our The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Issue 230 September-October 2007

7 A History of U.S. License Plates By Albert Mroz hf n vehicles began chugging, whirring and clanging around Ameri ca www.autohistory.org over a centwy ago, the need to have some kind of identification W system became apparent almost immediately. The government had to get in on the goods; there were taxes and fees to be collected and proof of Inside ownership to be established especially in case of theft or accident. The very first vehicle li cense plates appeared as early as 1899 in the cities Ed itorial Comment 2 of Illinois. The first license plates were issued by local government . ew York State was the first to issue state registration, beginning in May of 1901. There the first system consisted only of the vehicle owner's initials. At a time when there President's Perspective 3 were only a handful of vehicles perhaps this made sense, but it soon became impossible to continue with such oversimplification. SAH News 5 The first "plates" were actually made of leather with numbers that were cut out of light sheet metal and attached to the surface. This method soon became plagued with duplicati on, and in by 1903 it was superseded by a sequential "A Window on the World, 6 numerical system. By 1910 there were 100,000 motor vehicles registered in ew The American Car Abroad" York State alone. So call ed "porcelain" plates refer to porcelainized enamel that was fu sed Book Reviews 10 to a steel base at high temperatures. Early "kit plates" consisted of a metal base with grooves at top and bottom where porcelain squares were attached. How­ ever, both porcelain and metal license plates were expensive to fabricate, so Letters 14 states eventually turned to prison labor for their manufacture. For further savings, metal squares were attached to the top rim of license plate before the advent of Billboard 15 self-adhesive stickers bearing the year and month of registration. During World Wa r II , shortages in metals prompted states to adopt paper windshield stickers for displaying new registrations. Because so many license plates were being removed from circulation once vehicles were retired due to age or accident, the notion of collecting license plates finally took hold as a formal hobby. License plate collecting has similarities to stamp coll ecting; both are issued by the government to denote payment for an organized service. Both may have commemorative information such as state his­ toiy or slogans and both vary widely in color whil e remaining closely defined in terms of ize and application. While stamp coll ecting began in the rnid-1800s when stamps were first issued, it wasn't until a century later that license plate collecting caught on with people, not all of them necessarily automotive enthusiasts. In 1954 psychologist Dr. Cecil George of Massachusetts began to give the completely unorganized and informal hobby of license plate collecting seri ous consideration after reading an account of a man who had a display in ew Hampshire. Dr. George contacted the man, who turned out to be postmaster Asa Colby of Rumney Depot. After starting a successful newsletter, the two of them founded the Automobile License continued on page 4 Up a Busy River

Boat traffic on the Rh ine was bahn was disappointing-there were constant with barge , cruise ships and actuall y speed limits on the section even a couple of paddlewheelers. we were on and I didn't get to see a At one lock I had to laugh and wonder Porsche go ripping by. Yet h re also I as two barges, each cany ing identical was amazed. The pavement here and loads of sand passed each other going on secondary roads was in excell ent in opposite directions. On both' sides of shape, which I assumed was a result the river trains, both passenger and of fewer and smaller trucks on the freight, seem d to go by every few roads and the recycling of old tir minutes. In the citie buses and trolleys into pavement material. Thomas S. Jakups, Editor were plentiful and full. Along the plazas Sure there were sti ll plenty of hundreds of parked bikes could be cars and our bus got stuck once in his summer at the not so tender found, and I saw couples and families, ru h hour congestion, but the trans­ age of 55 I traveled to Europe old and young, whizzing by on dedicat­ portation system seemed to be in bal­ T fo r the first time. My wife, Judy, ed bike lanes. I even have a photo ance, much more effi cient than ours actually dared me to spend two summer taken in An1sterdam of a drag queen, in the nited States. weeks away from a car show or a golf complete in black mini-dress and Europe has an advantage in that course. Well , I managed to do this and makeup, securely locking his bike to a its multimodal transportation infra­ am 1ich r fo r the expetience. light stanchion one Sunday afternoon. structure ha been in place for cen­ The actual trip was a boat cruise While in An1sterdam, and in turies while in the .S. we'v disman­ on the Rhine River from Basel to Cologne, I checked out the train sta­ tled mu ch of ours. And now we are Antwerp. There were of cour e majestic tions. They were expansive, clean and paying a high price in pollution, driv­ castles and beautifully preserved cities, well -lit. The police spoke excell ent er stress and lost productivity. We but what reall y impressed me was tl1 English and were happy to give direc­ know what's broke; do we have the transpoitation system in Germany, The ti ons and answer questions. will to fix it? etherlands and Belgium. My first exposure to the Auto- - Tomjakups QJ.J~I1~ , ... J Issue 230 Se ptember-October 2007 Officers Publications Committee SAH Journal (ISSN 1057-1973) Michael L. Berger President Christopher C. Foster is published six times a year by the Darwyn H. Lumley Vice President Thomas S. Jakups Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Susan S. Davis Secretary Beverly Rae Kimes Christopher C. Foster Treasurer Michael Lamm Subscription is by membership Taylor Vinson in the Society. Board of Directors Through October 2007 Membership dues are $40 per year. Michael Bromley Paul N. Lashbrook Past Editors Send dues, membership inquiries Stanton A. Lyman Richard B. Brigham and changes of address to Joseph S. Freeman, ex officio Issues 1-29 Sept. 1969-(undated) 1973 Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Through October 2008 C. Marshall Naul 1102 Long Cove Road John A. Marino Arthur W. Jones 30-50 July 1973- Dec. 1976 Cales Ferry, CT 06335-1812 USA Joseph R. Malaney John Peckham Through October 2009 51 - 59 Feb. 1977 -July 1978 ©2007 Robert R. Ebert J. Douglas Leighton The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Steve Wilson Walter Cosden 60-87 Nov. 1978-Dec. 1983 Find the Society of Automotive Historians SAH Journal Richard B. Brigham on the web at www.autohistory.org. Thomas S. Jakups, Editor, Adv. Mgr. 88-117 Jan.jFeb. 1983-Nov.jDec. 1988 37 Wyndwood Road Christopher C. Foster West Hartford, CT 06107 USA 118-157 Jan.jFeb. 1989-JulyjAug. 1995 Copy Deadline for Journa/231 860-233-5973 Fax860-232- 0468 October 31st journal@a utohistory.o rg Samuel V. Fiorani [email protected] 158- 194 Sept.jOct. 1995-Sept.jOct. 2001

2 SAH Jo urnal No. 230 Remembering the '69 Lacunas moti ve history. They are presented (5) In the Driver's Seat: The below alphabetically by title, with a Automobile in American Literature brief explanation of the reason for and Popular Culture, by Cynthia their inclusion. Golomb Dettelbach (Greenwood (1) Americans on the Road: Press, 1976) . While the early years of ~ From Autocamp to Motel, 19 10-1945, motoring produced countless short by Warren James Belasco (MIT Press, stories and novels written about auto­ 1979). During the first half of the 20th mobiles, or in wl1ich cars play an inte­ centUJy, auto-related recreational pur­ gral role in the plot (like The Great suits mushroomed, creating industries Gatsby), it was not until Dettelbach's of their own and significant coverage 1976 small volume that we had a

