Stude Light

And it just happens that this weekend is the Orphan Car Show in Ypsilanti, Michigan! https://ypsiautoheritage.org/events/orphan-car-show-riverside-park/

Spectator attendance was definitely up...the village was quite full, especially on Saturday. I agree that the really early cars were under represented though. Love that Packard Speedster that the Gilmore Museum brought out. Great sounding ride. Some cool bikes too...like this 1919 Cleveland Scott

And also admire plain ole' affordable cars of the day in their originality and in a setting similar to the day they were made. It is at the top of my list of events to attend since you get to see and hear most of the vehicles driving around vs a static car show, which to me is like going to an open roof museum. I am looking at this event a bit differently this year though. The Old Car Festival celebrates the changing of the transportation industry (1890s-1932) from horses, trains and streetcars to an entirely new innovation. Everything about it was new! Prior to the automobile, the only real form of transportation, with personal ownership, was the horse and most city dwellers didn't own one. Anything with an engine (steam) or motor was part of a mass transit system. So with the automobile came a totally new ownership model for the masses. With that came new laws, liability and insurance. What about the type of propulsion? There were those that liked the familiar and reliable steam engines, but many companies went electric at first. Then came along the internal combustion engine (ICE), aka the internal explosion engine from its detractors. A lot of people feared gas engines and hauling around a tank full of liquid explosives. As the ICE engines proved themselves, fears disappeared and it became the propulsion system of choice. Also, consider how you controlled these new vehicles - no more pulling on the reins, so how would you control these cars? There were no standards....tiller vs steering wheel...foot pedals vs clutch/shifter.....throttle pedal vs throttle lever vs valves (steam). Then 4 wheel brakes....another controversial issue in the engineering community of the 1920s - brakes up front were dangerous if they locked up or weren't balanced. A little later finally brought in some basic styling cues. This festival celebrates an era of total invention and has a lot of parallels to today. By the mid/late 1930s much had been standardized and moving forward was more about refinement - all the way to today. Sure, there was new technology and invention like automatic transmissions, a/c, new electronics, etc., but today we are on the edge of the next transportation revolution where the ownership model is again changing with companies like Maven, Uber and Lyft, where you no longer own your vehicles. The propulsion technology is also changing with more battery electrics, eventual fuel cells, etc. Semi-autonomous and Autonomous vehicles will totally change the industry requiring new laws, new insurance and liability models. I was just thinking about how the distracted driving laws may have to take into account the particular vehicle you drive. So the point is, this year, rather than just admiring all the beautiful old cars, I am trying to put myself in the mindset of the innovation and fears of the early 20th century and apply that to the changes happening in today's industry. There are so many parallels whether it's the ownership model, fears of new technology, liability, laws, types of controls, etc. Oh, and that's me with my hands on my hips looking over my co-worker and his brother firing up his 1923 Stanley in the original post - thanks for the picture. Scott

Points and condensers (and magneto) - still the system of choice for a brand new $50k aircraft engine

Olson's Gaskets https://www.olsonsgaskets.com/ And the Shell Rotella sounds like a great plan. Personally, I like straight weight oils so Valvoline VR-1 would be another option. Whatever you choose will be a huge improvement over what was available when it was new.

Looks like a great venue and a good time for those attending. A lot of really nice cars too! Thanks for sharing.

I think you may be referring to their Roadster models rather than Speedster. The Roadster was a 3 passenger car with a convertible top. It gave up the back seat and added a covered luggage area (basically a trunk). The touring cars also had a convertible top but included a back seat for 3 or 5 (added two folding jump seats) depending on the size of the car.

Big ugly?! That beautiful aluminum cover is also the single point front engine mount. It houses a huge timing chain at 1.5" width - same rocker pin chain you will find in a modern full-size truck transfer case (actually it's 1/4" wider). This is the 1920-early 1923 design with the aluminum head.

Are you referring to the OP's blue car? Look closer.....that is a Light Six engine. FYI - It does not have the original Stewart pump. Actually it's quite easy to tell a Light Six from the Special or Big Six without looking at VINs, under the hood or measuring wheel bases. Just look underneath at the drive shaft. If it has a rag joint on each end it is a Light Six. Engine serial number will be above the starter on a flat surface looking up and I'll bet it starts with EM From Light Six Brochure Note the radiator shell, it has a unique very rectangular design - different from other models 1924 Light Six Sedan Engine 1922-23 Special Six Sedan - note which way the front doors swing. It is harder to see but the radiator shroud is a bit more rounded than the Light Six. Although this photo is a touring car and not a sedan it is of a 1924 Special Six. Please note the difference in the front end which is common across the 1924 Special Six models. The shape of the radiator shroud, sharp crease along the hood lines, larger center caps, headlight differences and the engine is quite different. ,

Well....it definitely has a Light Six radiator, radiator shell, headlights (although not correct lenses) and headlight bar. The hub caps look to be Light Six, although a bit hard to tell. The body has all the clues but without additional info, no I cannot be sure. To know for sure, you can either post the VIN number (located on a plate behind the left front tire - driver's side) or measure the wheel base - center between hub caps. Looks like it would be hard to get other body photos. Engine photo would also be a huge clue. If the body is aluminum, then someone, post-production, rebuilt it in aluminum vs steel unless it was some special build. US built cars had a standard of build but the export cars, built out of Walkerville, ON and finished in other countries, often has a mixed mash of parts.

Both cars pictured are Studebaker 5 Passenger Sedan Light Six Models. The Roadster and Touring Cars are more sought after. The 1923 and 24 Touring cars are all-steel bodies but the sedans were mostly wood framed covered with steel. Parts are rather hard to find. I would agree with the value estimates provided....$3-5 K based on running condition and all parts available. OP car is a 1922 model with a 1924 engine and is missing the radiator splash shield, running board and rear fender. As far as underpowered, not really. They are 40 hp engines, fully balanced and run smooth and strong and, being a lighter car than the Big or Special Six, accelerate well. Interesting that the crankshaft was turned from a billet piece of steel with full counterweights and all the pistons and rods were balanced. Lifters are not flat tappet but are rollers. This engine was carried into the future Studebaker models after the Big and Special Sixes were dropped. Nice driving cars just no market, like most of the nickel era cars.

I will correct myself. Reverse Osmosis water is best. Distilled can contain volatile organics . Scott

Looks like a Model 1873 - nice weathered stock

You are running on disc wheels, correct? Being so narrow, you can probably have them single plane balanced. Mine are not balanced and I have no issues. If you are having an issue, I suggest having someone follow you while driving to make sure they are all running true first then check your front wheel alignment, kingpins, front wheel bearings and tie rod ends for looseness. Generally at 40 or 45 mph with these tall tires you won't feel a balance issue unless it's really bad. I still have a spare 24" disc wheel that I never managed to ship out and I'm tripping over it. If interested PM me and I can try to get that out. I do have a few spare lug nuts - maybe a few of each Scott

Very cool. Having the history is worth way more than just the car. Thanks for sharing. Scott