MTFCA Forum

1915 T roadster with Gallivan engine. This was restored in 1955 and is a running drive very fast T.

frontyboy

I never heard of a Gallivan. If it doesn't include a Model T block, it would not be eligible in the club. Is the body on a Model T chassis? If not, it would be considered a hot rod. I don't mean to be putting down the car, but just stating some facts.
Norm

Norm, it IS a model T block. Here’s another one.

Interesting! I had never before heard of that kind of equipment.
Norm

Norm,

According to what known history of Gallivan is, there were some 7 complete engines made and only 3 that are actually running now, of which mine is in included in the running. Gallivan was an interesting guy in WW1 he was the Army's expert Hisspano aircraft engine expert. After the war he worked for the Federal Government, there he designed the Gallivan engine and built some 7 engines before he got caught doing this on Govt time with govt materials. He was arrested, tried and convicted and served several years in Jolliet prison. His original patterns and some parts wound up with Rajo and they built a few but not with the success of the Gallivan engine. Gallivan powered race cars held many track records in the mid west in the 20's and 30's.

My car was restored from an original 1915 model t roadster with the Gallivan engine was shoehorned in. Due to the aluminum gear case on the front of the engine the frame was extended a few inches, the wood cowl was set back about 2 inches to get enough clearance. The model t transmission is original .

This car and engine was restored in 1955. The original restorer had driven the Gallivan over 20,000 miles as he had no trailer and drove it to tours. I personally know of 2 round trips to California and one to Reno for tours. In 1970 this car was timed by the Washington State Patrol with radar at 113 miles per hour. They wrote him an honorary ticket to commemorate the event.

Over the years this combination won numerous awards from both the HCCA and the Model T Club of America and is accepted as a REAL model t.. Just to clear the air, it is all period Model T parts and accessories and DOES qualify for all period events, it is NOT a hot rod, or race car and is street legal and holds a Washington State registration as a 1915 Ford model t.
This is the second time I have owned this car and NO its not for sale, deal with my heirs after I'm racing cars somewhere over the rainbow!!!!
Was not trying to create a fire storm here just wanted to show what I'm planning on touring with this summer
just sayin'
frontyboy

Frontyboy, that's a great looking engine. Can you post photos of the whole car?

There's a bit of info on the Gallivan on this page:

https://www.museumofamericanspeed.org/gallivandohc.html

The man that drove any model T at 112 , my hat is off to him!
WOW.
What type brakes are on the car?
And I am thinking this is a dual over head valve conversion?

Was that 1915 once owned by Bert Laberet? I think I spelled his name right... maybe it was Burt?

Gasp! More sideways Winfields. What size are they, and I’m curious to hear your opinion regarding drivability…

Norman, here are a few pictures to verify it IS a model T
Kevin, it runs great with those carbs. no stumble when you throw the ears down,smooth idle, all in all runs really good. if you leave the hood on it, you would never know it has that engine in there other than the 4 inch exhaust pipe and a very distinctive rumble at idle.

Here's a thought, once we finish the freshening process with new tires, some wiring, and general Maintenace, If someone with big "kahunas" want to apply, looking for a driver to break the 113 mph record. How about we make it a fund raiser for the MTFCA. We could auction the ride or sell raffle tickets .

Just a thought,

frontyboy.
p/s the gentleman that found and created this car was Burt lobergett back in 1955 a dutchman. He aptly named the car "The Flying Dutchman"

A little more on Bert. He was a real do it yourselfer. He built a very nice log home on his land with trees he cut down himself.
He had a very nice collection of cars, which he restored himself. A few that I recall included a 1907 Great Arrow, a 1912 Abbott Detroit, a 1916 Pierce Limo once owned by Rudyard Kipling and a 1924 Abadal Buick. He had another 8 or so cars. He restored them himself. He did his own bodywork, paint and upholstery.
I met him in the early 1960s when I had my first Model T. He was a very pleasant gentleman.

I am pleased to see that this is still around. When I was getting into this hobby back around 1970, I heard stories about the car, and its owner at that time. I don't believe I was ever anywhere near the car, or its owner, but might have been.
I never knew the whole story about it, but did know it had historic era roots.

I would really like to see a properly restored or recreated 1920s era racing car with an engine like that!

Not that I could ever do any such thing. Are all the original engines accounted for?
I really need to find some time to go down and waste a few hours of Erik Barrett's time.

Wayne, when it is ready I will give you a ride that will leave you looking blanched. The Rattler race car is currently down for repairs and upgrades. We are boosting the compression ratio up to about 12:1 and replacing he transmission with one having a better gear spread for the engine. I am hoping to only shift twice in eight seconds rather than three times. We plan to have it at the Auburn hill climb in May and Virginia City in June. This cylinder head is a Rajo unit made by Jagersberger after he got the project when Gallivan went to jail. It was a bare casting purchased from him personally by Chris Egsgaard and everything else was built from scratch by Ellis Gray and friends. It’s as fast as it looks. Everybody thinks it’s an Offenhauser.

I just shorted out my keyboard with drool

I bought my DO Gallivan From Joe Gemsa back in the late 60's and sold it to a man in NJ that wanted it more than me. I still have the T block
with the B crank in it and a billet flywheel along with several B cranks, it is still setting in the same place for 40 years with the T block drilled T crank
I had done by Joe. I was building it to run on the hill climb. along with Chris's Rajo and La Rues Fronte. Gemsa was a big fan of B cranks over C cranks.