TG57Roadmaster

The Minerva sport phaeton by Murphy appeared in the April 1930 issue of SOCIAL magazine, published in La Habana. The Castagna Mercedes-Benz was owned by Al Jolson. “This latest model, from one of the most important European factories - Belgium - is one of the highest exponents of modern automobile engineering. Its smooth suspension makes it one of the most comfortable in the world. The almost absolute absence of engine noise has been the standard with which it has achieved worldwide popularity. The bodywork of this model is manufactured by Murphy, of California. (Courtesy of “Minerva Autos Inc.”, N.Y.)” The caption for the Mercedes-Benz… “This formidable German factory introduces us to its famous model "SS", of 250 HP with which they can obtain effortlessly 107 MPH. Bodied by the most notable of Italian designers : Castagna. This extraordinary model is a cabriolet convertible, sport, for 4 passengers. Its speed records on European tracks are currently the most remarkable. (Courtesy of "Mercedes-Benz Cg." Inc., N.Y.)”

Many of us had a lot of fun in "Randy's Roost", his "den" in the garage of his Dearborn home. There were hours and hours of vivid automotive talks on a wide variety of subjects, with never a dull moment. I'm so glad I took this picture of him in 2009, surrounded by friends, his cars, outboard motors, boats, etc. The master of his domain in Randy's Roost. Randy had the coolest toy box in that den/ garage - a Man Cave decades before the term was coined. Toward the end of his active years, among some other cars he had this original 1940 Buick Limited Model 81 Touring Sedan - I was fortunate to ride in it on a 2010 visit to Ken Havekost's Nash Collection in Monroe, MI. Eager to share his knowledge (and even learn something new), so many of us benefited from his friendship. RIP my friend, you will be missed! TG

With more than 260 vehicles registered, this was about half of our cool, blustery show field on Saturday. Folks were prepared for the weather and made the best of it. The AACA Youth Program was held in the tent on the right. Making an impressive entrance, this mammoth 1914 Simplex Model 50 12 Cadillac Torpedo Touring with dual enclosed chain drives was next to a 4-passenger 1911 Cadillac Torpedo Touring. 1930 Franklin Model 145 Convertible Coupe. A fun brace of postwar micros - 1949 Fiat 500B Topolino and a 1957 Izetta This 1937 Buick Roadmaster Coupé (aka Cabriolet de Ville) by Franay of Paris is an HPOF car, and won its Repeat AACA Original. TG

Say what you will (and you will), but Saturday's AACA SE Spring National continues to amaze me. Working Judges Admin, I only had a chance to make it inside the Speedway once, to buy a set of Firestones from Coker for a '27 Peerless 6-90. This is only the second duPont I've seen in person, the other being J.B. Nethercutt's '30 Town Car in Sylmar, CA. It's a 1929 duPont Model G Club Sedan with body by Merrimac - it won its Senior on Saturday, and I had a lengthy chat with its owner, a fount of knowledge on the marque. I look forward to seeing the Model G at the May 19-21 Grand National in Virginia Beach, hoping it will be campaigned there. TG

I’ll hold the door for both of us, Walt. TG

A definitive article would be helpful but, as you say, builders were guilty of enhanced nomenclature, too. What most now call a dual cowl phaeton was a Sport Phaeton in period parlance, and the over-used Town Car (the Kleenex of auto misnomers) was most often called a Cabriolet or Town Cabriolet back in the day. When goombahs jump in and insist, "No, a cabriolet is a convertible!", that is the time I head for the exits. TG

1924 Rickenbacker Six Coupe for four passengers. It features a folding front passenger seat and the short 2-passenger rear seat with platform behind the driver. I wouldn't presume to call it a Victoria, but it is typical of 4-5 passenger coupes of the day. TG

1932 Hupmobile I-226 Victoria, 8 cylinders, 126-inch wheelbase. A survivor was shown at Cincinnati's 2001 Concours d'Elegance at Ault Park. http://cincyconcours.com/2001/h01e9.htm TG

Hi Jeff, Wow, thanks for forwarding the Duke University image. It's the same V-16 Cadillac, to be sure, ordered in Feb, 1936 according the data card from the GM Media Archive. The larger badge above the UK license plate looks very teutonic, with the style of eagles used in the 1936 Berlin Olympiade. Perhaps it was a rally or club badge. I'll post this over on the fans of Whitemarsh Hall Facebook page, where they know much more about Doris Duke and James Cromwell. The Cadillac was a belated wedding gift for Cromwell, built after their January 1936 return from their year-long honeymoon, paid for by Doris Duke. They may or may not be able to identify the woman in the front seat, who may be part of their retinue that accompanied them while traveling. There are two photos in this link to the Doris Duke Photograph Collection, Duke University Library - they were not in the collection's online images when I wrote my story back in 2017. The money shot is the couple sitting in back with the landaulet top down, the car loaded with luggage. Crikey! https://repository.duke.edu/dc/dorisdukephotos/ddpph011100 Seeing these two, there must be more from their European tour, so now a trip to Duke University (4 hours away) is a must. Enjoy, and thanks! TG

