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History An Unknown Roadster

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Ryan, Sep 21, 2022.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
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    Ryan submitted a new blog post:

    An Unknown Roadster

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
    aussie57wag, wicarnut, Stogy and 8 others like this.
  2. It has an early 50's Kurtis look to it. The pipes are puzzling, a V8 with pipes on one side? Straight 6? Probably not an OFFY.
     
  3. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
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    I was thinking flathead Cad the whole time I looked at it, but there's no way to really know...
     
    Stogy, Tim, 41 GMC K-18 and 2 others like this.
  4. That hood blister so far forward of the exhaust ports has me confused. Maybe carbs sticking up on a front drive blower??? Man I gotta see under that hood!
     

  5. caprockfabshop
    Joined: Dec 5, 2019
    Posts: 513

    caprockfabshop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I can't say I've ever seen an Indy Roadster with front nerf bar. Looks like a B or R on the front bumper? It looks so familiar but my own search just now brought up nothing.

    ~Peter
     
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  6. j hansen
    Joined: Dec 22, 2012
    Posts: 5,106

    j hansen
    Member

    Only found this,,, Skärmavbild 2022-09-21 kl. 17.25.11.png Skärmavbild 2022-09-21 kl. 17.24.40.png
     
    hotrodA, Stogy, alanp561 and 16 others like this.
  7. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,114

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Note louvers on blister.
     
  8. ironandsteele
    Joined: Apr 25, 2006
    Posts: 5,915

    ironandsteele
    Member

    Man, that thing is cool.






    politicstshirt.jpg
    ironandsteele.com​
     
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  9. NoSurf
    Joined: Jul 26, 2002
    Posts: 4,459

    NoSurf
    Member

    Is the engine maybe canted to the right side of the chassis?
     
    Stogy likes this.
  10. j hansen
    Joined: Dec 22, 2012
    Posts: 5,106

    j hansen
    Member

    And a transparent rear"blister" or what you call it. Skärmavbild 2022-09-21 kl. 17.32.40.png
     
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  11. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
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    Stogy, chryslerfan55 and Sancho like this.
  12. I would say the motor is definitely right side biased but I don't think it's canted because of the high exhaust exit. They canted some OFFY powered cars which made the exhaust exit down low. For example the 1957 Indy winner Belond Special, where the offy was laid on it's side.
     
  13. Guess the cat's out of the bag... it's an Offy and the carbs are RIGHT under that blister-

    [​IMG]
     
  14. rod1
    Joined: Jan 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,323

    rod1
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    Sancho scores again!
     
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  16. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
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    Fuckers... I just found the car after searching the Indy 500 grid from 1948... Fred Agabashian... The old Indy 500 color commentator...

    [​IMG]
     
    Stogy, chryslerfan55, Tim and 6 others like this.
  17. Finally! I can change my signature.
     
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  18. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
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    I mean... this might be my new favorite indy roadster of all time... it's gorgeous.

    [​IMG]

    hahaha
     
    Stogy, chryslerfan55, Tim and 4 others like this.
  19. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,469

    banjorear
    Member

    That's rad. Love the clear plexiglass blister behind the driver.
     
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  20. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
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    Staff Member

    Right? An idea worth stealing. I don't think we use plexiglass enough:

    upload_2022-9-21_11-3-41.png

    Looks like Fred finished 23rd after having an oil line issue... Car was a Kurtis/Duray.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2022
  21. *stealing.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  22. Wish I could see it closer, that's gotta be a supercharger up front there, can't think of another reason to move the carbs up front.

     
  23. Dream Boy
    Joined: Apr 12, 2022
    Posts: 13

    Dream Boy

    '48 was before the Watson style roadster era. This could be the first roadster style
    Indy car built. Tail of car is known as a "Flat Tail".
     
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  24. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
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    Go to hell Sancho! :)
     
    Murphy32, lowrd, Stogy and 5 others like this.
  25. The Ross Page Special is recorded on the Indy 500 website as being a Kurtis Duray, it ran with a motor that started life as a 1932 Miller 220 but which was modified by 2 time Indy winner George Stewart better known as Leon Duray and the Offenhauser Engineering Company who fitted a super charger. Though the badge on the front carries the words Miller Ross Page, Indy 500 historian Michael Ferner tells me the car was referred to in period as “Offenhauser Special”, “Page Offenhauser Special”, “Ross Page Offenhauser Special”, “Page Special” and “Ross Page Special”. The names of frame and bodywork builder Kurtis, engine originator Miller and engine modifier Duray have all been added retrospectively.

    Mel Hansen started the 1946 Indy 500 from 27th on the grid and was classified 11th having retired on lap 143 with a crankshaft issue. For some reason that is not clear to me the car is listed in the official Indy 500 results as the #4 though the photographic evidence shows the car carrying the #41.

    In 1947 rookie Fred Agabashian started the Indy 500 from 23rd on the grid and was classified 9th and running with 191 laps completed.

    The following year Fred could only start from 32nd on the grid and only managed 58 laps before retiring with a broken oil line and was classified 23rd with the car now carrying the #26.

    When the car was restored by John and Heather Mozart it was briefly used raced in vintage events before being donated to the Peterson Automotive Museum.
     
    jimmy six, Murphy32, Stogy and 8 others like this.
  26. Two signature changes in one day!
    And it's still early...

    This may be my favorite yet. LOL
     
    Stogy, alanp561, Rolleiflex and 10 others like this.
  27. Look how asymetric the cockpit is:
    -Really low on the left (inside).
    -High on the outside with what looks like maybe a riveted tank (oil or water maybe?) right beside the driver's shoulder.
     
  28. Awesome roadster! And the banter among you guys!
     

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