58L-Y8

A better look at the unknown chain drive.

A closer look at that elegant Duesenberg J Hibbard & Darrin town car:

If someone with a mid-'20's Essex or Hudson sedan would check, we could know when crank windows became available in a closed car priced parity with an open touring car which lead to the dominance of the sedan by the end of the decade.

What a rarity! Looks to be their 130 inch wheelbase largest 1923-'24 Model SK6 with the 268.8 cid engine, or the 1925-'26 Model 6-S with a 288.5 cid engine. Priced in the range of $2,400 up to $3,700 over their span, they were direct competitors for the Packard Six and Eight. Stearns-Knight production: 1923: 1,543; 1924: 1,945; 1925: 1,575; 1926: 987 according to the Kimes and Clark edited Standard Catalogue, that would include both fours and sixes, not solely this model.

Fiebling's Hide Food works best, doesn't discolor while it softens and regenerates. Fiebling makes a variety of leather care products.

Thanks for the follow-up, that's one rare car. Being a six, it would have been same as the Continental Flyer, which it looks most like. The Continental Ace was the largest of the three, the radiator grille somewhat different and easy to identify. What the model names Frontenac used aren't listed in my source, though may be the same as the American versions. If you've ever seen one of the 1933-'34 Continentals models in the metal, that's likely all your ever going to see in a lifetime, they're that rare.

Ellis Garage, a Graham dealership, Mt. Kisco, N.Y. postcard. Plumbing and Heating shop too.

It was just a sophisticated design ethic in the 'air' in Europe at the time. One designer inspiring another, producing wonderfully elegant custom coach-built cars.

And not just any luxury Packard: a 1932 Deluxe Eight 903 touring coupe by Fernandez et Darrin. It displays every styling device Dutch employed to make his designs exceptional.

Wonder if Baron Montpellier was trying to disguise his Chrysler Eight to look like something more exotic?

Keiser31 is correct, it most closely resembles a 1933 Continental Beacon, though being RHD and exported to England, it may have been built in Canada by Dominion Motors Ltd. That company in Leaside, Ontario had manufactured cars for Durant and Star, transitioned into making and selling Frontenac nameplate cars as the Durant empire collapsed in the U.S. The Frontenac cars were still largely based on Durant models, then turned to DeVaux as a bases for their car in 1932 and finally Continental who had to taken over DeVaux as it was that fledgling company's largest creditor. The car in the photo would have had the Frontenac name, and a four cylinder Continental engine. The common thread through all the Durant-Star, DeVaux and obviously Continental and Frontenac is they all sourced their engines from Continental Motors Corporation, the propriety engine builder for hundred of makes and applications.

1961 Chevrolet

The 'puffy' belt-line and lack of belt molding is typical of all '29 Buicks and the subject of the minor controversy because it was atypical when closed car bodies were simply one continual surface from sills to top. These were nicknamed 'pregnant Buicks' at a time the word was considered indecent to speak in polite society. But, one supposes saying "a Buick in the family way" just didn't have the same affect!

It does but gridlock was a new phenomena being experienced by cities as the number of cars on the road grew. The uncontrolled intersection invited this result. Please add this photo to the Period Images to relieve some of the Stress topic in the General Discussions. There is one extremely rare car in the mess. Thanks!

This is as good as the image will improve.

Yes, not cheap at $1,595 for a '26 Moon Series A Cabriolet Roadster if that is the model of the Moon in the photo. It was a competitor to the Chrysler G-70 roadster at $1,625. One can imagine the Chrysler salesman saying, "Yes, the Moon is a good car, but it has a Continental engine, like all those 'assembled' cars. Our Chrysler engines are built by our company, are a better, long-term value."

Its value to you depends upon what you want the car to be. If you are pursuing an original and this car has been modified with newer drivetrain and chassis components, interior, paint, etc, then all you be buying is a body and a frame. You'll have to take it from there to return it to original configuration or some semblance thereof. Analyze what it is when you inspect it, compare it to what you want it to be and then decide on what its value is to you.

Taking one's last ride first-class! The extra long wheelbase town car now makes sense. Any more photos of that particular car available?

Thanks Ed! A city mortuary fleet makes sense, the second car in line struck me as possibly a hearse. The lwb town cars appears to have been built on a commercial chassis, which would accommodate a family for a funeral procession.

"I want my neighbors to think I've 'arrived', but I can't afford a Rolls-Royce or even a Roamer. Guess I'll have to settle for a Moon!"

The two Pierce-Arrows, either Series 32 or 33, must have been a custom coach-built pair for the same client. Notice the unusually long wheelbase and extremely wide rear door on the town car. Both have the tall top-hat roofs and severe, upright appearances. Surprising are the wire wheels on such formal cars. Only the matching front bumpers which were likely aftermarket options look modern at all. Pierce-Arrow Man Ed, your comment and perspective on these two?

Here's a better look at that sportsman and his rakish speedster: What make is it?

This is as good as I can get the image to improve.

Sounds as if E. Paul DuPont hadn't let vast wealth go to his head. Spending considerable amounts on a vanity project just to have his name on a car was just what he must have done for fun without concern for unit profit. Only the type of thing that could happen then.

I wonder how much money DuPont lost on every car they built? Quite a vanity project.