Barry Wolk Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 My 1933 Continental Flyer is on it's way to me. I'd like to get the history straight.If I understand correctly the DeVaux company went out of business in 1932. The Continental Engine Company bought the assets and set about building out the remaining DeVaux bodies using Continental engines and called them DeVaux-Continental. Those bodies had conventionally hinged doors attached to a wood frame.The 1933 Continental was an all steel Hayes body with suicide doors available in three levels. The 4-cylinder Beacon and 6-cylinder Flyer were both on a 107"wheelbase while the top end Ace had a bigger engine and rode on a 120" wheelbase chassis.Do I have that correct?Yes, West, I'm losing the box. The lines are much too nice without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Barry, that is a gorgeous car! It will look GREAT without the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Very nice, Barry. You may have some success by contacting the AACA Library & Research Center.I checked the On Line Catalog and the following showed up with the Keyword: "Continental Flyer".Marque or Author: Wagner, William, 1909- Title: Continental! :--its motors and its people /--by William Wagner. Published: [Washington, D.C.] : Armed Forces Journal Intenational ; Fallbrook, CA : Aero Publishers, c1983. Description: ix, 240 p. : ill. ; 29 cm. Subject: Continental Motors Corporation -- History Internal combustion engine industry -- United States -- History Dewey call number: 338.7621430973 LC call number: HD9710.U54 C658 1983 ISBN: 0816845069 (Aero) : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Thank you.You are quite welcome. There may be more that is not listed in the On Line Catalog. Personally I would contact our Librarian, Chris Ritter via a phone call or On Line Request to see what other materials may be available. Possibly something specific or more definitive to your query.Our AACA Library is "public" so you do not have to be a member of the AACA to accesss the great wealth of old vehicle literature that is retained .critter@aacalibrary.org or 717-534-2082.Best,Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 SIA has an article on the Continental and a road test, as well as a history of the whole DeVaux/Continental deal. I'll see if I can dig it out. I have every issue of SIA/Hemmings Classic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Thanks, John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryJ Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Barry.......Rare bird!!..........I like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Barry, Don't forget that as an AACA member you get 1 1/2 hours of free research through the Library and Research Center as part of your membership. Nice car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TG57Roadmaster Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Dude,I thought you were the Grand Vizier of All Things Continental:why ask we mere mortals for research assistance now?TG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Great find, Barry and an interesting theme to your growing collection.Did you find this car in CT by chance?How is the truck coming along? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Yes, the car came out of Deep River, CT.All I've done to the truck is add turn signals. Got tired of sticking my hand out the window. I may add a gear splitter, but that's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Thanks, interesting. Good luck with both of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durant Mike Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Barry First thing you need to do if you haven't yet is join the Durant Motors Automobile Club. They cover Durant, Flint, Star, Locomobile, DeVaux, and Continental as well as Frontenac and Rugby. Their web site is The Durant Motors Automobile Club - International. They have a great forum and many knowledgeable members who can help you maintain your car as well as obtain parts etc. Check them out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 I'll check that out. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Good to see a very rare car. There is one here in NZ - being right hand drive I guess it is an even rarer variant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 I've heard of a number of these that were exported to NZ and AU as kits to avoid import duties. I'm curious as to how they did the conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 I will see if I can find out who owns it now and get hold of them. The previous owner also owned a very rare 1925 Jordan Eight sedan. I only saw it once, more than 30 years ago, and I remember it looking as the the body was out of scale with the long hood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Re the rhd conversion. I guess the maker of the steering parts did both lhd and rhd parts. Durants were built in both configurations and I guess the same folks supplied the steering components to Continental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Very nice car, Barry ! The radiator shell / grille seem reminiscent of a '32 Auburn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 There are a lot of nice design cues on this car. I do like the radiator shell, too. It's the first one I've seen chromed.The car has an interesting history. If you look at this picture you can see the front seat nearly in the back seat. That's because the original owner was 6'9" tall and his wife was 5'2". Good thing, because I'm 6'5".The original owners kept it for 33 years, selling it in 1966 to the family I bought it from. I am now the third owner in 77 years. I plan on showing it on the Concours circuit as a survivor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 You mean that it's an UNRESTORED car?? Now, I am REALLY jealous!