Michael l. Berger, President in the mass-circulation magazines of scholarly, book-length, analytical study the day. Yet, it was not until Belasco's of the automobi le in literature. emember the '69 Lacunas? work th at we had a scholarly, book­ (6) Taking the Wh eel: Women Probably not, since Lacuna length study of a key element of and the Coming of the Motor Age, by R never was an automotive vacation motoring. Virginia Scharff (Free Press, 1991). At a marque (at least to the best of my (2) Auto Mechanics: Technology time when even the best comprehen­ knowledge). Instead, it's the type of and Expertise in Twentieth-Century sive automotive histori es lumped men, word employed by colleagues in my America, by Kevin L. Borg Qohns women and children together in terms other profession. In simplest terms, a Hopkins University Press, 2007). While of the car's impact on everyda y life, "lacuna" is a gap or missing pan , we have had numerous studies of auto­ Scharff was the first to tease out the often used in reference to a manu­ moti ve unions and workers "on the uniqueness of the fen1inine experience script. So, in the context of this col­ Line," Borg's book is a pionee1ing one in the early years of motoring. We are umn, what are the '69 lacunas? They in that it looks at d1e changing role and still waitmg for a similar volume exam­ are the gaps or missing pans in the historic experience of the repair shop ining children and teenagers. printed record of automotive history mechanic, a person we have come to (7) The Automobile Revolution: that existed in 1969, the year the depend upon but cannot seem to trust. Th e Impact of an Industry, by Jean­ Society of Automotive Historians was (3) Automobile Age Atlanta: Pierre Bardou et a!. (University of founded. There were considerable Th e Making of a Southern Metropolis, orth Carolina Press, 1982) Moving gaps back then. In the generation or 1900-1935, by Howard L. Preston beyond the single-nation focus of so since, we have made considerable (University of Georgia Press, 1979). most industrial histories, Bardou and progress in filling in those lacunas. Although comprehensive histories had his colleagues created the first multi­ In my first column, I discussed often noted differences regarding the national study of the automotive "the road less traveled." In this, my car's impact on urban, rural and sub­ industry, one that was soon to last column as SAH President, I would urban life, Preston's book was d1e first become truly worldwide in its fun c­ like to celebrate the distance that we to study its influence on metropolitan tioning. Thanks to an excellent trans­ have come. Given the limited space growth in a single city od1er than lation by james M. Laux, one of the available to me, I have selected seven Detroit. As such, it provided direction co-authors, this book was made wide­ works from a vast number of works fo r later studies on individual cities ly ava il able to English readers. that could have been included. Each and broader geographic regions. Again, these books represent just was the first book-length investigati on ( 4) High Performance: The Cul­ a sampling of the path-makffig works in a specifi c area of automotive histo­ ture and Technology ofDra g Racing, that have broadened our knowledge ry. I have deli berately avoided books 1950-1990, by Robert C. Post Qohns of automotive history during the last written by past and present SAH offi­ Hopkins University Press, 1994). Despite four decades. As SAH members, we cers and Board members, so as to me popula.Jity of drag racing, born in its should all feel pride in the progress avoid cries of favoritism. I am not info1mal, street version and on organ­ we have made and be opti.Jrustic arguing that the books that foll ow are ized tracks, d1e only available books on regarding what it signifies for the the best ones currently in their mat topic up to me rnid-'90s were moe future. respecti ve areas. Rather, in my opin­ aimed at me end1usiast market. It was That's all folks. Thanks for ion, each was the first significa nt Post's oversized volume mat raised d1is reading and responding to this col­ work in that fi eld , and the book that variation of me sport of motor racing to umn over the past two years. eliminated one of the lacunas in auto- me level of serious inqui.Jy. - Mike Berger

September-October 2007 3 license Plates continued.from page I These are only a few of the slogans cia!" was first used on li cense plates Plate Collectors Association. There found on li cense plates across the in New York in 1913, Alabama in are about 7,000 ALPCA members country. 1916 and ew Jersey in 1918. The across the U.S . alone, and there are word "truck" was first used in many more collectors abroad. Separate Abbreviation Codes Washington in 1916, Wisconsin and Several books have been written for Commercial Plates Michigan in 1918, Illinois, Indiana on the histo1y and the hobby of col­ At first all vehicles were assigned and Tennessee in 1920, Arkansas lecting American license plates. Among the same type of li cense plates, but and Kentucky in 192 1, Georgia and them is License Plates of the United beginning in the 'teens states began Virginia in 1922, Louisiana in 1923 States by Jim Fox, better known for his to differenti ate between passenger and Mississippi in 1931. success as the drummer for the band pl ates and commercial plates in order The abbreviation "COM" was "James Gang." This definitive photo to collect more revenues and to con­ first used in Utah in 1917, California archive is excellent in terms of depict­ trol commercial transpo1t. Separate in 1920 and Nevada and Texas in ing passenger ca r plates abbreviation codes appeared using 1925. The "T" letter prefi x was used small letters on the side of th e license in Maine in 1913, North Ca rolina Plates of Copper plates, such as COM for "Commer­ in 1917, ebraska in 1919, South States have oft en used slogans on cial," DLR for "Dealer" and E for Dakota and Colorado in 1920, Kansas their li cense plates to comme morate "Exempt," (usually used for police in 1921, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, events or to draw attention to a cars and postal trucks and some West Virginia and Wyoming in 1922. special feature of the area. In other government vehicles). BE was Ohio and Oregon in 1923 and Idaho Arizona, for example , "15 39 Marcos used for "Board of Eq ualization" in 1924. De iza 1939" commemorated the when this institution had separate Fra nciscan monk who arri ved there identificati o n. PS was also used for Using Prefixes and Colors looking for the legendary Seven "Public Service." US was for "United According to Roy G. Klotz, archivist Citi es of Cibola. The Little Daisy States" (government vehicle) as was for ALPCA, some states used their Mine in Jerome produced so much X for "commercial" pertaining to own systems, which were further copper that Arizona plates were Rhode Island in 1912 and Minnesota different from those listed above. made e ntirely of the reddish metal beginning in 1921. The FBI had its Massachusetts had a "B" prefix start­ from 1932 to 1939. own plates (FBI, .S. Department of ing in 1911 while ew Hampshire Delaware has proudly used Justice), but this agency's vehicles used an "0 " prefix beginning in 1913. "The First State" sin ce 1963, while the were soon registered without these Starting in 1914 Pennsylvania used an District of Columbia began using identifiers. aluminum band along the left side "Celebrate and Discover" in 1991. Flllther commercial delineations with stars indicating tonnage. Okla­ Georgia has adopted "On My Mind" included PC for "Pneumatic Commer­ homa's commercial plates were larger from the old Hoagy Carmichael and cial," SC for "Soli d Commercial," T for than those for passenger cars from Stua1t Gorell song lyri cs. Indiana "Truck," TLR for "Trailer," PT for 1923 while the same year ew adopted the slogan "Wander" in 1985, "Pneumatic Trailer" and ST for "Solid Mexico had a "COM" over "TK" pre­ but in 1988 switched back to "Back Trailer." The "solid" and "pneumatic" fix combination. Connecticut and Home Again. " Missouri has been the designations were adopted in the North Dakota set up yet another sys­ "Show Me State" since 1980. ew early 1930s w hen olid rubber ti re tem based on paint hue. Beginning in Hampshire has proclaimed "Live Free clad vehicles were taxed at a higher 1914 and 1925 respectively, commer­ or Die" since 1971. rate due to higher wear and tear of cial plates were a different color from In the 1940s and 1950s Mary­ the pavement. The system became passenger vehicle plates. land and North Carolina implored very complicated, depending on how outh Carolina had prefixes respectively, "Drive Ca refull y" and wide the solid tires were, how old "H" through "0 " from 1921. In 1923 "Drive Safely. " Ohio asked everyone the vehicle and whether the vehicle Delaware reserved serial block num­ "Seat Belts Fastened?" from 1973 to had pneumatic tires in front and solid bers from 25001 to 30148 for truck 1975, once seatbelts were required by in back, as some trucks were shod and commercial use. That same year law. for purposes of carrying heavier Florida began using a "G" prefix for But people still considered cargo. Clearly, the intent was to get their commercial plates. Hawaii wearing them a luxury or nuisance. the slow moving, street surface ham­ reserved plate numbers from 87000 Ohio has now returned to "The Heart mering solid rubber tired vehicles off to 99999 for commercial use tarring Of It All." South Carolina was "The the streets and highways of America. in 1938. Beginning in 1951 , Mary­ Iodine State" in the earl y 1930s. Historically, the word "commer- land had the same plates as pas-

