A. Ballard 35R

Mercer T-Heads were only in Model years 1911-1914 and were all two valves per cylinder. Valves were 21/4 inches in diameter in a relatively small engine of only 300 cu. in. I believe Stutz used a much bigger Continental engine but with the standard two valves per cylinder. Perhaps Ivan Saxton or some other Stutz experts can comment further.

Great car, Tom, plus a fascinating provenance Is it in condition now that it could be a use as is or do you think would have to be done?

Great article about an incredible car. I think the Doble is one of the most sophisticated American production cars ever made. Just my opinion and not intended to start a lengthy discussion/argument.

Jay Leno I think still owns two Dobles the E-20 Howard Hughes roadster being one that Dick Hempel owned for many years. I have correspondence dated December, 1967 from Hempel to my father wanting to trade the Doble for a car owned by my father. Hempel claimed that his roadster was the only original Doble roadster and that the two others were conversions from coupes. By the way, if you watch Leno's video you can "read between the lines" and learn what he had to do to the car which had already been restored. Not sure about the Spencer Dobles but Barney Becker had one on the '67 Glidden. Who has the 1924 touring that Clarence Marshall used to own? Aren't there only about seven surviving Dobles out of perhaps 24 made?

Yes Ed, I remember years ago a certain operation in NE Pennsylvania that turned out some great looking Packard DC phaetons that had been converted. There were even some 734 speedsters created as I recall. West is one who knows which ones are real. David mentions high value early cars and I can name several well known ones that don't even have the correct or original engines. Heck, Carl Amsley turned out dozens of Stanleys and was able to use correct chassis numbers from cars that no longer existed. Similar work is being done now by someone who recently told me that his cars are more accurately recreated than the ones done by Amsley. Many people say it's fine to recreate famous racecars and other outstanding vehicles that once existed which is fine until years later they are claimed to be authentic.

Matt, your posts are always well worded and very worthwhile, I think you out did yourself on this one - please keep making your excellent comments. Never heard the expression "trophy creep" before but it is priceless and one I will remember. Speaking of judging, I just saw that a car I know well and have driven on several occasions got an HPOF award. It's a great car but as the owner freely states, it is a made up car. It does preserve original features but they are either from various cars or fabricated.

In case you have not tried it, the Triumph Experience website has an extensive classified section.

Let's not forget cars with California tops that had removable glass curtains/windows. My father's 1924 Stanley had such a top which could not be put down like a regular top would. Certainly others(trimacar) could provide better information. I have no idea whether California tops were available on Dodges or whether they were considered an accessory for many cars.

Dave, thanks for the warning/update. Do you know if SEMA has specific action plans or recommendations?

Mt. Washington Hotel where some of original Glidden Tours visited.

Bill Bell died at least a year ago and he was the extremely dedicated Simplex roster keeper. His records were incredibility detailed and included total production and not just survivors. He was not always popular with those who shall we say manufactured huge Simplex Speed Cars out of cars that had started life in a very different form. Sounds as though you were able to come up with excellent history on your own.

I hope that what has been gathered from this thread that the first thing to do is determine whether or not the person is deceased.

Kirk, was the new Simplex roster keeper of assistance to you?

Let's not forget, the Crosley Hotshot is generally considered to be the first post war American sports car.

Question for anyone who has picked up their registration packet. Will the tour be meeting up with the CCCA tour during the week? If so, on which day and where? I am in NH and would like to meet up with both groups at the same time, if possible. Thanks.

Of the fewer than 100 factory speedsters built, how many were supercharged? There is a very nice red supercharged speedster that is close by and driven frequently. No question, a gorgeous machine.

Has it been determined that the car owner is deceased, or for that matter who the owner of the cars is? Using the license plate or other identification plus information from neighbors it should be possible to determine the ownership and consequently the party that could legally transfer title. Until this information is obtained everything else is guesswork. Why is it assumed that the owner of the real estate is the same as the owner of the car?

Sometime in the early 1960's there was an AACA rule that you could only have cars and related material in the Flea Market AND that in accordance with AACA eligibility the items had to be 25 years old or older. Enforcement of this policy was not always consistent but it explains why your 1963 Jag was flagged since it was not even close to being 25 years old. Theoretically the same rule applies now and there are no problems finding parts for cars as new as 1991. Parts for pre-WWI I understand are very scarce. As a matter of fact, isn't there still the 25 year cutoff for cars in the car corral which it was the last time I took a car there to sell? I personally know that the Miller brothers had a space in the Flea Market in the 1960's and were told to leave because they had Corvette parts they were selling. Perhaps that had something to do with the success of Carlisle.

Suggest that you simply drain the radiator and water pump making sure that no water is left in a place where freezing could do damage. If uncertain, clear system with compressed air.

At my age, dust.

Perhaps the mileage indicated is the second time around.

The best way to learn the original roads is to find a copy of an old Official Blue Book. These were printed around 1910 for many parts of the country and contain fascinating descriptions and directions.

Bob, I think the only T-Head Mercer in Pennsylvania now is the ex-Bill Spear, Austin Clark car now in the Rich collection in Frackville.

Bob, how about a report on your Pebble Beach excursion?

Larry, I think you have the answer. I'm not near on of my jet-ski trailers now but the 5/16" inch diameter sounds about right. Certainly is a lot fancier than what I am used to.