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 I'm told it's unrestored. I'll know better when I inspect it in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 That is really amazing, if that is original paint & chrome ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 The chrome isn't great, but not bad for 77 years. From the pictures the paint looks original.I had posted a couple of weeks ago looking for a tail light lens. I thought I needed two. Guess I'm all set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 " I had posted a couple of weeks ago looking for a tail light lens. I thought I needed two. Guess I'm all set.""Ahh, Grasshopper... welcome to the early Thirties and before... more than one stop & tail lamp is a crutch..." Glad you don't have to find another one !That's a tremendous survivor... especially considering how few were made in the first place... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 I really like the hood ornament. That car has great style and looks to be in excellent condition. Congratulations!The chrome isn't great, but not bad for 77 years. From the pictures the paint looks original.I had posted a couple of weeks ago looking for a tail light lens. I thought I needed two. Guess I'm all set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 It's home. It looks to be an unrestored car in great shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 (edited) I have been trying for several hours to post the pages that have the drive report on the Continental Beacon. I get a message that says I am missing "security tokens", what ever the heck they are. The link to contact the administrator wont work for me either, so I'm stuck. If you want these pages, I can email them to you or, perhaps, someone smarter than I can tell me how to post them here. All I have are Chuckie Cheese tokens but they won't fit into the USB port Edited November 10, 2010 by Peter J.Heizmann (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 I have been trying for several hours to post the pages that have the drive report on the Continental Beacon. I get a message that says I am missing "security tokens", what ever the heck they are. The link to contact the administrator wont work for me either, so I'm stuck. If you want these pages, I can email them to you or, perhaps, someone smarter than I can tell me how to post them here. All I have are Chuckie Cheese tokens but they won't fit into the USB portYou can email them to me and I will try to post them. keiser31@charter.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest papaw Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 My '36 Pontiac had only one tail light and you would not believe how many people had to tell me that my right tail light did not work! Guess they didn't notice there wasn't one. Back to putting your arm out the window! I just can't believe how many drivers there are that have no idea what hand signals are today. Guess that is something they don't teach in modern driver's ed. Nice car, keep it original! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 (edited) My '36 Pontiac had only one tail light and you would not believe how many people had to tell me that my right tail light did not work! Guess they didn't notice there wasn't one. Back to putting your arm out the window! I just can't believe how many drivers there are that have no idea what hand signals are today. Guess that is something they don't teach in modern driver's ed. Nice car, keep it original!Not to hijack the thread, but a Talent, Oregon (yes, that's the real name) cop tried to give me a ticket for actually using my arm signals in my 1931 Dodge coupe. He said most people do not recognize those signals any more. I argued the point. He got on his radio and came back to my car and said "Well, I guess you were right" and he let me go. I could NOT believe it. He actually admitted his error (No offense, MCHinson). I drove off with a VERY big smile that day!! Edited November 11, 2010 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest papaw Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Yes, I understand why Barry put turn signals on the pick-up. I had a person one day almost run me over as my arm was out the window yelling at me for not using my turn signal as I was pulling into a cruise night. It was in the Royal Oak area which I know you are familar with. Barry is not far from there and into even higher traffic area. That is why I moved up north to get out of the traffic!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 I will be installing a right side tail light and possibly signals on my '31, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Barry,Nice looking ride.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 11, 2010 Author Share Posted November 11, 2010 It sure is tiny inside. I'd say it has the looks of the classics at about 8/10 scale.Who could restore this center gauge for me. Yes, that's the actual mileage. It had 33,000 miles in 1966 and now has just over 50,000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest papaw Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Barry, try Bob's speedometer repair. They are close to you in Howell and do guage repair and restorations. Do not send it out of the country as my brother did with a 40 BMW and got lost as you have no recourse overseas. Took 30 years to locate a set in place of them and had to go to Germany to get them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted November 11, 2010 Author Share Posted November 11, 2010 Thanks. I'll look them up. I think they used to be on Woodward in Royal Oak.This picture was taken the day the last owner bought it in 1966. It had 33,000 miles on it, 33 years old. I'm trying to figure out of it looks better with whitewalls or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Kinda like spats...snazzy in whitewalls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Barry,You might try to look for some original Continental / Flyer advertising pieces and see whether the cars were shown with black or WWW tires...Or look at original factory photos / ad pieces for other makes in the same price bracket... might give you some clues as to how it was shod when new... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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