4 SAHJoumal No. 230 senger cars, but commercial plates had an embossed April expiration. Alaska began using a "C" prefix in 1960. Alpha-numeric codes were cre­ ated to correspond to vehicles which were designated as passenger ca rs or as commercial vehicles, including pickups used for such a purpose. For example, in Ca lifornia prior to World War II codes beginning with one or two letters were used as commercial plates, separate and in addition to the ones with the "COM " abbreviation. After 1956 and up to 1962 commer­ SAH Election Results driveway on the right. The Picard cial plates began with a letter fol­ The results of the SAH election of Pavilion is a separate smaller building. lowed by five numbers. From 1963 to officers and Board members is in 1969 the letter was at the end of th e from Election Central in Goodrich, Meet and Greet at the SAH code. Many states have used a similar Michigan. The fo ll owing o ffi cers were History Tent GBF 32-34 system in more recent times. elected to serve until October 2009: For many long time Hershey attendees it President Darwyn Lumley, Vice Presi­ must have seemed strange not crossing "Front'' and "Rear'' Plates dent Susan Davis, Treasurer Christo­ Hersheypark Drive last October to get to For many years states such as pher Foster and Secretary Arthurj ones. the White Field and the SAH History Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, New Elected to the Board of Tent. ln Hershey's latest reincarnation all Mexico, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas Directors to serve through October the vendors were moved to the amuse­ and Louisiana stamped "front" and 2010 were Paul Lashbrook, Stanton ment park side of the street with only the "rear" on th eir plates in an attempt to Ly man and judith Endelman. car corral located on the former White thwart the use of li cense plates on Field. Unless you like mucking around in two vehicles. Annual Meeting the mud or watching the water come in For historians and collectors and Banquet October 12th from above and below the History Tent who are interested in preserving The 39th SAH Annual Meeting and after one of Hershey's rain storms you authe nti city, especiall y in vehicle Awards Banquet will be held on the would probably agree that its relocation restoration , it is important to note Friday evening of Hershey weekend, to the Green Field last year worked out that many states allow the use of old October 12th, 2007, at the Picard well for SAH. lts location near the arena li cense plates that have "not been Grand Pavilion, Hershey Country undoubtedly increased our exposure and registered" r which have been de­ Clu b, 1000 East Deny Road, Hershey. the pavement will be most welcome commissioned so long ago th at they Members and guests wi ll gather come the next Hershey downpour. can be mounted on antique and cla - for the FluidTorque ocial hour at 6:00 Paul Lashbrook and Stanton Lyman sic vehicles for use today. It is impor­ P.M. and dine at 7:00. The Society's will once again have the tent furnished to tant to have the correct YOM (year of annual publication and service awards suit our mission. They need your help, manufacture) so that the plates match will be presented after dinner. however, to keep it staffed and serving the year of the vehicle. The plates, if Menu for the evening will be members and visitors throughout the week. they are restored or repai nted, must Crown Victoria Dinner Buffet, with While at Hershey, make it a point also have the correct original color steak, chicken and salmon entrees to stop by GBF 32-34, for your own combinati on. (Mint ori ginal pai rs are and all the fixings at the ali -in-one respite and refreshment and to help the the most sought after.) price of 50.00 per person. Late reser­ Society greet the public. Please contact In cases where a pickup or light vation Hotline is (860)464-6466 (until Hospitality Chair Paul Lashbrook at truck did not have commercial plates October 8th). [email protected] or (954) but the current owner wishes to use To reach the Hershey Country 587-5785 to sign up for a two-hour shift. vintage commercial plates, it should Club from the fl ea market area, take be noted that the respective Depait­ Her heypark Drive east to the end. Just Out ment of Motor Vehicles may charge a Turn right, go over the railroad over­ Ric A. Dias has written a histo1y of the higher fee than that for the pa seng r pass, turn left at th next stop sign. Hall -Scott company titled Hall-Scott: car li cense plates. • Hershey Country Club is the first continued on page 13

September-October 2007 5 A Window on the World, The American Car Abroad Philip C. Campbell

he imp tus to write thi article These circumstances led me to 1,421 ,000 were passenger cars. came, innocently enough, from delve into a long-standing interest I have A more d tailed breakdown was not Ta conversation with my wife, had in the U.S. car abroad. Unfottunately available at that time, but a third of Claudia, regarding a Jeep model the subject defies a simplistic treatment or that number would indicate approxi­ owned by a friend of hers, here in discussion. For starters, there are several mately 597,000 used vehicles expott­ Germany, where we live. he said it categories of cars built for sale abroad, ed that year was a Cherokee, an export model. as described below. And the broader sub­ My interest grew when I spotted After she described it I concluded it ject includes used cars sold abroad, new an ad in the September 2005 issue was the Jeep Liberty. However, the and used cars taken by their owners (indi­ of a Michigan auto trader magazine name Liberty was nowhere to be vidual or corporate, U.S. personnel and offering volume discounts for expon found on this Jeep. As it turned out, others) abroad and then sold as well as buyers of used cars. Furthermore, she was correct, it was the Jeep vehicles within the military and diplomatic in a recent copy of Auto Mobiles, a Liberty, in the U.S. , but as an expott communities. German new/ used auto magazine I model it is badged and marketed as a noted what seemed to be a very large Jeep Cherokee. Large Export Market number of used U.S. cars and trucks, A week or so later another dis­ in Used Cars many of them that appear to have been cussion arose about a new Chtysler An article in the December 2004-Janua~y imported as used vehicles into Ger­ wagon, which when we saw it on a 2005 issue of The OECD Observer, many. (In many instance it is rather U.S . military base in Germany with the journal of the Organization for easy to tell the difference between vehi­ U.S . military registration, was a Dodge Economic Cooperation Development, cles exported to be sold as new from Magnum. However, the expon model noted that, excluding trade with Ca n­ those exponed as used vehicles). The was not a Dodge but a Chrysler 300C ada, the U.S . expotted one third as magazine circulated beyond Germany Touring. In this instance there proved many used ca rs as they expotted new into The etherlands, Belgium, wit­ to be more than just badge differ­ cars. To explore that further I called zerland, Au tria and other countries ences as there were some significant Wards Communicati on in Southfield , near the German border. sheet metal differences as well. The Michigan, and learned that according And not to be forgotten are the expott car had Chrysler 300 badges to Depanment of Commerce data on estimated 200,000, or more, cars and all around but also used nearly the the number of exported vehicles, trucks stolen each year in the entire front clip, interi or set up and 1,793,000 vehicles were exported and expotted as complete units or in trim from the Chtysler 300 sedan. from the . . in 2004, of which parts (reponed in the International Herald Tribune some years back and confirmed by a new paper search, examining material from several newspaper noting the same data.)

