Find the hidden midget in the picture...

[Michigander]

.. and I don't mean the one on Fantasy Island http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

While at the Nats in Louisville I heard about this 'old race car' for sale, so I checked it out. Tucked in a old back garage was this 1937 Midget racer! Built in Jersey in '37, same owner since '38 (now 87 year old). Hasen't been out of the garage since 1955. Guy thinks it's worth gold, thanks to what an old buddy told him, but maybe some day I'll get that call agreeing to my offer.

Racer is a V8-60, In-out gear box, Model A axle, Franklin steering, aluminum body, etc. Nice, homemade machine that's a real time warp machine. Would be a cool ride with a simple clutch and gearbox.

Oh well, someday...

[40StudeDude]

Yep, that's the worse kind..."an old buddy that told him it was worth gold"...and of course, he's an expert on all things wheeled.

Too bad it's buried...and good luck on that offer...

R-

[The37Kid]

Try to get as much information you can about the car and its racing history. You are very lucky to get to see something like this, ask if there is a scrapbook or any race programs that relate to this car. Find out who the builder was, drivers, and tracks it raced on, and numbers it carried. PM me if you need some help. Bob

[purple]

<font color="purple"> I see it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif </font>

[Michigander]

[ QUOTE ]
Try to get as much information you can about the car and its racing history. You are very lucky to get to see something like this, ask if there is a scrapbook or any race programs that relate to this car. Find out who the builder was, drivers, and tracks it raced on, and numbers it carried. PM me if you need some help. Bob

[/ QUOTE ]

He told me the original Glendale, New Jersey, builder's name, who went on to build only one other car, a post war Kurtis-Offy. The current owner has lots of pics of the car in it's day, and must have some type of scrap book (he's a pack rat).

He raced at New Jersey and New York tracks at first, including a Long Island track where they slept with the cars and spectators could bet on the race like horses. After the move to Louisville there was velodrome (wood bicycle track) he raced on. A story he tells is that he was in a race at the velodrome when another car's driver was about to smack the wall and stuck out his arm, ripping that driver's arm off! But wait, that startled driver then tried to stand up in his car, upon which his head contacted a hard overhead object with predictable results http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I don't think the builder, or drivers, of the car were anyone famous.

[The37Kid]

With only two photos I can tell that was a well built car, not some backyard build.

[Slag Kustom]

that would make for a fun street car if you can get it for less then your first born

[alchemy]

So what is he asking? Does it have a quickie? How about speed equipment on the engine, is it Eddie Meyer or something else rare? Tin sided block? Large SW gauges? Got a magneto? How's the rubber?

Is it worth 8? Or 10? If he threw in the history and scrapbooks it would have to be worth $1,000 more to the right guy.

- alchemy

[DesmoDog]

That thing is way cool... I have the plans to a '30s era midget up on my wall in my office. Someday...

[Chopped50Ford]

that guy needs to extinguish all of that sh*t in there to clear that midget out.

Its unbelieveable what them guys "collect"

I hope you get it!!!

[Michigander]

[ QUOTE ]
So what is he asking? Does it have a quickie? How about speed equipment on the engine, is it Eddie Meyer or something else rare? Tin sided block? Large SW gauges? Got a magneto? How's the rubber?

Is it worth 8? Or 10? If he threw in the history and scrapbooks it would have to be worth $1,000 more to the right guy.

- alchemy



[/ QUOTE ]

If you were at the NATS you saw a VERY similar Midget at the Speedway display (stored since 1960), running a Ford 8N sourced flat 4. 'Speedy' Bill was there, and said he paid $8500 for it. Similar 'project' cars seem to sell around $3000 online.

As for this V860 one;
- No speed parts that I can see on the engine
- Quick change In-Out box, std. Model A axle center
- Owner says its a iron block (he may not actually remember)
- Can't see the gauge faces, covered with dust! One large round in center, tall-oval smaller ones to either side. Cool wire spoked steering wheel (not Ford type).
- Owner says a distributor running off Dry Cell batteries.
- Tires are rock hard

Some extra stuff included with car, but did not see it. Shit is knee deep in Corvair heads, Kaiser hubcabs, lawn mower engines, etc., etc.

[NorwegianV8]

The midget Speedvay display on the NATS
'speedy'Bill got from Dick Spadaro
The engine is a Ferguson flat 4 with lots of Babe Stap speed equipment

[Michigander]

Never heard of Babe Stapp (the driver) before, but did notice it said "Babe Stapp" on the cylinder head of the Speedway display car. Online info dosen't mention Stapp as a parts manufacturer. Bill did not say where the car came from, but did say it had some rare parts on it. He can afford to spend the big money on what he really wants (rare stuff).

Isn't the Fergusen tractor pretty much the same as a Ford 9N? Ford and Fergusen started out as partners in the tractor business when they brought the Fergusen 3 point system to market.

Thanks for the info.

