Category Archives: Contemporary automobile photos, pre war
Patina, Provenance, Originality – Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles
David Northey, Walter Owen Bentleys grandson, addressing the attendees.
By Maria Writesel:
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum of Brookline, Massachusetts, renowned for housing America’s oldest car collection, opened their new exhibit on May 10th: Patina, Provenance, Originality: Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles. Preservation of important automobiles, as both historic artifacts and industrial art, provides an important window into the technological ingenuity and design acumen of the early pioneers in auto manufacturing, motor racing, and the changes that the automobile brought to America in the 20th Century.
The Larz Anderson Collection, containing some of the rarest and most original early cars in the world, will be on display. In addition, vintage racing cars and other automobiles invited to the exhibit spanning the years from 1906 to1955, also illustrate the principles that guide collectors of important automobiles.
L to R (above) : A restored and unrestored pair of early Corvettes side by side for comparison, the 1940 Wetteroth-Offy-Milt Marion Special, 1938 Sparks-Thorne Little Six.
Automobiles have had a profound impact on society since their inception, and in recent years a serious debate has begun about how to treat these antiques. Patina, Provenance, Originality delves into the collector’s perspective, which takes into account the car’s place in history, previous owners, feats and accomplishments of the car, driver or marque, technological advancements of the time, and the ability to document the originality of the car’s components. To showcase these factors, the exhibit features exceptional examples of valuable original, preserved and restored autos, including a 1915 Duesenberg Board Track Racer that finished 2nd at the Indianapolis 500 in 1916.
L to R (above); 1952 “Wolcott Special” Kurtis 500A Indy Roadster, 1915 Duesenberg 16-valve Board Track Racer, 1938 Sparks Thorne Little Six.
“Preservation involves carefully maintaining the originality of the machine, but doesn’t always produce that bright, shiny look of an expert restoration,” Sheldon Steele, executive director of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum says. “That’s where the value of patina and provenance become apparent.”
The exhibit will look at both paths, showing side-by-side examples of restoration and preservation, along with very rare, valuable and original historical vehicles, including a 1914 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, one of America’s first sports-racing cars, and an important example of the iconic marque.
1914 Mercer 35-J Raceabout
Nearly a dozen vintage racing cars from 1914 to 1955 belonging to Brookline, Massachusetts automobile historian and publisher Joseph Freeman will be available for viewing, that is when they are not on the track, participating in events and shows, including this year’s Indy 500 Vintage racing action!
L to R (above); 1914 Mercer Raceabout Boyce Motometer, 1915 Duesenberg Board Track Racer, a Hartford friction shock absorber on the Duesenberg.
L to R Above); Ford powered Sprint car, 1939 Koopman Offenhauser 97 Cubic Inch Oval Track Midget Racer, 1952 “Auto Shippers” Kurtis 500A Offy Indy Roadster
Passion for the automobile has also never escaped the attention of important artists, and the exhibit will also feature several period original Peter Helck drawings, one of which features the exhibit’s Duesenberg, along with Massachusetts area racing charcoal renderings by John W. Burgess. Mr. Burgess was a racer during the 1920’s and 30’s and later the curator of the Briggs Cunningham Automobile Collection.
Also illustrating the value of originality will be a true “barn find” 1937 Packard 120 convertible (below, left) from the Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust. It has been in the same ownership since new and is seeing the light of day for the first time in nearly 70 years after emerging from a barn in Milton, Massachusetts. A rare find indeed!
L to R; 1937 Packard Convertible Coupe, Packard mascot, 1922 H.C.S Touring Car, 1906 Cadillac.
Complimenting the exhibit are period spectator fashions offered by Professor Anne Vallely of Lasell College.
The educational activities of the Museum are an integral component of it’s work and will relate to the exhibit, emphasizing key concepts expressed through the Museum’s many arts and crafts activities, family fun days and community outreach programs for schools and groups.
New England Audi Dealers, longtime supporters of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, are proud sponsors of the exhibit. Patina, Provenance, Originality: Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles, opened to the public on May 10, 2013, and will run through the early spring of 2014. Admission is: $10.00, for adults; $5 children and active military. For information visit: www.larzanderson.org, or call 617 522-6547. Photos by Joshua Sweeney- Shoot for Details and The Old Motor.
Posted in Contemporary automobile photos, post war, Contemporary automobile photos, pre war
Tagged 1906 Cadillac, 1914 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, 1915 Duesenberg Board Track Racer, 1922 H.C.S Touring Car, 1937 Packard Convertible Coupe, 1938 Sparks-Thorne Little Six, 1939 Koopman Offy 97 CID Oval Track Midget Racer, 1940 Wetteroth-Offy-Milt Marion Special, 1952 “Auto Shippers” Kurtis 500A Offy Indy Roadster, 1952 “Wolcott Special” Kurtis 500A Indy Roadster, barn find, David Northey, Hartford friction shock absorber, Indianapolis 500, Joseph Freeman, Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Patina Provenance Originality - Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles, Peter Helck, Sheldon Steele, vintage racing cars, Walter Owen Bentley
1938 Steyr Roadster Wins Best in Show at Pinehurst Concours
A rare 1938 Steyr 220 Glaser roadster captured the Best in Show award at the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance. More than 5,000 car enthusiasts strolled the beautiful fairways at Pinehurst Resort, viewing 118 pristine vintage automobiles on the show field.
Peter Boyle of Oil City, Pa., owns the winning automobile that was entered in the American/European Classic 1925-48 Class. Boyle purchased the car two years ago, restored it in 2012 and won Second in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours last August before capturing the top prize at Pinehurst Resort.
The six cylinder model was one of just six of this type produced by Steyr in 1938. Three were destroyed in World War II, one is in a museum in Austria, one can’t be found and this one was at Pinehurst. “I’m almost one of one,” Boyle said. The event is already scheduled to run again in 2014 – 2015 and you can learn more at The Pinehurst Concours.
Classic Car Photography by Royce Rumsey
Offered here for no reason other than their sheer beauty are these images by Royce Rumsey, (scroll down) a frequent contributor to The Old Motor. One of our favorites is his profile shot of this 1930 Bugatti Type 46 from the Mullin Automobile Museum that you may have noticed in one of the headers we use. Being based in southern California provides Royce with ample opportunities to photograph some of the most exquisite automotive subjects in the world, and we are very happy to be able to share his work with you. You can view more of work by Rumsey on his site that can be found at 500px.
Left to right (above) are a 1929 Duesenberg Model “J” with coach work by Kirchhoff, a 1947 Delahaye 135 MS and a 1930 Minerva with Vanden Plas coach work.
Left to right (above) are a 1923 Mercedes 28/95 Targa Florio Roadster, a 1929 Hispano-Suiza H6C with D’leteren “transformable” coach work and a H6B Hispano-Suiza touring.
Posted in Auto photos 1921 - 1942, Contemporary automobile photos, pre war
Tagged 1923 Mercedes 28/95 Targa Florio Roadster, 1930 Minerva, a 1929 Hispano-Suiza H6C with D'leteren "transformable"H6B, coach work, coachwork, Delahaye, Delahaye 135 MS, Duesenberg, Duesenberg Model J, Hispano-Suiza, Kirchhoff, Mercedes, Mercedes Benz, Royce Rumsey, Royce Rumsey Photoimagery, Vanden Plas
