1930's era Indy Car???

[harveythedog2]

Okay, so I am walking around Greenfield Village checking out all the old cars. I come upon a pretty cool race car that says MARMON on the hood with a #17. I ask the guy sitting there if it was his car but he told me no. The owner went to get something to eat. I started looking the car over and there was an Indianapolis Wing & Wheel badge on the dash so I asked the guy. Did this car race at Indianapolis? He said yes. He wasn't sure what year or who drove it but and that I should talk to the owner. I took a bunch of photos and came back a couple hours later on our way out and saw the same guy. I asked him, "Is the owner here?" and he told me he just left to get Ice Cream. Ugh!!! How much does this guy eat? LOL

I was never able to talk to the owner so I have no idea if the car actually raced at indy or not. If it did, did it look this way? Anyway. I fell in love with it. Check out how the hood latches on the right side? Part on the hood latch is welded to the exhaust pipe!

If anyone has information on this car I would love to hear it.

[indy]

Judging from the Google results there appears to be at least two similar (not identical) Marmon race cars that survive today. In the search results they are listed as 1927 or 1928 Marmons. I could not find results in the Indy 500 stats page in either race for a Marmon entry. Hopefully one of the better versed members here can shed some light on the history of this interesting piece.

Jordan

[racerbrown]

maybe a grand prix car?
duane

[clm1545]

I don't think that's any Indy car, Stu. Maybe some kind of road race deal. That entire dash panel is not original to the 20's, or 30's. Those gauges, and mounting are current Hot Rod, or Customs parts. I don't have any idea where the IMS thing came from.

[oldphotos]

This car did not race at Indy, From 1923 thru 1929 all cars were single seat car and in 1930 when they started the JUNK formula for more stock engine cars they went back to the 2 seat car with a riding Mech.
There is only 2 listing of a Mormon Race Car at Indy 1911, and 1914 Joe Dawson as driver.
The car in the photos probably raced in South America in the late 20's or early 30's.
The only way to really find out would be to backtrack the history of the car which at sometimes can be almost impossible. With the way old race cars were wrecked repaired and cut up for pieces and rebuilt with what was left it hard to know what's left, and where it came from.
All that being said It's still a neat old Mormon Race car.

Oldphotos
Walt

[INDY22IAM]

I looked in my Donald Davidson Indy 500 Official History book the only Marmon chasis that ever raced was in 1911. In the 1928 race there were 3 cars that were named Marmon but they were Cooper chassis with Miller engines. There were Marmon chasis that raced in the shorter events before the 1911 race but than again that would not be this car. I also remember there were some attempts by some other Marmons but never made the race. Still a very cool looking car. I do not know if back than if they put any kind of a number on the chassis but it would be neat to see what type of chassis it would be. Also did you happen to see what type of engine it was.

[alterrenner]

Perhaps that gentleman you spoke to was the owner, and "he just left for ice cream" was his way of saying he didn't want to be bothered with a lot of pointed questions? Did you check out the guy's fingers for ice cream stains?
--Frank

[beardogracing]

Here ya go, it's probably this car: because it's got "Uruguay" written on it's tail.

1927 Marmon Race Car

Chassis no. 00327
Sold for $24,750

190 cu. in. inline eight-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, live axle front and rear suspension with leaf springs and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.

Renowned for their advanced engineering and extensive use of aluminum, Marmons were lightweight and efficient automobiles weighing in at a ton and a half or less. Their eight-cylinder sidevalve engines gave ample power and Marmon was the first company to offer an eight in the low price class.

Marmons’ advanced construction, reliability and performance commended them to many discriminating buyers, not least in South America where their attributes mastered the rudimentary roads of the time. Julio Cesar Lestido operated an automobile dealership on the fashionable Sarandi Street in Montevideo, Uruguay and took on the Marmon franchise, race-preparing some of them for speed trials and open road races.

The 1927 Marmon offered here was discovered in Uruguay with its present coachwork in the early 1990s. Converted to right-hand drive, it is believed to have been raced in Uruguay in the late 1920s by Francisco Franceschini, Jr. in the flying kilometer trials on the beach of the Carrasco seaside resort and in the one kilometer standing start sprints on the paved coastal road known as Rambla Wilson. The entry papers for this car in the December 12, 1927, Rambla Wilson sprints were discovered by Alvaro Casal Tatlock, a Uruguayan member of the FIA Historical Commission and managing director of the Uruguayan Automobile Club’s car museum. A copy of this document will be provided to the new owner, but unfortunately a report of the event’s result has not been found.

Many South American competition cars of this era were extensively modified during their racing lives but this Marmon appears to have escaped the mutilation that was common as the racers aged. Fitted with four centerlock wire wheels, an outside exhaust pipe and a single aeroscreen for the driver, it has subsequently been fitted with electric starting for more convenient use. It has four-wheel mechanical brakes with an outside handle (in very close proximity to the exhaust pipe) that operates the rear brakes separately and has been fitted with an inconspicuous pair of driving lights for safety.

Powered by the Marmon straight eight of approximately 190 cubic inches (3.1 liters) displacement at the time it was raced, it has a narrow two-seater body with Marmon radiator shell and a sleek tapered tail. The engine has recently been rebuilt and the gauges work. The current owner enthusiastically describes the experience of driving this open air relic of an heroic racing era which has great torque, a solid feel and despite its age handles very well. Racing cars of this era with such performance are rarely found and they open an avenue to rewarding historic racing opportunities at reasonable maintenance expense.

[harveythedog2]

Great stuff you guys! I was hoping for an Indycar project but oh well... Still it's a nice history and great info. Thanks Beardogracing and to everyone that searched an added comments.

[harveythedog2]

Here is a photo taken by my friend John. His camera takes photos with three exposures overtop of each other. Not sure of the technical lingo. Anyway, you can pick up everything.

[Patrick]

Those crazy South Americans would modify and race just about anything! I agree that the Uruguay was a major clue.

Patrick

[Deleted]

It's called HDR photography or high dynamic range.