[The37Kid]

Egbert "Babe" Stapp was an INDY 500 driver 1927-1940. Highest finish was 5th in 1939 driving an Alfa-Romeo.

[memaerobilia]

My Dad built tons of 'em from the late 30's until the fifties. Then he &amp; I picked one up about 1972/3 and restored about three dozen more, until he passed in 1990. There is an OLD thread around here from me, about how we built them from scratch-starting with drawing the car in 3-views on cut up refrigerator cartons, then making each part until done. That looks like a really well built car. If you want an idea of what it could look like after a lot of Winter nights, see my website with hundreds of photos at;
www.memaerobilia.com (http://www.memaerobilia.com) Just found an old aluminum grille and engine mounts and hinges etc for old midgets in one of my 400 storage boxes, last week. Put it on the Bay and was surprised at all the interest.Hope you enjoy the vintage race car photos..

[memaerobilia]

I'll look up some of my old midget photo collection. Dad built 'em for a living, when they were current racers. He knew ALL the NJ, NY &amp; East Coast guys in racing.It makes me think of the name Johnny Ritter, a champion driver. one of his cars was a yellow #23. Don't think he drove any Ford 60's though=drove better stuff.your photo kinda rings a bell. Will check on that car tomorrow. I know I've seen it before.He coulda told you in a second..
We had a BUNCH of cars that had those white accent strips that converged from the side,to a point at front of hood or nose. I just gotta know whose car it was. Will let you know what I find out.

[Michigander]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll look up some of my old midget photo collection. Dad built 'em for a living, when they were current racers. He knew ALL the NJ, NY &amp; East Coast guys in racing.It makes me think of the name Johnny Ritter, a champion driver. one of his cars was a yellow #23. Don't think he drove any Ford 60's though=drove better stuff.your photo kinda rings a bell. Will check on that car tomorrow. I know I've seen it before.He coulda told you in a second..
We had a BUNCH of cars that had those white accent strips that converged from the side,to a point at front of hood or
nose. I just gotta know whose car it was. Will let you know what I find out.

[/ QUOTE ]

memaerobilia,

Check you Private Messages... Thanks.

[The37Kid]

Hi Joe, Welcome to the HAMB site! Years ago Joe Sr. needed a 1926-27 Model T Ford rear axe for an early OFFY powered midget he was restoring, and I had one. He was a great guy, a true legend, great craftsman, and had a "colorful" way of speeking. He showed up one Sunday morning and we loaded the rear axle into his car. I asked whos car it was that he was restoring, turned out to be one of the few cars driven by West Coast Champion Bob Swanson. No relation to me, but neat to supply a part to a car that had a driver with the same name.

[weekender]

Michigander, Ferguson was an overhead valve engine and, ford 9N was a flathead. I have a 50 ferguson TO20.

Thanks, McCray

[Michigander]

That's cool. The Speedway display Midget was definately a flathead 4, and Bill said it was a 'tractor' motor. Thanks..

[the-rodster]

Speedy Bill's midget


http://www.scrtc.com/~wells1/IMG_1751.JPG

http://www.scrtc.com/~wells1/IMG_1752.JPG

[REDDOG]

i love the grass roots midgets, as well as the new ones, i got a friend who has an old one, i'll see if i can get some pics of it and post, its been restored and looks cool

[REDDOG]

here is our modern day midget

[memaerobilia]

Hi Bob; it has been years since I've seen you at Hershey, now that we moved to Florida with four remaining race
cars. If you want to see how your 26,27 Model T rear came out (AFTER I narrowed it by cutting 5 3/16" off of each axle and the middle of each axle housing side) in the Bob Swanson Offy Midget (your namesake) here is before &amp; after http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifThe frame is chrome too-as was the original..
http://members.cox.net/barnstormer1/swanso1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/barnstormer1/swanso2.jpg

[Monkey]

Man, you guys have it all wrong...this is a midget!

Thanks lil mikey!!!

monkey

[REDDOG]

thats not the midget that was running around with a blow up doll at a car show a few years is it?

[fuel pump]

This isn't a hidden midget but it's sure a well hidden mustang http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[gtxrider]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll look up some of my old midget photo collection. Dad built 'em for a living, when they were current racers. He knew ALL the NJ, NY & East Coast guys in racing.It makes me think of the name Johnny Ritter, a champion driver. one of his cars was a yellow #23. Don't think he drove any Ford 60's though=drove better stuff.your photo kinda rings a bell. Will check on that car tomorrow. I know I've seen it before.He coulda told you in a second..
We had a BUNCH of cars that had those white accent strips that converged from the side,to a point at front of hood or
nose. I just gotta know whose car it was. Will let you know what I find out.

[/ QUOTE ]

memaerobilia,

Check you Private Messages... Thanks.

Johnny Ritter's car had an ELTO (2Cycle Evinrude) it was wicked fast if he could run up high at Nutley.