Fargoguy

This was the earliest form of dealer emblem I have seen- was on a model T dash up here in Saskatchewan

My 6’6 inch frame would be a definitely tight fit for the Russell- but I think it’s probably do-able. My girls did indeed like the car- they likes all 3 actually ( 1912 Reo was the third) and enjoyed seeing them. I own a model T roadster pickup - with a Ruckstell- and it is just as small or smaller. I have driven a 1911 T touring and found it much roomier than my 27 pickup for sure. Thankfully both of my girls are not built like me and would have no problem fitting in the driver’s seat - and they already are adept at double clutching.

While growing up I wa surrounded by cars. Dad was a car guy, as were most of our family friends. When I was 5 or so, over at my grandparents house in Moose Jaw, SK, I discovered that just accross the alley from their house was the home of Harold Loney and his lovely wife. In his garage, in addition to a Morris Minor convertible and a Morris minor traveller, accross the front of the garage was the most magnificent touring car. I was enamoured with it immediately. I’d been around model ts and model as, but this car was bigger and it was different. Harold welcomed 5 year old me in, and for years I would visit his garage when at my grandparent, and he would let men play in that car , as well as give me little jobs helping him on the garage. This went on for many years. The car was a very rare 1915 Russell Touring. Canadian-only made by the Ccm bicycle company. He had found it and restored it himself over the course of many years. He rarely drove it, but it was always covered up in the front of the garage where he was always tinkering on it. Harold’s health declined, and his daughter took both Harold and his wife to be near her in Ontario. None of us were aware of what happened to any of the cars. Years later I saw the Morris convertible in a nearby town, but the rumour was that the Russell had gone to a museum in Ontario. Fast forward 30 years, and I was dropping off a Model T part with a fellow in Calgary, touring his collection and there was Harold’s Russell! I was so happy to see it again. that was a few years ago, and I was in contact with its current owner, Peter Findlay in Vancouver. He has recently acquired the car- the only 1915 known to exist, and has spent the last couple of years sorting it out and getting it into touring condition again. on Saturday I was pleased to get a tour of Peter’s collection and get a ride in the 15. Peter told me that the car is very easy to drive and reliable- he uses it as a daily driver to run errands. It’s a six cyl continental engine and is smooth and powerful. We took it for a ride around Burnaby ( a suburb of Vancouver, BC). I was so happy it has a good home and is seeing regular use. Peter is a fine gentleman who keeps old vehicles running in excellent condition. The Russell is in good company, sharing the garage with a 1910 Russell as well- that one has the 4 cyl Knight engine. I was lucky enough to get a ride in that one too- the sleeve-valve engine was so quiet.

Can you imagine how those lugs and steel front wheels would tear up the lawn at Pebble? I'd Love to see that...

Walt, An article online says it was Mid-State Body company, Waterloo, NY- contracted to build three of those for the Army corps of Engineers.

I believe he said Good Luck because: 1. He believes that the vehicle is being hauled in a substandard way that he doesn't agree with 2. He believes that he would have been a better choice no matter what price 3. He uses what he sees as the failures or shortcomings of others to reinforce his own superior value and quality. ( This can be backed up by his use of pictures of a 20's car hauled through an Ice storm on an open trailer in his ads to show the "wrong" way to do things as opposed to the way he does them).

I agree! That thing is an amazing piece!

My Dark Horse pick-

I was thinking about this last night- I have been very fortunate thus far to have a varied collection of cars to play with. As I get older, I'm thinning them down, upgrading, refining, but I kind of made a list in my head of cars i'd really like to own in my lifetime. Of course there are cars that will most likely ( unless i win the lottery) be out of reach like a Tucker or a Duesenburg, but I was trying to list 2 or 3 that i'd really like to own. What are on your list? A 30's touring or closed car that is sorted and ready for the road- preferrably something big- Studebaker president, Buick, Packard etc- that I can hop in and drive anywhere 60's Dodge Custom Sport special big block half ton Early 50's Step Down Hudson

That looks like a nice coupe and parts car!! Very cool find!

That is an extremely reliable, extremely well-travelled 1947 Canadian Dodge

I’ve had several free or nearly free parts cars over the years, but my under 100 vehicle was different . Our small town fire department had an old Mack pumper that I hadn’t seen for a few years, so I asked one of the town councillors about it and what its status was. He called me the next day and told me to bring him a loonie( Canadian 1 dollar coin) . I did and he signed me a bill of sale. I took a battery and one of the techs from the garage I worked at over to check it out. It wa in an old storage barn just west of town. I installed the battery and we did a cursory check of fluids, hit the starter and it was running! Next we checked if it would move, it did, and it had brakes, so he drove it out and headed back for our shop. We checked it over better, bled the brakes and changed fluids. A couple of months later I drove it the 300 miles to where it is now stored and used regularly. 1961 Mack C125 pumper. This was 10 years ago