar to the one Donnie Brown is working on.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 - 10:10 am:

The cowl shape is similar to mine but mine is longer in the "door" area of the body. For some reason the "track" speedster bodies were very short. Then in the 20s era they started getting longer. I am starting to believe, from all the ads I have been looking at, that the main reason for most of the bodies in the ads including the body, hood and radiator shell was to "update" the earlier brass radiator cars to the "newer" style. Nice picture Jay ....


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