New American Cars Abroad Other aspects of this topic to consid­ er, (and here is the main focus of this article) involve new U. .-based vehi­ cle built or assembled abroad as well a tho e shipped abroad as assembled vehicles or in knocked down kits for rea sembly outside the . . To look at these vehicles more specificall y, I suggest several cate­ gori es for consideration. A. Cars built in the . . but old overseas under different name (Chev­ 2005 Jeep Cherokee Renegade photo courtesy Philip Campbell rolet Alero, instead of Oldsmobile

6 SAH Journal No. 230 Al ero, and the already mentioned Dodge Magnum/ Chrysler 300 touring). Some of the Dodge/ Plymouth small ca rs of the 1960s were rebadg d as Ouyslers for overseas sales. For exam­ ple, a Dodge Dart/Plymouth Vali ant was labeled a Chrysler 4400 for inter­ national markets. This works in reverse as well. The Volkswagen ]etta, first made in the 1980s, was the ]etta in the U.S . and Europe, but later the European version became the Vento, and subsequently the Bora, before reverting to the ]etta for 2006. The initial VW Golf was tl1e Chrysler 300C Touring photo courtesy Philip Campbell Rabbit in the US; the Passat was the Dasher men me Quantum. Renault did in a myriad of other nations, such as have been, many cars built in the U.S. tl1is as well for several years in tl1e France, Belgium, the U. K. , Sweden, and shipped abroad for sale there 1980s as orne . . versions of their Germany, Ireland, Switzerl and, Poland, mat are not modified very much from European ars received different China as well as many places in Latin their U. . counterparts. In the past names; tl1e Renault 9 was call ed the Ameri ca and Africa. decade or so, this has included Jeep Al liance and the Renault 11 , Encore, in Remarkabl e twists occur here, Wranglers and Grand Chero-kees, North Ameri ca, and a special version as when taxes were increased sharply Chevrolet Corvettes, Luminas, of the Renault 18 was called tl1e in Belgium on the larger high-pow­ Berettas, Corsicas and Bl azers, several America n fo r English markets. There ered cars some 25 or so years ago, a Cadillac models, Buick Park Avenues are many omer examples of this lot of U.S. cars in that counuy were (in the 1990s), Chrysler ebring mod­ reverse process as well. expo rted. A few years ago my son els, Ford Probes and Explorers, Pon­ B. Cars built under license from Dave gave me a chance to see a tiac Firebirds and Chevrolet Ca maros, U.S. companies but using di fferent Pontiac Firebird in Arizona that had just to mention a few. names or styl es, fo r example, Holden been assembled in Belgium. In the G. There have also been U. S. bodied GM cars in Australi a or the 1980s it was sold into England, where originated/designed cars that have been Toyota Cava lier in Japan, though it was purchased and restored only to all or partially built outside the .S. something tells me this may have be subsequentl y shipped to the U.S . Some examples include Ford Model T been built in me . . and then sent when the owner married a . . citi­ and A models, built in England, Chry­ to Japan. Ironically, some of these zen and moved there bringing the car sler Voyager mini vans and Jeeps built cars have found their way as used along in the move. in Austria, Buick Regal sedans and Jeep ca rs to ew Zealand, the U. K. and D. Cars built for export onl y, models (and now, as of 2006, Chrysler Australi a, among other places that are without counterparts in the 300 edans) built in China. There's also the Ch1ysler U.S. The 1934-39 Chevrolet Imperial Other examples include Ford Voyager and Jeep Cherokee among was built in a long-wheel-base model Falcons in Latin America and Australia other models that were built by Steyr only and came in limousine and con­ (although me longer these were pro­ in Austria, before the merger of vertible sedan versions as well a duced outside the U.S., the greater Daimler Benz and Chrysle r. It is chassis only options. Another example the differences between mem and unclear to me, as to whether or not is the Oldsmobile Commercial of me anytl1ing in production in me .S.). this arrangement continued after the 1930s. Car designs that left the merger. E. Ca nadian built cars that were after being produced in the .S., fo rm C. Cars built in the U.S. but built for local consumption in Canada yet another part of this category. exported and assembled in other but which were also exported to Ka iser, Willys and Rambler cars, for nati ons. A lot of ca rs have fit this situ­ many other places in the worl d. Many example, led long and colorful lives ation over the years, re ulting in some times these were mistakenly consid­ after leaving the U.S. to be built in interesting numbering patterns and ered as U.S . cars when, in some outh America for many years. Ford variati ons, which the U.S . car fan is cases, tl1ey were in fact not .S. designs were exported to the USSR. not likely to see. Over me years, .S. made nor even available in the .S. As a minor, but interesting side­ automakers have had assembly plants F. And of course there are, or light, export models or Ca nadian va ri-

September-October 2007 7 ations of .S . cars could be found Sebring itself. even among toy/ model ca r makers During the flrst three versions of such as the English/French Dinky the best selling Ch1ysler Company's Toys by Meccano. Dinky issued a minivan, which was sold in the 1939 Buick Viceroy saloon, a 1959 as the Plymouth Voyager/ Dodge DeSoto Diplomat 4-door sedan and a Ca ravan/Chrysler Town and Country, 1968 Pontiac Parisienne sedan. Other the minivan was marketed as the examples are the small plastic DeSoto Chrysler Voyager until the demise of Diplomat made by EKO in Spain and Plymouth, although the name is still the Micro Models from New Zealand, currently used in Europe. (An interest­ versions of the Australian Ch1ysler ing sidelight of this was the ChJysler Chrysler Neon photo courtesy Philip Royal and Ford Mainlines done in the Ca rava n, a U.S. made export model Campbell late 1950s. It i most likely that other made in accordance with U.S. military flrms have also done similar types of export cars, those often one off cus­ purchasing rules for use in Europe in models from time to time. tom built ca rs from the flnest auto the late 1990s. Exact numbers fo r this Modification of .S. cars for body and coach builders in Europe rarity are not known exactly, but export markets is not a new circum­ crafted onto .S. built chassis. There somewhere in the vicinity of 1,000 of stance, as I have noted, and how far it is a large list of builder and custom these were built between 1996 and goes back is not yet clear. At least built automobiles to be considered 1999 as far as I have been able to from the 1930s onward some Aus­ here. Additionally there are also vehi­ determine.) tralian models of American cars were cles that were built outside the .S. The Dodge/ Plymouth eon frequently fltted with different bodies but which used .S. engine and expon model 0990s onward) was the from those issued on comparable U.S . sometimes running gear. One thinks Ouysler eon. At o rn e point the cars and light trucks. There is a whole of the Hudson powered Railton vehi­ Chrysler eon was also added to the histo1y of that topic in itself, tl1e "slop­ cles in England during the 1930s and Canadian line-up (though I have onl y er" models, the "ute " and other varia­ the Matford in France. seen one example). There are some tions making up an entire research body and other differences between topic by themselves. There was a Contemporary Export Models the Canadian model and the expo1t Cruysler Va liant made in Australia. Living in Europe since 1988, I have one. For example, the shape of the Then there are the Canadian Buicks, noted with con iderable interest some rear bumper for the license plate and which varied from their .S. counter­ of tl1e more contemporary export the locations of side marker lights are pait S, and the Buicks in Australia that models that continue the patterns of two model differences. However, had Holden bodies resulting in still previous years. when DaimlerChiysler began to more items to study. Added to this is Below is a listing, panial though expo1t the Dodge Caliber to Europe the number of modifications made to it is, of vehicles in this catego1y since in 2006 they did o without name convert left-hand-drive cars to ri ght­ the late 1980s. For the most pan, most change, bringing the Dodge name hand drive, which has a history all in of these vehicles would not be seen back to Europe in passenger car form itself. in the U.S. For reference purposes, I for the flrst time in some years. GM's Canadian Pontiacs used a have noted the U.S. market counter­ The name changes can be noted number of different names and models part as much as possible. for GM models as well. During the such as Beaumont, Lau rentian, Parisi­ The Dodge hadow/ Plymouth flrst several years for the Pontiac enne and Acadian. Canadian Ford Sundance was ca ll ed the Ch1ysler ES Transport, export models appeared Motor Company built the Meteor and in Europe (late 1980s-early 1990 ), not to be Pontiac models but orne Monarch cars (as well as selling Ford and a version of the Dodge Spirit/Ply­ eros over between the Olds ilhouette and Mercury cars in Canada at the mouth Acclaim was sold as the Chiys­ and the Chevrolet Lumina vans which same time) and Mercwy trucks, just to ler Saratoga 0990s). The expon ver­ were badged as Pontiac Tran ports. In make note of a few models. Where sion of the cab forward model, ChJys­ a later rever al, the Pontiac Montana will the ChJysler 4400 cars be catego­ ler Concorde/ Dodge Intrepid/ Eagle minivan was expo1ted as the Chev­ ri zed in tl1is process, in that it appears Vision, was lab led the Chrysler rolet Montana. And as was mentioned as if they were modifications and or Vision (mid 1990 ). For some time in above, the Oldsmobile Alero became combinations of the Dodge Dart! the 1990s, the Dodge Stratus in expolt the Chevrolet Alero when offered for Plymouth Va liant cars of the 1960s? mufti became the ChJysler tratu ale in Europe although only the Littl e has been said here about although in recent year this has been sedan ver ion was exported, not the another ve1y interesting category of discontinued in favor of the ChJysler coupe model. The current Pontiac

