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1917 Kesley factory prototype friction drive car! See photos and history


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This vehicle is a very rare and significant piece of brass era automotive history. 1917 Kelsey factory prototype hand built auto out of parts from various cars by C.W. Kelsey himself. Kelsey was a well known automotive pioneer and built the 1910-12 Kelsey three wheel car,and later the Kelsey friction drive cars of 1920-24. This prototype vehicle became the basis for those 1920-24 cars,none of which are known to exist,out of the several hundred built over the 4 year period.He was a fan of the friction drive systems found on Lambert,Cartercar and Metz cars,and took the principle and improved upon it,by putting the friction drive assembly in the back of the car,which direct drove the rear wheels,thus eliminating the need for drive chains.Even later he became a minor celebrity as the founder of Rototiller Company Corporation,which later became Troybuilt or Troybilt of Troy N.Y. This car was stored on the top floor of the Rototiller Co. and later Troybilt building in Troy N.Y. for decades,and sold by Kelsey to automotive historian Keith Marvin in the 1950s or 1960s. Keith in turn sold it to one of his best friends and I bought it from the widow of that friend. In same condition Kelsey stored it in,in the 1930s. Kelsey removed the body in the late 20s or 30s and discarded it. As you can see from the enclosed 1955 "The Automobilist" article,written by Keith Marvin,all of this is well documented.It has an extremely rare Massnick and Phipps of Detroit 22 HP 4 cylinder engine. Engine Model B,serial number 152 stamped in the brass ID tag on the engine.The radiator says Bush Mfg. Co. Hartford,Conn. on the back of it. Radiator is unknown make,but it is not Metz,Overland or Studebaker. It is fairly obvious Kelsey built this vehicle from used parts off of cars from the 1913-16 era. The 30 x 3 wheels and front axle appear to be 1914-15 Ford Model T. No ID on anything else on the car,including the chassis used. Car is approx. 100 inch wheelbase.Thus an original or repro Model T speedster,runabout,racer,truck,depot hack,etc. body,would bolt right on the car. I thought of putting a piece of plexiglass over the rear friction drive assembly for display purposes! Complete other than body. Should easily run. Turns over great and has good compression. Superb display piece showing the history of Rototiller,and later Troybuilt. Never been outside since the 1930s! Comes with a clear Florida title. I can help arrange shipping. Price is $19,000 plus shipping,which is a steal for something this rare and historically significant,and in mint original condition.LOTS of photos by email,just ask! Stored in Ocala,Fla.Please feel free to ask questions. Seldom do opportunities like this come up any more! George Albright,Ocala,Fla. cell 352 843 1624 Email; gnalbright@gmail.com

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