Antique Automotive Conversions

I enjoy seeing all of the creative ways that cars were repurposed back in the day to get the job done on a low budget. Converting big cars to wreckers or service trucks was the obvious choice but cars cut down to make stationary engines are also interesting. I came across this one on eBay. The build quality is impressive. A complete instrument cluster, spark and throttle levers, and clutch throw out lever all on one side of the machine. Even has the original honeycomb radiator. By the serial number, it was a 1920 Hupmobile model R, which would have been ideal for an application like this. With a long 5-1/2” stroke, it would be perfect for constant low rpm use.

https://ebay.io/m/fqqO05

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Jul 25, 2026

Reply to Hupp31…

Replies (8)

· 1w

I love an interesting engine on a stand. Although they weren’t automobile applications, I’ve been dabbling with the idea of getting a hit and miss engine just to play with for several years. I’d like to get something small and representative of the engineering to start with, and if I enjoy it, pop for one of the larger examples you see with a 6 foot diameter wheel that weigh 1000 pounds and really thumps. They’re so primitive and just fascinating.

· 1w

If nothing else, they make great garage art.

· 1w

Maybe 20 years ago I bought a complete 1935 Auburn Supercharged engine on a stand that had been stored under a porch in 1941. They were tearing the house down and found the engine. It had the transmission, original belts, every little detail was original.

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· 1w

They had cut up the chassis to make the stand. Not sure what the purpose of it was supposed to be.

· 1w

That’s awesome! It does make you wonder how it came to be under a porch in the first place.

· 1w

Not in the true spirt of this topic, but George Holman had this Model M Stutz OHC engine mounted on a dyno and he used it to demonstrate the HP increase when engaging the optional supercharger.

· 1w

Out here on the prairies, there's lots of old chassis with engine and transmission that have been cut down and modified to run machinery, irrigation pumps, etc.
Lots of farm engines look interesting too.
I've had thoughts about finding a Wisconsin V4 for a Morgan style cyclecar project.
Too many ideas and not enough time.

· 1w

@alsancle should know this but I thought there was a Stearns Knight engine that was rescued from a saw mill in Canada.