8 SAH Journ al No. 230 Bora/ then ]etta models, and tl1e Passat/ op a Taste for Hot Cars," Inte·rnational Dasher/ Quantum cars. The Audi 100 in Herald Tribune, August 18, 1997 Europe was th 5000 in the .. , the 80 5. True sto1y, a 1996 Olds Aurora was tl1e 4000 in the U.S. And on and Stolen in 1995 from a Littleton, New on it goes, this interesting ever chang­ Hampshire, turn d up recently after it ing auto mixing process. was involved in an accident, in Poland, o attempt has been made to AutoWeek, March 8 1999 enter into any lengthy discussion of tl1e 6. German TV Station VOX, 30 reasons for aU tl1ese va.Jiations in this October 1997, a TV sho1t film report, "short" article, and there are probably dealing with tl1e exportation of .S. ma.I1Y to consider. I suggest tl1ey would new and used cars bought off car lots Dodge Caliber export edition photo prove to be another entire aJticle in this in Flo1ida, and already presold in courtesy Philip Campbell topic. Perhaps this can become anotl1er Germany. Included: Ford Explorers and GTO was ori ginall y made in Australia research project for a later time. • large U.S. vans. Other cars, including and marketed there and in ew Zea­ Other a.Jticles or items of possible antique cars, Mercedes and others also land a the Holden Monaro and in interest: use this channel. the U. K. as a Va uxhall mode l. 1. Peter unn, "Swimming to 7. Observed October 24, 1997, on Ford added to this myste1y by Japan," AutoWeek, August 21, 1995 German Autobahn, two trucks cany ing selling the U.S. M rcury Cougar (late 2. Keith Martin, "A Global Trade new/ used Chrysler products. This 1990s) as the Ford Cougar and the in Coll ectible Ca rs," International included several Plymouth , Dodge Mercury Capri, built in Australia, as Herald Tribune, August 17-18, 1996 minivans and a Toyota Supra, aU bear­ the Ford Ca pri , in Europe. This had 3. Bany James, "Poland a Paradise ing dealer labels from Elmhurst Illinois. its precedent in the 1960s, when the for Car TI1ieves, Seeks Means to Fight Both trucks had Hungarian license Ford Mustang was prohibited from nde1world," International Herald plates. sale in Germany because the name Tribune, December 3, 1996 Al o there is a reverse trade; was already used by a motorbike, so 4. Jane Perlez, "Albanians Devel- continued on page 15 Ford renamed the Mustang for Ger­ many as the T-5 . This subsequently became an interesting car to be re­ The Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild: impoited back to the .S., although, in ve1y small numbers, just as many An Illustrated History by John L. Jacobus. Opel GT's from the late 1960s and only definitive work on this famous student automotive design competition earl y 1970s have been exported back held 1930- 1968; 331 pages, 171 photos (41 color ), charts, appendices, to Germany from the . . Yet, when bibliography, index, endnotes, hardcover, 7"x10", $49.95 + $4 s/h from Ford Ta urus cars and Mercury able McFarland & Co., ISBN: 978-0-7864-1719-3. 2005 release. models were exported to some Reviewed by Old Cars Weekly, Cars and Parts, Collectible European countries the major out­ Automobile, Choice, Car and Driver, CruZin ', Wood Carving Illustrated, Road & Track, AUTO Aficionado, Hemming's Oassic ward modification was to rede ign the Car, The Auto Channel, the Automotive Chronicles, The Flying rear bumper to accommodate the Lady, The Washington T!ffies, GM Tech Center News, GM's larger license plates. The MercUiy Intranet, Minnesota Street Rod Assoc., Cruisin Chiefs: Manitoba Villager minivans came to Ho ll and without much modification at all. I have not included the many other variations that were built for South American/Latin American markets or from Africa and Asia. or have I even begun to consider in any depth, the reversal when ]a pane e cars are sold in the .S. u ing different names www.FisherGuild.com 1956 - 1" atio nal Scholarship, Senior Division, from the names used in Japan or $5,000 university tru st fund. Europe or elsewhere in the world. • Contact the Author (SAH #2220) for 20 % disco unt for SAH members at 'ohn '[email protected] or write to: 10103 Gates Aven ue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20902. Check or mon ey orders only. Consider also European cars named dif­ • See the Guild's web site www.FisherGuild.com for posted reviews and further book ordering ferently depending on the market, as instructions. noted ea rlier with the VW Jetta/Vento/

September-October 2007 9 2511-3, Softbound, 211 pages, 80 il­ lustration , McFarland & Company, Box 611 , Jefferson, NC 28640, 1-800- 253-2187, www.mcfarlandpub.com. $29.95

