trimacar

It's a 1907-08 Stoddard Dayton, the points on the radiator shell and the tie rod in front of axle help identify it...

Matt, glad it found a good home. As a coincidence, I was going through some stuff today, and found a postcard of what appears to be this very car, from the Winthrop Rockefeller Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas.

There’s excellent support for early Buicks, one source being the Brass Buicks forum which is quite active (not on this forum).

Well, won’t comment on any but my favorite, Pierce-Arrow. Narrator states Pierce-Arrow, in addition to cars and trucks, made motorcycles (they didn’t, a nephew of George Pierce, Percy Pierce, had a separate company which ventured into the motorcycle business) and boats (they didn’t, there was a Pierce-Arrow boat, but much later and totally different company). George N. Pierce started in the mid 1880s making bird cages, went from that to ice boxes, around 1890 tricycles then bicycles. 1901 began making motor cars. Lots of trucks for WWI. Travel trailers at the very end (Travelodges).

I went to this meet in the 1980s, when Pate Museum was active. Even had a Pierce Arrow Annual meet at the museum. Was a great meet, with fair prices and rare parts available. My wife tells me I live in the past. Yes, I do, when memories are so vivid. As mentioned, it’s obviously changed from our ”good old days”, now benefits one segment of our hobby, while another segment, aggravated, wishes for the old days and moves on, either embracing or ignoring changes.

Thanks for the information, I’m going to print it out and keep with my Hupp material. The “gotcha”, to me, on the Hupp timing, is that due to magneto gear cover one can’t see the last engagement of the gears, or at least it’s very difficult. So, being off a tooth either way is quite easy to do. Hupp was probably the lowest priced car at the time to have a high tension magneto. When the Model 20 Hupp cost $750, a Bosch DU-4 magneto cost $75!

Just decorative chrome or stainless panels, styling as they say!

Thanks for report. I don’t think interest in pre-war cars is “slipping”, I just think it’s evolving. Most any part or car is available online, so no need to travel and spend gas, food, lodging. Yes, one misses personal contacts and seeing friends, but with the cost of living these days one has to choose wisely, and travel plans suffer. Also, the cost to work on a project car has hurt both project car values, and subsequent parts values, for projects not moving forward. The market for good cars remains strong, and anyone waiting to buy their first antique car “when the market crashes” is wasting a lot of fun times and new friend acquisitions.

Marty, I think he's directing his comment at me, and my mention of not wanting to tour in an older car following a 1998 minivan which is registered on the tour. It's just personal preference. If I'm going to drive my old car for a week on an antique car tour, I'd like to see some much older cars in front of and behind me. My preference won't "kill the AACA". The AACA is doing well, and it's great that including all those newer cars help keeps the club and hobby strong. My personal opinion is that the true "antique car" definition should be 50 years, and any antique car club should increase that limit by 1 year every two or three years. But, that's just the old fuddy duddy coming out in me, since my first antique car was a 1931 Chevrolet in the early 1960s, when it just did make the cut as an "antque". In addition, I'm sure anyone driving a 1980s or 1990s car will be offended by my opinion, but it's just one person's opinion and means little. Own and drive what you enjoy, and life moves on.

Great find,in the hands of great caretaker! Congrats…

Who’s credit card? Who’s attitude? If it’s directed at me, yes, I want to tour with old cars, not minivans. That won’t kill the AACA, just affect participation.

The front view with the IF team is Carl Fisher with his personal Special Roadster. Fisher was a dealer for S-D, Overland, and other makes, and probably had numerous license plates with the same number on them (a typical dealer practice back then). The picture with the three cars lined up show him in the far car, a Stoddard Dayton, the two cars in front of that are Overlands. Note the tie rod in front of the axle on the Stoddard.

Tractors are usually exempt from title and registration requirements, even with limited road use. ”Farm use” trucks must be titled. Regulations may vary state to state, of course.

Exactly, but when running well and everything in order, nothing like it. The speed and power of the Italians, the great ride and driver's control of the French. One can make fun of the French designed cars, but it's one of the few cars (Citroen) of the time in which one can ride in all day long and not feel worn out. Comfortable as can be, if one has the chance to drive one, take it. You will be impressed.

I've owned a dozen early Birds, they are fun cars, though not to be confused with a "sports car". I like the 55 too, but the 56 does have cowl vents, and anyone will tell you that transmission tunnel gets hot. The rear mounted spare does help with trunk room in the 56, otherwise one is traveling light. Don't care that much for the 57, though that seems to be the most popular. Very much a commodity car, decide what colors and options you want, and 25-30K will get you a nice one. Higher prices are either over restored or auction fever. I had a 55 just like the one shown, plain Jane with a standard trans, loved it and drove it a lot of miles. Doors never fit. Problem with just a hardtop, if one on a tour and wants the top down, have friends help you carry it into motel room and check weather for rain. Make sure no rust, and if no rust, this is not a bad buy. Hope it finds a good home.

Glad to help any way I can. I’ll send you my contact info. I’m in Winchester Va. so not too far away!

Glad it finally found a good home! You mention “top not installed”, I’m curious, did someone sew a top using the old one as a pattern, or do you just have material for the top? I’ve quit doing interiors, but I’d do a top or two, early cars only. Let me know if you need advice or help!

It's not the hydraulics that would bother me, it's that Maserati engine. I used to own an SM, incredible vehicle with power and comfort to spare, 100 mph felt like 50. BUT, that engine is a beast to repair, lots of chain drive and expensive to say the least.

I plan to be there, not planning to set up a space, like Mr. Hammer only an hour away (in the opposite direction!) so an easy visit.

Methinks you might be confused with your post, Nader attacked the Corvair, not the Folks-Vahgen. It was an interesting time, when nobodies could state a truth, which wasn't a truth, yet everyone believed the nobody, so somebody, or everybody, believed and reacted... Not a far cry from false beliefs and media manipulation nowadays...

If the spring assembly has a solid board or an edgewire around the back, then a piece of looped leather or fabric is used to secure spring assembly in place at the top. Unusual, because there’s usually a more secure fastening for backrest spring assembly.

Descriptions of upholstery issues are hard to follow, post a few pictures of the issue and that would help.

Yes, me too. I have had a great collection of Pierce-Arrow memorabilia, slowly selling as you state. New caretakers, yep. I find that once an aquired thing is gone, there’s more relief than grief, as otherwise a family member knowing little would be glad to get anything inhand, while I know it’s going to someone who appreciates. No, I’m not dying, but mortality speaks to me.

That's a plan. The corollary to this is that I keep all my good tools on the floor, because that's where they'll end up anyway.

Sort of the same rule when I played high school football in the late 1960s. A tough coach. If it’s bleeding, stay in the game. If a bone is showing, you can leave the game if you feel you must. My rule is “don’t bleed on the upholstery”, with a secondary rule of “always push the razor blade with the sharp side down”….