nzcarnerd Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 A photo posted on a facebook page with absolutely no information - 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass is Best Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I don't know but that looks like the firing order is on the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsmoke Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 A little sleuthing should narrow it down. 6 cyl engine in 2 blocks of 6, unusual front engine gear driven water pump, perhaps magnito, interesting "over-flywheel" crossmember, chassis very robust, interesting inward sloping body mounting brackets, very high mounted steering wheel, Michelin tires (passenger side looks new, driver side used). I'm guessing circa 1905-1910, likely Italian, Fiat, Itala, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHa Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I believe this is an experimental chassis. There are no holes drilled for mounting a radiator. The front springs mount inside the frame at the rear??? And the frame has that step out like a Mercer. Very few cars had this frame design. It is possibly a race car under construction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHa Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) After some sleuthing around on the internet, I believe this is a product of the Mercer Motor Company. The frame appears very close to the early model 35 cars. The brace mentioned earlier would fit the footboard in the raceabout. This chassis, if it is Mercer, has been fitted with a different motor. The model 35 had the 4 cylinder T head motor. I have met a guy that told me Mercer did not use the T head exclusively, they also used other motors. Notice the front cross member of the below car and compare with the cross member above. Edited January 27, 2021 by AHa (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHa Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) Another close up of the front cross member. Mercer went to a L head six in 1923. Edited January 27, 2021 by AHa (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 22 minutes ago, AHa said: Another close up of the front cross member. Mercer went to a L head six in 1923. Of course there is no guarantee the mystery chassis is American. Whether there are any clues to the location in either the architecture of the building, or in the clothes of the men I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Good point, nz’. A clue resides in the firing order written on the wooden door. Unless I am mistaken, you will not have found a numeral 1 written as shown , if it were here in the USA. - Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHa Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 The firing order appears to be 421523 and the one is just a straight mark. I don't see anything that would indicate what country the picture was taken in. The resemblance to the Mercer frame would be uncanny if it were not a mercer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 No. Firing order is written 124653. Your interpretation would fire no 2 cyl twice , and 6 unfired. I have spent many years living abroad, please accept my experience. Probably could hear from far flung corroboration here. The first number is unambiguously 1, it is quite simply how much of the world writes it. Essentially, this proves the picture was taken outside of the USA, as per nz’ suggestion. Wonder how 1 is written in N.Z. ? - CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHa Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 I'm sorry, I typoed that one. I meant to type 421653 but I can't read the third number. I may be wrong of course. I'm not as smart as I look and am often wrong but you know what they say about opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drwatson Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) Agree with Carl, The scene is in Europe. France maybe? Their "1" almost looks like a "7"...."4"? I read the wall digits as "1.2.4.6.53" The orig. photo has enough resolution to enlarge and show clear detail. Edited January 27, 2021 by drwatson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldford Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Does the gent on the far right look a little like Louis Chevrolet??? Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass is Best Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 1 hour ago, oldford said: Does the gent on the far right look a little like Louis Chevrolet??? Frank Maybe a distant cousin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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