Dear John,
Please allow myself and my friends to thank you for the gracious hospitality that you displayed today as you not only opened the doors to your collection, but took time from your busy schedule as a business owner to guide us through your wonderful museum while sharing the history of your collection.
We don’t hunt, fish, golf, or engage in fantasy sports leagues. Our hobby is commonly and simply referred to as being ‘car guys’. We take road trips to places like the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, and we’ve been to the Concours de Elegance at Pebble Beach when Mr. Leno had a Bugatti on display to mention just a very, very few. This is our passion that only another ‘Car Guy’ would understand or appreciate.
Today is the first time that the actual owner of a collection gave us a guided tour. We want you to know how much we appreciated your time today as we got to know you pretty well in the few hours we spent together. As a designer I share a passion with you for the ‘Art Deco’ Cords along with Delahey’s and one of my favorites the Bugatti Type 57 – Atlantic. We’ve been to some of the finest museums in America and Europe, but today was something special that we will not soon forget.
Thank you John, Thank you for a special day,
Dan McClaren, Bruce Amacker, Mark Best
The “Carboys”
p.s. If you are in the Cleveland area for a couple days, we owe you a nice dinner. Let us know.
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Here is the car information, as shown on the YouTube video page:
1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton
Sold for $225,500 Including Commission
RM Auction, Monterey, CA. 2013
Chassis no. 812 32269 H
Engine no. FC 2984
Body no. C 91 630
170 bhp, 288 cu. in. supercharged L-head V-8 engine, four-speed pre-selector manual transmission, independent front suspension, rear semi-elliptic suspension with leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 125 in.
•Factory-supercharged example with original engine
•Offered from single-family California ownership since 1967
•Quality restoration in beautiful colors
•ACD Club Certified Category One
The Duesenberg Model J had become available with a supercharger in 1932. Three years later, the eight-cylinder Auburn could also be had with a blower. All that was left was to fit the engine to the new Cord of 1936, and a year later, as the 810 evolved into the 812 with production fully underway, Auburn Automobile Company’s most flamboyant line received supercharged power as a popular $415 option on all models.
Lycoming began with the 810’s stock V-8 engine, revising the design with a modified firing order, lowered compression ratio, more extreme cam grind, and a unique, larger Stromberg AA-25 carburetor. The engine exhaled through a functional chrome side exhaust, an identifying mark of all supercharged Auburn products that was believed to have been added to the Cord by stylist Alex Tremulis, later of Tucker fame, and engineered into being by none other than August Duesenberg.
The supercharged Cord had a factory-quoted power output of 170 horsepower, although Lycoming employees later recounted numbers as high as 195. The factory sent two properly equipped Beverly Sedans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where, driven by Ab Jenkins and Billy Winn, they recorded the highest average speed over a 24-year period ever achieved at the Brickyard, over 80 mph, and captured the famous Stevens Trophy. That record would stand until 1954. Make no mistake, these were fast cars, with power and flexibility that was as much ahead of its time as the Cord’s famous Gordon Buehrig styling.
The four-passenger Phaeton shown here is one of 688 factory-supercharged Cords built, and it retains its original “FC” engine, as verified by the 810/812 chassis listing in Josh B. Malks’s Cord Complete and its ACD Club Category One certification. It was acquired in 1967 by an enthusiast in northern California, who had joined the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club and inquired as to purchasing a car in the Club’s newsletter. Soon after, he purchased this car, and it remained a favored possession for the rest of his life, being offered here by the family that has known and cared for it for 46 years.
The Cord was beautifully restored some years ago, with great attention to authenticity and correctness throughout, including proper fittings, finishes, and wiring under the hood. The body is finished in Geneva Blue, a correct factory color, with the interior a wonderful contrast in bright red leather in the proper pattern and a tan canvas top overseeing all.
Following the completion of the restoration, the car was an award winner at the ACD Club’s West Coast Meet in 1987. It has continued to be regularly enjoyed since; the owners report that it was, for some time, a “daily driver.” It was regularly maintained for decades, so that it could be taken out, run, and enjoyed. Having been well looked-after cosmetically as well as mechanically, the car would need only a light freshening to continue to be enjoyed in regional meets and activities.
As much heirloom as automobile to the family from which it is being sold, this car is being offered to a new, good home, where it is certain to continue to be a special point of pride, whether it is parked as a trophy in the garage or rolling down the road in Art Deco style.
Robert Myrick Photography
]]>For those who might not know Dave, he is a former automotive engineer for General Motors, having joined in 1959 after graduating from Wayne State University. But most notably, he was the chief engineer for the Chevrolet Corvette from 1975 until his retirement in late 1992. As just the Corvette’s second chief engineer, Dave remains indelibly linked with Corvette even today.
During his tenure at Corvette, Dave was responsible for all aspects of the Corvette’s production. He made countless contributions to the American icon, ensuring smart refinements and steady improvements each year and through multiple model generations.
Dave was the person responsible for transitioning Corvette’s rear suspension from a transverse, steel leaf spring to a monoleaf composites spring. He took the political risk for the suspension redesign, and in 1981 replaced the 48-pound steel leaf spring with a seven-pound fiberglass spring. That decision paid off and in 1984, Corvette introduced both front and rear fiberglass composite leaf springs.
Since that time, Liteflex Composite Springs have been installed on every Corvette produced! So, it goes without saying that John Prikkel is a very big fan of Dave McLellan and the impact he created. It was his desire to utilize new materials and processes that drove the original Liteflex engineers to develop springs that are lighter, last longer, and increase performance.
More recently, Dave McLellan visited the Dayton Auto & Memorabilia Museum in Dayton, Ohio and examined a prime example of his Corvette legacy. He and the executive team toured the Museum and then visited Liteflex’s manufacturing, assembly, testing, and shipping departments. They also examined all the various applications that Liteflex Composite Spring supports: automotive, class 8 steer axles, tractor trailer, military, golf cart, transportation, etc. It was a real honor hosting Dave and we hope to see him again soon!
Dave is also the author of, “Corvette from the Inside, the 50 Year Development History” which includes the 17 years during which he and his team made history. Be sure to check out the book for a detailed look into his years at the center of Corvette Engineering, his take on Corvette history and many of the details that have made the Corvette a perennial favorite with millions of Americans.
Click HERE to purchase the book, Corvette From The Inside, McLellan. Bentley Publishers, 2002.
Or for a special, personally autographed copy, click HERE.
]]>Visitors from around the country traveled by charter bus from America’s Packard Museum in Downtown Dayton, Ohio. Viewing of the automotive and memorabilia collection started at 1:30 p.m., and John Prikkel remained available to answer questions. The guests were also treated to displays of various automotive memorabilia, and in particular, a broad array of historically significant spark plugs from decades ago.
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