Here are a few pics of the "Singer Sewing Machine" that held the record for its class at Muroc back in 1946, 125MPH plus some change. Mel bought the car about 25 years ago and has finally gotten it to where he wants it. It is a 31 Ford shortened roadster body sitting on a 37 Willys runnning gear. It has the same motor with the Hickey head that it ran back in 46. It did have a Graham blower on it way back when but Mel put the Latham on with a Woodworth carb and is still running the old hand pump for the fuel pressure. When he drives up you can't help but smile knowing you are looking at a 60 year old piece of racing history that's still cruising the streets.
BAD! Bad...Bad.... I've logged a ton of "miles" behind a sewing machine. But never one as cool as that! By anychance do you have any period pix? I'd be interested in how they compare.... you know, black & white and scratched so we have to imagine how bitchin' the car looks in red paint!
If any of you have some of the Old Rod and Custom Quarterlies, published in the late `70`s, you can find a feature on the then restored car on page 10, with a colour shot on the cover...Same issue has Curly Tremaines Merc, and a cool Chevy 2 powered 29 Roadster....
Sewing machines? That's just a little bit O.T. aint it? That car is one wicked li'l 4-Banger. I was just reading up on the 1960 Pontiac X-400 That ran a Latham blown 389 packed with 4 sidedraft juicers. They put a 160 mph speedo in that hulk. Pretty cool days back then.
The Jalopy Journal
