History Looking for 1949 El Mirage 32 5W History

Looking for history on this 32 5W from 1949 El Mirage
Here’s it’s timing that year

 

Try to find a thread by 'WoodieMike' lots of photos and history from Muroc & El Mirage from 1949, the car might be in there.

 

Thanks oj

 

Here it is, easily one of the best threads on the hamb:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lakes-pictures-p-r-c.943878/

 

Looks pretty new to be genuine. Reproduction tags are readily available.

 

That was my first impression too. Fake tag. Maybe it is a replica of a real one, but that tag in the pic is not from 1949.

 

So the 32 might be fake here’s more pictures
It was freshened up

 

Last two

 

Fake Tag..

 

LOTS of new stuff on that car. It is not "as built" from the olden days.

 

All (most) of the legit original tags I’ve seen over the years were stamped on a machine, like Ryan’s HAMB tags. The one you have has been hand stamped with way too much force. The ISKY cam tag is the same font and heavy hand as the Mirage tag, and the body tag is a repro. Fun thought, but my money is on a fake/fun tag.

 

Don't think they had pop rivets in'49. None of this means that the car didn't actually run at the lakes (it may have been "restored") but I'd be very suspicious unless you can turn up some solid documentation.

 

The first U.S. patent for aluminum blind rivets "Pop rivets" was 1939.

 

After reading this thread I thought it looked fake, but needed to check a little further. A couple of things stuck out like a sore thumb... MOST racers did not like to post their speed secrets for the world to see on their cars. Like what cams, carbs, cranks they were running, this car likes all the tags but most didnt. I just found my Father in laws tags and they were what appears stamped by a machine and not sloppy hand stamped versions, that look like an angry school boy would have made. His race tags are from the Russetta and Mojave timing associations- Dated 1947-1948 Pics to follow.

 

Heres his tags from that time frame!

 

Kinda a crappy pic, but color is a dark cranberry as well.

 

Pretty sure the original Russetta tags were etched where the red paint is. The silver stands proud. The tag in question is just red paint flat on the aluminum.

 

It’s lookin like a fake
But it has too be tied too a real car maybe

 

Nice car, drive the wheels off

 

Did they ever stamp the "name" of the car on the tags? The tag does look way too new and too heavily stamped to be authentic but the name, which is also a train, Johnny Cash song, etc., is what got me.

Seems like a fantasy tag.

 

This page from the '49 Mirage race program shows only Roadster, Lakester and Streamliner classes - no "C Coupe" class.

 

Paul. What you posted is a results from an SCTA meet. In 1949 the SCTA did not allow coupes that’s why Russetta and other timing associations were formed. I think they combined in the late 50’s.

Even today the entry name goes on the “owned by” line. I was in charge of the SCTA timing tags for quite a few years and at that time they were engraved. The SCTA had 2 different stamping machines but were a pain on brass tags. The Russetta tags were all on aluminum and softer and the machine stamping letters showed up better. Attached is a tag from 1956 obviously done on a machine.

 

To me the tag is neither here nor there, but I would certainly drive the heck out of that car.

 

To most people it doesnt matter one way or another... But in my family we believe it is better to have been a competitor one time, then a spectator for a life time.

 

Not the first decorator tag seen in the HAMB and asked about.

It's one thing to have fake Olds covers on a SBC. That's pretending to have a look I guess. Fake spots? Ah, it's a look. But to pretend either you, the car or both actually competed? That's another level. I suppose some people can sleep at night no matter what they do. It's like a fake doctor with a fake university degree.

 

I wouldn't believe that for a minute...as BS once applied can have long tentacles much like Pinocchios nose...the first thing that gave me and many pause was that waaaay over stamped lettering...

Now I certainly wouldn't put it past one doing such a thing to use another racers monikers for these exact purposes...

I'm glad you shared this...we're on your side after all...

 

They mass produce those tags along with just about everything vintage Hotrod and for that matter OEM its how you apply it to the sales pitch that gets a little sticky...to say that with a straight face is a little uncouth. Buyer beware...and now that you know that how does it apply to everything else being pitched...

 

It only really matters if you paid a premium on it because of the tags. Enjoy, nice ride that anyone here would park in their garage.

 

Orange blossom special rings a bell... but not as a coupe...here's one in situ...screws not pop rivets
all the orig. ones I've seen are screwed on

 

didn’t by the 32 was interested but now not so much