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New forum topic posted to The Doble Society
· May 11

Progress on the cylinder work

The cylinders are really complicated castings, very expensive to make and a mistake is even more expensive. This series cylinders A-1-329/330 are the highest production part number we have found and was introduced on the D-C-7 engine, We are using the D-C-8 variant which appears to be the best configuration. However the D-C-8 had 1.5" valve travel and the previous model had 1.25" travel........ was this difference made up in the dimensions of the valve relative to the ports..... or was there another block.....E23 had earlier blocks with absolutely no facility to blow them through to warm up and unsurprisingly these blocks had a lot of welding repairs.
Shown in the images is the scan, the model drawn from the scan , the cores and finally finish allowance for machining added to the model.
Now I just have to be confident this is the correct block....... more coffee needed

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New forum topic posted to Chandler Motor Car Club
· May 10

Chandler-Cleveland Factory History

From what I’ve read, Chandler had two factories in Cleveland. One was on E. 131st Street and the other was on Euclid Avenue.  Am I correct in saying that Chandlers were built in the E. 131st Street and the Cleveland factory was on Euclid Avenue? A mid-20’s illustration is captioned as being specifically Cleveland. Would this factory have sat idle after they discontinued the Cleveland brand?

I also have two identical illustrations of the Euclid Avenue factory from after the Hupp purchase. The captions regarding its use change though. In 1931, it would have been used for building model S and L Hupmobiles. By 1933, it was being used as a body plant for the cycle-fender and early aerodynamic cars. That arrangement was costing them way too much money so they closed it in the fall of 1934. Body production moved over to Hayes and this would mark the end of automotive manufacturing at that site. Is there any other history known on either factory site?

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· May 10

In trying to do some research on cars shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, I stumbled on a list of Best of Show winners since the Inauguration of the show. Maybe I'm the last one to know, but It took me back to see the perspective of what might have been "highly esteemed" decades ago. For Example, in 1953 the best of show winner was a brand new Austin Healey 100-4. A $2,995 new car.

In the first five years of the event, new cars were taking home the trophy.

1950
1950 Edwards R-26 Special Sport Roadster
Sterling Edwards

1951
1951 Jaguar Mark VII Saloon
Mrs. Charles H. Hornberg Jr.

1952
1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé
Glen Sorey

1953
1953 Austin Healey 100 Roadster
Peter Clowes

1954
1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé
Barclay Cotter

The cars we might associate as having an opportunity to win today: Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, Duesenberg, Alfa Romeo and Bugattis from the 1930's, Isotta Fraschini, Hispano-Suiza, Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts, Phantom l and ll, etc.....they were all out there, but apparently that wasn't where the focus of the Concours was at that time.

I try to remove my own bias in this, because I love the prewar American grand stuff and designs from Europe in those early years. Perhaps it was the Board that governed the event initially and the Board turned over to some strong personalities who took the event in a different direction. I had never looked before at the early years and what was winning Best of show.

I did find it interesting that the first winner to take things back to the classic era was in 1950 with Phil Hill bringing a 1931 Pierce-Arrow 41 LeBaron Town Cabriolet.

I can understand the politics of an event like this, the off the record conversations, pressure to allow or deny certain individuals and cars..........

I've had a few conversations with guys who regularly go to Pebble Beach and know the spoken ( and unspoken) rules, guidelines and expectations. They've told me they feel things changing again in subtle ways.

What car out there would some of you like to see be considered for Best of Show that maybe doesn't fit the formula or expectation of the last 30 years.......?

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· May 9

1931 Packard Model 8-45 Custom Victoria by Rollston.

· May 9

Here's a picture I bought a few years back. I believe this to be taken of two cars in 1915 traveling south along the California coast possibly in Mendocino County, a favorite place of mine. Anybody able to identify the cars these adventurous travelers were driving?

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· May 9

In 1934, Hupmobile phased out the “cycle fender” cars and introduced their second Raymond Leowy-designed body style, the Aerodynamic series. Much like Chrysler’s Airflow, it was a polarizing style choice. The six cylinder 421-J and the eight cylinder 427-T were basically the same mechanically as the previous model K and I cars.

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· May 8

This is the kind of paint work that I love doing. I’ve always liked the challenge of matching primer colors, gloss level, seam sealer, etc. and trying to make it look like it never happened. Nobody will likely ever see it, but I know, and that’s good enough for me.

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