Well, it took 4 hours, 5 guys and a set of Go Jacks to extricate the Peerless from its Rip Van Winkle slumber. The seller posted the original bill of sale but I didn’t know about the treasure trove of other docs till we were on the road home and looked them over. I’m not a big fan of storyboards at car shows, but for this one I might make an exception. Particularly because I have the Sept. 17, 1925 issue of the Peerless Co-Operator that announces the Herschede Motor Car Co. as Cincy’s distributor, with a picture of the sales manager, Edgar Menderson who signed the 1927 bill of sale. The company was on the city’s old Automobile Row - long gone - the kind of stuff that warms this old car historian’s heart. TG

Never say never. A friend bought the '27 Peerless 6-90, and Dave Bowman and I went to Cincinnati this past weekend to pick it up. As it was a private sale, the price is nobody's business, but it was below what the seller was asking, and all were pleased with the deal. Located near the garage where the car sat for 45 years, the incredible Mount St. Mary's Seminary - I asked permission to take a couple of quick pics. We think the 120-inch wheelbase suits the car quite well, and love its unique greenhouse and steel disc wheels with Firestone type A demountable rims. The extra length to accommodate the Collins 70hp, 288.6cid, 7 main bearing, Peerless-built Six is all ahead of the firewall. A comparable Franklin boattail coupe has similar proportions, without the rear side window which gives added visibility. All that's missing is the stop/taillight lens and one hubcap, but there are two extra rims for the rear-mounted spare tire. It even has a Pines Winterfront that is tired but specific for the car's grille, and the jack and tools are under the front seat. Because of its long, well-protected slumber, details like the painted Peerless decorations on its window sills have survived. A two-owner car, its documentation is complete including the original bill of sale dated February 12, 1927, from Cincinnati's Peerless distributor, the Herschede Motor Car Company. The second owner's Ohio registrations are from 1935-52, the last year we think it was actually on the road. The plan is to get the car running (and stopping - it has Lockheed brakes) and show the car a few times in AACA's HPOF.. As Jeff Brown said, it's one of three known. Every car doesn't need to be restored, and the AACA's original class offers owners the ability to show their cars - warts, beauty marks and all. The Peerless' new life starts today with a gentle initial cleaning... TG

“Doublentree”, or Double Entry, the 64-inch door opens from front or rear for passenger ingress. Read about the unique door design here, about halfway down the lengthy Brunn listing. http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/b/brunn/brunn.htm

Hopefully this one is languishing in a warehouse or garage… Everyone knew about this custom made by Fleetwood - it’s in all the books - but it wasn’t till 2017 that I discovered, “The car, ordered by an Eastern motorist, cost approximately $17,000.” was built for Doris Duke (Cromwell), “The World’s Richest Girl.” (Contrary to what article says, the collapsible rear quarter was covered in imported black leather, not the entire body) It made for a very interesting story in the Winter 2017, “The Classic Car.” Now, if we could just find out the V-16’s ultimate fate.

This one’s for you, Ed - I know you’ve seen it… 1932 Lincoln KB Brunn Doublentree Sport Sedan, at the Albright Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

Mmmm, an MX Brougham in Medium Copper with the standard Saddle interior and PW. No telling what other options it has, but with the big 460 4bbl, 216hp, it'll fly. And drink gas - but who cares, swathed in that faux teakwood dash and super-soft vinyl luxury.

A glimpse into early Peerless production - interesting to note the production in 1902 was less than a dozen cars.

But, but - the colors match the curtains in his third wife's boudoir! Thus, he couldn't refuse.

That’s a 1936 Fargo in France that is under restoration or already restored. TG

We all have to learn the hearse Landau thing, at least once. TG

Beautiful Nash! The image is from the 1929 brochure. http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/misc/29nash/29nash.html TG

The motor number is from the 1930 range, and I wonder why they painted the windshield frame and left the chassis oily, filthy and rusty. Its vinyl interior is no-no, too.

No, they did not. Not anywhere in the world.

“Where would a car like this get placed at an AACA judging event?” The hotel parking lot. Pretty cheeky line of BS for the entire fabricated story, but saying all Polaras were destroyed on arrival at the dealerships is taking it too far. I would love to be on the team when this ersatz Mopar showed up to be judged, and immediately, gleefully disqualify it for the imposter it is. Judging teams have enough on their plates to be bothered with such fakery, no matter how beautifully-executed or pretty the car may be.