John Jerome once wrote that "service manuals are hymnals of conservative thought ... they are not even prag­ Boo I< matic: there is never a hint of the 'try this, then try this, and if that fails , tty this' that is the operative method of Revie\Ns real-world attempts to make machines surv ive." Audi Sportwagen, by H. Hafner, H.]. of the first Audi Quattro are recalled, Charles Wilmarth 's book Practi­ and V. Schneider, F.P. Wiedl . 2005, but attention is also given to the cal Car Restoration is a nice antidote ISBN 3-7688-5781-6. Hardbound, 440 many national and internati onal to service-manual writing. Wilmanh pages, text in German, 996 photo­ sponscar events with later models. uses his experi ence restoring two graphs (approx. 600 in color). Pub­ The record drives up Pikes Peak as cars, a 1928 Dodge Brothers and a lished by Schneider Text, France. well as the circuit races on the West 1930 Franklin, to illustrate the practi­ Email : [email protected] Coast are described and of course cal techniques and some of the pit­ Price 39.90 Euro (approx US-$53) illustrated. Chapters on the National fa lls of antique car restoration. Championships in Germany are fol­ Wilmanh's book begins by first This impressive book was compiled lowed by the fabulous success story including a chapter on the initial after months of research and coll ect­ of Audi winning the world famous 24 choice of a vehicle to restore, using ing information and data by the hours of Le Mans race (1999-2005) mu eums as a resource, and a brief authors. It was published to com­ and on the equally successful panici­ history of the Fra nklin company. For memorate 40 years of Audi in the pation in the American ALMS series those that have read Sinclair Powell 's post-war period and the 25th anniver­ events. Tbe Franklin Automobile Company, sary of the firs t Audi Quam·o. At the end of the book there is much of this material will be at best a The first part of the book con­ a highl y intriguing chapter on studies, cursory review of that story. Still, ta ins concise descriptions of the idea cars and prototypes. A twenty­ Wilmanh's approach of using accurate sporty automobiles produced by page annex contains detailed tables textual and visual material in the Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer with the technical pecifications of restoration of an automobile rings (A uto-Union) as well as much more 160 different models (1911-2005) and true with the ultimate goal of a detailed and very well ill ustrated the results in motorsports events restoration: to preserve the historical chapters on the various models built (1980-2005). There is a good li t of record of an automobile. since WWII. source material, literature and illustra­ Funher chapters outline tl1e The second pan describes the tions. An index is missing, but as the basic steps of rebuilding an antique cars' often successful participation in book is very neatly sectioned, this is car, with sections on wood and trim motorsports events from 1911 until not considered a great loss. restoration, paint and body work and 2005 and includes a wealth of illustra­ To all amateurs of automotive mechanical restoration. Each chapter tions, many of which have not been history and especially motorspon the contain a step-by-step explanation of published before. Repons on the very nicely printed and produced Wilmanh's work on the Franklin, witl1 early races and spans events are fo l­ book will be a treasured reference advice drawn from years of experi­ lowed by technical descriptions of the work and a joy for many years to ence with automobiles to leaven the famous "silver arrows," the Auto­ come. Highly recommended. work and make it more applicable to Un ion GP-racing cars of the 1930s, -Ferdinand Hediger other makes, models and even eras. the races in which they staned and Ending with Wilmanh's panicipa­ the record runs performed. More tion in a Franklin Trek and, finally, ilie space is allotted to the description of Practical Car Restoration: A sale of ilie car, the book contains much the spans and racing models of Audi Guidebook with Lessons from a advice on botl1 ilie restoration of an and their panicipation in events in 1930 Franklin Rebuild, by Charles antique car and ilie sustained use of it. Europe and overseas. The successes L. Wilmarth III, 2006 ISB 0-7864- A few words of caution: It is not

10 SAH journal No. 230 necessarily the best book for a begin­ responsible fo r the fl owering of the prestige enjoyed by thi type of ning restorer- Wilmarth spends little twelves for passenger cars in the years engine even fo r racing cars fo r which, time explaining mechanical systems or before and during the First World War. some of us had naively assumed, the the theory of automobile operation, In the '20s making use of technical design process was entirely rati onal. making some of the text difficult to solutions developed for aero engines, This is a book to which the automo­ comprehend for those unfamiliar with the Europeans responded with a eri es ti ve historian will frequentl y retu rn to arca ne automoti ve technology. And of racing V12s that set new standards enjoy its intellectu al and visual some of Wilmarth 's methods--paiticu­ on the track. Surplus wartime twelves delights. It takes its place on our larl y his method of patching rust- are found their way into land speed shelves next to the great works of questionable. Still , Wilmarth works record cars, holding the title until dis­ Pomeroy and Borgeson. hard to illustrate his own mistakes and placed by a turbine-powered con­ -Arthur j ones suggest methods that might be both tender in 1964. Beginning witl1 the more practical and more effective. sleeve-valve Daimler of 1926, a new Practical Car Restoration con­ generation of V12s from every produc­ Thunder at Sunrise: A History of tains a great deal of very good infor­ ing country crowded the luxury mar­ the Vanderbilt Cup, the Grand mation, and for those interested in ketplace until they were driven into Prize and the Indianapolis 500, automotive history, it gives an expla­ extinction by the economics of tl1e 1904-1916, by John M. Burns, 2006 nation of many of the traditional skills Depression. ISBN 0-7864-2474-5. Hardcover 273 used by both car builders and trades­ With di placements from 1.1 to pages. McFa rland & Company, Box men. These skills are nearly lost today 11.3 liters and vee angles from 45 to 611 , Jefferson, C 28640, 1-800-253- and little was written about them dur­ 120 degrees, the V12 permitted maxi­ 2187, www.mcfa rlandpub.com. 55 ing their use. Wilmarth's book is an mum fl exibility to designers for the excell ent addition to any restorer's intended use. It could be narrow to fit If you're a racing historian who's li brary and is also a living document into engine bays and reduce frontal been waiting for the long overdue for those interested in the preserva tion area or wide to minimize height and definitive hist01y of the Vanderbilt of automotive skills. give clearance for manifolding and Cup and American Grand Pri ze races, - Luke Chennell carburetors. Packard's Twin Six was this isn't it. On the other hand, if you more compact and 400 pound lighter just want the story and aren't too con­ than the ix-cylinder it replaced. cerned with pictori al and tabular mat­ The V12 Engine: The Untold Inside Proven suitable fo r a variety of appli­ ter this book could be just the ticket. Story of the Technology, Evolu­ cations, the V1 2 was restricted only The text is easy to read and tion, Performance and Impact of by its complexity and cost. The sur­ quite entertaining if you don't mind All V12-Engined Cars, by Karl pri e appearance of the twelve-cylin­ "rakish blue racers" and "blood-red Ludvigsen, 2005, I B 1-84425-004-0. d r Ferrari on the postwar scene was behemoths" and cattered social hi to­ Hardbound, 424 pages, 667 black and fa r from foreseen. In the industrial ry. And there's no doubt the author white photographs and drawing , 58 reconstructi on of the 1950s few would did his homework because a near as color illustrations. Haynes Publishing, have predicted the emergence of a I could tell without engaging in some Somerset, .K. www.haynes.co.uk. new generation of V12 sports and diligent double checking, the race 69.95/£40.00 luxury cars winning at the track and accounts are as accurate as one could selling readily at astronomical prices. expect in view of the fact that he had In this broad and d tail ed study, the In today's world of diminished expec­ to reconstruct them from vari ous author has given us a readable histori­ tations and the ubiquitous balance newspaper and periodical ources cal account that can also serve as a shaft, how can we account for such of the time (verified by the bibli ogra­ reference work for its subject. irresponsible behavior? phy) . Anyone writing race recaps ca n He begins with a brief review of Based on a life time of technical easily get bogged down in lap-by-lap the origins of the internal combustion research and the author's personal recitati on, but his descriptions of engine, early experiments with multi­ acquaintance with many of the pro­ crowd misbehavior and race accidents cylinder designs and the fi rst V12s in tagonists of V12 development in the both calamitou and casual are ma rine and aviation appli cations. The po twar period, the text is fill ed with engaging and even amusing. The only V12 was seen as a natu ral evolution observations and quotations that bring glaring error that popped out at me of the in-line six, avoiding the limita­ history into focus. Business and tech­ was Andrew Riker competing in the ti ons of the straight-eight's long crank­ nology are equally well served. We fir t Gordon Bennett race (he wasn't shaft and the troublesome vibrations learn that the choice of twelve cylin­ there) and dri ving a Winton no less. of the VS. Ameri can engineers were ders was in many cases influenced by As I sa id , this book i OK if

