We can trace this car called “The Little Six” back to Indy 1946 and entrant Robert Flavell as the Mobilegas Special. It was the sister car to the race-winning Thorne Engineering Special driven by George Robson. Both were designed under the eye of Art Sparks and constructed by Clyde Adams. In ’46 driver Harry McQuinn brought the car home in 13th place. In ’47 the car was entered again as the Flavell-Duffy Special and driven home to a 27th place finish by Mel Hansen. That brings us to ’48 and the entry name Flavill Special that was qualified in the race by new driver Sam Hanks at a speed of 124.266 mph. Hanks was classified as finishing in 26th place after dropping out after completing lap 34 with a faulty clutch. That brings us to this 1949 shot of the car during qualifying. Its driver that year was Tony Bettenhausen. The quickest speed Mr. B could get out of the car was 125.764 mph that left him as the second alternate and out of the race. Years later it was discovered that Mr. Flavill still had the car locked up in his home garage but wouldn’t acknowledge he even owned it.
This 1950 shot shows Bill Walker's Lakester at El Mirage during a Russetta meet (that’s a Russetta Timing Slip taped on the cowl). Another shot of the car at the same meet shows it's wearing the number 397 B on the other side. We don't have any Russetta programs from that year so we can't tell you how fast it went. Note the American Racing Club t-shirt. The club was normally known as the A.R.C.'s.
Dick Flint shows off his finished Valley Custom built Model A Ford roadster bodied hot rod on the street in 1951. It was featured on the cover of the May 1952 issue of Hot Rod Magazine.
What a line up!! IRP, July 28, 1962. Parnelli Jones on the pole, Don Branson next to him. AJ Foyt behind Parnelli. Roger McCluskey started 4th. Chuck Hulse and Jim Hurtubise make up row three. Parnelli won the feature, with Herk 2nd. Photo from Bobby Marshall.
Preston Tucker walking off into obscurity/history with his dream, probably thinking what could have been.
1911 13th & East Hawthorne Come see more like this and other things at https://misforgotten2.tumblr.com/
1926 Ross Island Bridge construction Come see more like this and other things at https://misforgotten2.tumblr.com/
Instruction Manual: Lionel Construction Kits No.232 No.343 No.454 1948 Come see more like this and other things at https://misforgotten2.tumblr.com/
Not everyone was down & out during the depression. My family and my wife and friends' families all survived it in good shape. My wife had an uncle who was pretty sharp and saw the crash coming. He advised his siblings and their families to get out of the stock market before the crash and saved them all from the disaster. There were probably similar stories.
I am not a big Ford guy but they really had it right with these trucks. I used to enjoy a chance to drive my friend's '48 in the early '60's. We did towing, pushing, hauling all with no trouble at all.
I love this site. I love all the photos. In general, and I'm not sure I can put my finger on it, I love photos from the 1950's period above all the others. I was born in 1939, which put me at 11 in 1950, turned 16 in 1955 (drivers's license), graduated from High Scool in 1957, and turned 20 in 1959. Those 10 years were everything for me, and I'm just beginning to realize it now...
The Jalopy Journal
