Jul 9

Cool 1920s Car to Identify

So what do we think this is? Roamer? No idea when it was taken or where?

Jul 9, 2026

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Replies (22)

· Jul 9

Great photo!!!! I say Roamer too. Is this a Detroit Public Library photo?

· Jul 9

No. I snagged it off eBay.

· Jul 9

Could you post a link? I can't find it.

· Jul 9

I love that era and style of headlight lenses!

· Jul 9

Those headlights are definitely in that 20-22 range of years.

· Jul 9

It does look similar to a Roamer sport touring. The only thing that makes me question it is the lack of the feature line on the side of the grille shell. Definitely looks early 20’s with the floating step plates rather than running boards.

· Jul 9

Good catch Travis. This is a 1920 Roamer 4-75 that Dick Shappy has for sale. That edge you mention is prominent and definitely missing in our photo.

· Jul 10

How many cars had Rolls Royce grills on them?

· Jul 10

Quite a few copycats.

· Jul 10

The problem is that many manufacturers offered the Rolls Royce Grill as an option. And then they built a few of them. Next time I’m at my desk, I will post a picture of my favorite crane, with the Rolls Royce Grill. It’s the only one built like that.

· Jul 10

I seem to remember Tommy Chong had one on his Beetle.

· Jul 10

There was this one that Wesley Snipes drove in Major League.

(edited)

· Jul 10

😂

· Jul 10

I was just beamed a random post regarding Steamboats; but there's a 20s car in the pic, too.
Something tells me the jalopy cluttering up the foreground would be a seven-figure jalopy if it was in that condition in my Uncle Hjalmer's garage today.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/7846724972/permalink/10165775606019973/

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· Jul 10

Jeff, which group did that come from? I'm not a member but I'll join and try to grab the photos.

· Jul 11

It was an AACA Paddlewheelers & Steamboats page, though that doesn't make much sense. I looked at 100s of steamboat pictures on Bing and couldn't find the source. Maybe it was an ad from 1930 for Daimler-Benz, or from an AACA regional newsletter.

Pic won't come up anymore: an unimpressive steamboat in the background with a couple of attractive 30-yr-old women in a 1928-1932 Mercedes "S" Roadster with an extremely long hood...clearly in new condition. Something along the lines of this ___

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· Jul 11

Jeff, this photo is an SSK where the "K" is for "Kurtz" or short in German. There are maybe 3 or 4 real ones in the world and my understanding their value is measured in 10s of millions of dollars.

· Jul 11

Say -- I found it:

...from Joe Thompson on the AACA Facebook Page
Paddlewheelers and Steamboats of the World ......................post had a "JOIN" button

This ship appeared on my FB feed relating to vintage cars. Hopefully someone will know her details; the ship not the lady posing on the running board.

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· Jul 11

It is very hard to tell the difference between an S and an SS. I believe this is an S type from about 1927. Great photo! I love the steam boat also.

· Jul 11

Not sure how early Elcar offered the RR radiator.

· Jul 11

Moon had the RR grille in the same timeframe as the subject car but it’s not quite a match.

· Jul 11

I found the ebay advertisement. Nothing on the back. Ad says "1919 New York Passenger Car Show Coachbuilt Convertible Auto Roamer/Rolls? ". No idea where the "1919" comes from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/117265177089