September-October 2007 11 you're not concerned with pictorial and lisher. [email protected] versions of 1940, Ve1itas, AFM ,etc. up tabular matter, but the picture quality Price 39.90 Euro (approx S- 53.00) to the tuned Alpinas and Schnitzers, (poor) and selection (sparse) was a big the engagements at the 24-hour disappointment to me. I can't imagine This impressive book is a treat for endurance race of Le Mans and the why the author (or the publisher) relied every sports car lover and especiall y BMW works teams in the last yea rs. on just two picture sources, but I didn't for the owners and admirers of BMW. There are about 50 pages in find any that weren't attributed to either When studying its contents more thor­ which the BMW formula racing ca rs the Smithtown (New York) Library's oughly it becomes obvious that this is and idea cars are described and illus­ Long Island Room or the Indianapolis far more than a beautifu l picture book. trated. The 2nd edition contains an Motor peedway. Many of the former There are plenty of hitheno unpub­ annex with the latest developments up were obviously copied from an old lished illustrations, concise information, to 2003. magazine (specifically The Automobile data and facts. The three authors have Also included as a special bonus of 10/ 15/04), and except for three or tackled the task with plenty of inside are a list of more than 650 people con­ four they're much too dark. The photos knowledge, love and care. They con­ nected with BMW spons events, a bib­ from the Speedway are a lot better, but vey in a lively way a study of the very li ography and the technical specifica­ many of these seem muddy, too. successfu l engagement of the BMW tions of 193 different BMW models. Including the first six Indianapoli 500- marque in motorspo1t over the years. This great book is hard to put mile races makes sense because the The models available to the public, down. Whenever one is leafin g scope of the book spans 1904 to 1916, which are hard ly ever entered in spons through it, the eye is caught by a fasci­ but if that's so, one has to ask why the events, are also amply covered. nating picture or a bit of information pre-500 races at the "brickyard" are The section of the book need a which animates the owner to stan ignored. bit of getting accustomed to. In the first reading. eedless to ay the book is I can't oiticize the tabular matter chapter the BMW production models, nicely printed, quality bound and well because there isn 't any to criticize. I'm their development and their success in produced. Warmly recommended to sure if the author had asked Jerry sports events are carefully presented. any BMW lover but also any historian Heick for permission to include the First there are the roadsters, conven­ interested in the history of one of the Vanderbilt and Grand Prize cha1ts from ibles and coupes from 1929 till 2003. most successful European marques. his clad 's book, Th e Checkered Flag, From the earl y tiny Dixis to the types -Ferdinand Hediger that Jeny would have obliged. For 55 315, 319, 327, 335 and the legendaty I would expect charts, or at least a 328; the models 503, 507, 3200 CS and table of race dates, places and winners the little BMW 700 the descriptions David Buick's Marvelous Motor in the back of the book. If you're a continue to the CS, CSL, M1 and the Car: The Men and the Automobile racing hi tori an you still need the latest Z-range, produced in the United That Launched General Motors, Heick book (which has illustrations, of States. Then follow the spony coupes by Lawrence R. Gustin 2006 I B course, but no photos), and as a mat­ and convertibles based on sedan mod­ 0-9786269-0-7. Hardbound, 232 pages ter of fact I found you can buy used els. Up first are the 501 and 502, nick­ illu trated. Buick Gallery and Re earch Helcks from Amazon.com for 24.95 to named in Europe "Baroque Angels" Center, Alfred P. Sloan Museum. 24.95 125.00. For Indianapolis 500 statistics due to their fl owing lines. Then the you would have to have one the three famous 1600, 1800 and 2002 in their David Dunbar Buick, the man who editions of Jack Fox's Illustrated many versions and finally the late M3 gave Buick their name, is now an all­ History of the Indianapolis 500 which and M5 models are well covered. but-forgotten pioneer in the auto in­ ca n also be fo und on the internet for The next chapter covers the pro­ du try, but he is appropriately remem­ about the same money, so take your totypes, special models and foreign bered in David Buick's Marvelous pick. marques which were based on BMW MotorCar . -Thomas F Saal designs. Here the reader will find sur­ Buick, a successful manufacturer prising information and illustrations, for of plumbing supplies, incorporated the example, Frazer ash, Bristol, AC, Buick Motor Car Company in January BMW Sportwagen, by V. Schneider, Cooper, Talbot, Morgan, Bizzarrini, 1904. But a scant nine month later, he H.]. Schneider and R. imons, 2nd Sbarro, but also Alpina, Schnitzer, had to cede control to William C. Edi ti on 2003 ISB 3-7688-1454-8. Hange and Wiesmann. Durant. Only four year later, Durant Hardcover, 409 pages, teA.'l in Much space is then all otted to the had turned a failing enterpri e into the German, 815 illustrations mainly in BMW racing and competition sports leading manufacturer of automobiles colo r. Schneider Text, France/ Ireland. touring models. Starting with the type in the United tates and the Buick Available in bookshops or from pub- 328 including the famous Mille Miglia company became the cornerstone for

12 SAH Journal No. 230 General Motors, which Durant found­ sium was the paper presented by Dr. archives section (which contains the ed in 1908. Josef Ernst of the D AG Heritage materials relating to motor sports) of David Buick quietly left the Information Center, "Das Eifelrennen the Heritage Information Center. H company in 1909. He lost his money 1934-Neubauers Dilemma: Eine was followed by Dr. Hany Niemann, in a seri es of speculative ventures and Auswe1tung Vorhandenen Materials"/ head of the Heritage Information died 20 years later in relative poverty. "The 1934 Eifel Ra ce-Neubauer's Center as well a being a noted autho r. Together with Walter Marr and Dil mma: Observations based upon The discussion following was notable Eugene Richard, Buick developed the Available Documentation. " by the presence of Harvey Rowe, tl1 e overhead-valve engine, which set his The basis for this discussion was co-author of the reubauer book. The early autos apart from their competi­ the sto1y related in the book Manner, book was the result of a eries of aiti­ tors. These valve-in-head engines, as Frauen un Motoren. by Alfred eu­ cles which appeared in Quick maga­ they were known, went on to be bauer, whereby eubauer, the man­ zine in late 1958. Also present were mainstays of Buick cars for much of ager of the Mercedes-Benz racing representatives from MotorKlassik, the 20th century. That's why they team, made the decision to strip the Mercedes Classic Magazin, Stern, Auto were "1narvelous." paint off the team's racing machines Bild, and regional television (SWR). Mr. Gustin, a former assistant to enable them to meet the maximum In addition, the former head of the public-relations director at Buick, has weight limit of 750 kil ograms as stip­ Archives of the AJ!gemeiner Deutscher produced a good, succinct history of ulated by the Internati onal Formula Automobii-Ciub (ADAC), Graf Hans­ the earl y clays of one of America's used for Grand Prix racing by the Christoph von eherr-Thoss, was pres­ great mainstream automobil es and the Association Internationale des Auto­ ent along with noted authors Karl men responsible for it. mobile Clubs Reconnus (the AIACR, Ludvigsen and Doug ye. Z. Taylor Vinson the forerunner of the current Federa­ Although no firm conclusions Editor's No te: This review orig­ tion Internationale de !'Automobile, were reached by those assembled in inally appeared in Th e New York or FIA) when the ca rs were found to Fellbach, the discussion brought many Times and is used with permission. be overweight. The import of this materials to light from the DCAG story is that it is the often-cited rea­ archives which, along with other News continued from page 5 son as to why the racing colo r of the sources now being made available, now The Untold Story of a Great American German teams was changed from provide a better understanding of the Engine Maker. Hall-Scott wa once a white to silver. events leading up to and SUITouncling highly regarded maker of aviation, After opening remarks by the Eifelrennen. Additional research and marine and automotive engines. A his­ Michael Bock, managing director of further discussions in the wake of the tory professor at orthern tate ni­ tl1e Mercedes-Benz Museum, Dr. Ernst symposium have provided yet more versity in Aberdeen, outh Dakota, he presented his findings from what materials for review on tl1is topic. coauthored the book with Francis H. could be found in the company -Don Capps Bradford, a former Hall-Scott engineer. The book is now available through SAE International, 400 Com­ monwealth Avenue, Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15096-0001 or by e-mail at [email protected]. - j ohn Perala

