[SEL] OT : Unknown Chain Drive Car circa 1916

[Elden DuRand]

Mark:

The fenders on that car were most likely put-on for street use or when driving in a race where there was rain or mud.  It would have been neat to hear that monster coming!

I built something like that in the late '60's out of a junk American LaFrance fire engine.  You can see it on my web page under "Otherstuff".  I called it the Belchfire IV -and- you could hear me coming! 

Take care - Elden
http://www.oldengine.org/members/durand 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com]On
>  Behalf Of Mark Shulaw
> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 09:58 AM
> To: The SEL email discussion list
> Subject: Re: [SEL] OT : Unknown Chain Drive Car circa 1916
> 
> 
> Hi Eldon,
> The car being built earlier then the photo does 
> appear to be the case. Its 
> just credited that the photo was circa 1916. 
> You're info about Vanderbilt 
> Cup racers seem to be right on target and heading 
> me in the right 
> direction.  Found a web site with photos of them. 
> Those cars are so very 
> similar to this one.
> In the 1916 era Duesenberg was still working to 
> get a foothold in the auto 
> industry and may have just known the owner of the 
> car and wanted a photo of 
> himself in the car at that time. Notice the 
> make-shift fenders on the car, 
> probably an afterthought to make the car more 
> comfortably driveable in 
> regular useage.  Just imaging owning that car today.
>           Thank You,   Mark