Mercedes Symposium On July 24, 2007 the Heritage Infor­ mation Center of DaimlerChiysler AG sponsored a symposium at the Mer­ cedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach to discuss an aspect of its motor rac­ ing heritage that recently has been given pa1ticular attention. The topic of the symposium was "Das Eifelrennen 1934- eubauers Di lemma"/"The Ei~ I Race of 1934- Neubauer's Dil emma. " Seminar participants pose with a 1935 Mercedes W25, which is owned by DCAG and The centerpiece of the sympo- similar to the cars at the 1934 Eifelrennen photo courtesy Don Capps

September-October 2007 13 Another example would be the Chase, whi ch was a highwheeler built beginning in 1907 that was available­ with multiple rows of seats to be used as a "depot hack. " -AlMroz

Letters

Cantrell Not the First Eartier Iterations of Depot Hack 1891 Morrison illustration courtesy AlMroz Regarding th e "Ca n of Worms" article To answer the "Ca n of Worms" note, I in j ournal229, I doubt that the 1915 have to say Newsday's claim that Ca ntrell depot wagon should be con­ Joseph and Albert Cantrell built the "LeSabre" Buses sidered the first vehicle of that type. first "depot wagon" in 1915 would be I received the fo llowing email and The depot wagon, or depot hack or diffi cult to substantiate, and only on a photos yesterday from Bernard station wagon, came equipped with semantic level. Unless someone were Vermeylen in Belgium. I thought you a removable back seat for times to quibble over the exact term "depot might li ke to run them as a follow up when room was needed fo r baggage wagon" then there were numerous in your "Letters" secti on. The or other equipment instead of pas­ earlier iterations of the "depot hack," Dodge/Van Hool bus is likely the sengers. I beli eve that the first such whi ch were ava ilable with rows of one I saw in Switzerland in 1953. motor vehicles were made by seats as a small "omnibus" or "jitney," - MikeLamm International Harvester and Sears the latter another East Coast term Dear Mr. Lamm, Roebuck prior to 1910. These vehi­ referring to a nickel, the cost of the My good friend, Pierre Wilhem, cles had tall wheels with wagon type short ride usually from a hotel to a a fri end of Taylor Vinson of the solid tires and were ca ll ed "high­ train station. (We won't include horse­ Society of Automotive Historians, wheelers. " drawn vehicles here, I assume). spoke to me yesterday about a Cantrell vehicles always had The term "depot wagon" in Belgia n bus with a "Le abre look ,~ wood bodies. Its chief competitor, 1915 would have been a kind of a bus that you had photographed in Babcock, of Watertown, ew York, hybrid, I suppose, if only by name. 1953 in witzerland. always had a steel body with steel If we can use the hybrid term, then I am presently working on a doors and a steel ta ilgate, usuall y in that case we can actually delve book about car from Ea tern shown on a Dodge Brothers chassis. into battery power, and then I must Europe, and I just had a look at a It was more expensive than the cite my own book, The Illustrated good Belgian automotive publication, Ca ntrell but lasted a lot longer. Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Englebert Magazin, dated Jan./Feb. And speaking of j ournal 229, Commercial Vehicles, where one will 1952. It contains pictures from the I agree with Michael Berger's Pres­ find the picture and de cription of the Brussels Motor Show of January 1952, ident's Perspective, "The Invisible 1891 Morrison. The Morrison had and among them were photos of two Passenger." He really hit the nail on three rows of seats with elaborate LeSabre-lookalike buses. the head about the unneeded distrac­ wooden sides and a very elegant The first bus, on a Dodge cha - tion. It w ill be for a future generation roof. Again, one might quibble that it sis, was made by a Belgian coach­ to realize that all the noise is causing was "merely" an electric vehicle, but builder named Van Hool. It was built hearing problems; maybe then the it did cany passengers at the Chicago specifi call y for a tour company called noise and distraction will be turned Columbia Exhibition in 1893, and it Destrebecq Trips. The Dodge-based down. carried them from a train depot (new bus had a seating capacity of 22 . Van -Nelson Bolan electric tram to be exact). Hool was, and remains, one of

14 SAH Journal No. 230 Europe's leading makers of bus bod­ tice machinist. Originally from Boston Window continued.from page 9 ies. The company is headquartered in he had moved to Bridgepott to become many auto haulers have been observed Antwerp. chi f engineer after Locomobile bought in Germany carrying used European The magazine also showed a out the Stanley brothers and began specification vehicles heading east second bus, this one on a 24-passen­ building steam-powered cars. toward Eastern Europe or notthwest to ger Chevrolet chassis, which was We moved from Bridgepott in Antwerp. Rotterdam or Bremerhaven built by a company called Carrosserie 1924 and when Mr. Whitney learned with vehicles heading to Africa and the Vandevelde in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. we were leaving, he told me that if I Middle East. returned when I was 12 he would 8. From the .S. milita ry commu­ give me the engine and tender. Of nity in Kaiserslautern, Germany, an course I neve r returned to claim that auto haul er full y loaded with ca rs for choice mode l. Bulgaria, included on top, a '91 Chev­ Many years later I found out that rolet Caprice sedan, and another head­ the Whitney locomotive with tender eel for Latvia with a 1990 Pontiac Grand was in the museum at the Newcomen Am two door included. Bu s on Dodge chassis made by a Society of Ameti ca in Exton, Pennsyl­ Belgian coachbuilder named Van Hool va nia. It is in a glass case which is a photo courtesy Bernard Vermeylen fitting tribute to a kind old man whom I remember fondl y. It was only when as an adult more e ri ously intere ted in automo­ tive history that I realized that th e same Mr. Whitney was an early builder of operating steam automo­ Photos Wanted Of American vehi­ bil es dating to 1893. cles from World War I Albert Mroz -G. M arshal Naul [email protected] Bus on Chevrolet chassis, which was built by a company called Carrosserie Vande­ velde photo courtesy Bernard Vermeylen T his is the complete story of the A Childhood Encounter Lexington Motor Car Company, with George Eli Whitney a marque that would pioneer a dual This is a minor anecdote about early exhaust system and chalk up two victo­ automotive history, shared before it is ries at Pikes Peak in its short existence too late and lost. from 1909 to 1927. Exhaustively covering When I was four and five years the company and its cars, this history old 0 923-1924) my parents and I lived includes specifications and an account­ in Bridgepott, Connecticut. ext door ing of surviving car . lived George Whitney and his wife. He "Well-researched, fascinating ... It's was fond of children and would enter­ remarkable to see in this book how many tain us with a cuckoo clock on the din­ photos and ads of Lexington cars, their ing room wall which was connected factory, parts and advertising have sur­ mechanically or electrically to a fl oor­ vived . . . McFarland has emerged as a level control. The cookoo would deter­ source for interesting books on obscure, mine by sound whether I or other chil­ but worthy, American cars."-Hemmings Classic Car dren had been bad or good. 263 pages $45 hardcover (7 x 10} Mr. Whitney, I fo und, could easily 251 photos, tables, appendix, notes, "A gold mine of information . . . and the be persuaded to fire up his li ve model bibliography, index author has made it an excellent reading steam engine which ran on a track at ISB 978-0-7864-2542-6 2007 experience." - Antique Automobile bench height around his two-car garage. His locomotive and tender was about four feet long and used wood for McFarland generating steam. It was designed by Box 611, jefferson C 28640 • Orders 800-253-2187 • FAX 336-246-4403 • www.mcfarla.ndpub.com Mr. Whi tney when he was an appren-

September- October 2007 15 FIRST CLASS PRESORT U.S . Postage PAID J~!Jrn~lIssue 230 September-October 2007 Hartford, CT The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Permit #751 37 Wyndwood Road West Hartford, CT 06107

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER This auto sculpture graced Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czech Republic, in June 2005. Photo courtesy of Matt Son field