Early Automobile Racing and the Advantages It Offered
One way to publicize the new motorized vehicles including one's own brand was to enter your automobile into competition. Chicago has the distinction of being the first city to officially put on a road race. The race occurred in 1895 with a 54 miles course. This first automobile race was one by Frank Duryea in a competition that lasted some 10 1/2 hours.
The car was named the Duryea Motor Wagon was powered by gasoline (steam power was popular at the time) and it's average speed was calculated to have been 7.5 MPH.
With such publicity the Duryea Motor Wagon Company sold thirteen of their vehicles in 1896, representing the first automobiles sold in the U.S. Nine years later in 1905 the Duryea Motor Wagon Company was producing sixty cars per year.
Model T Conversions and the Fronty Fords
The Ford Model T’s factory 22 horsepower engine was going to be modified quite a bit. A company known by the name Frontenac and founded by Louis Chevrolet and his two brothers in 1916. It's interesting to note that Chevrolet itself had been formed just five years earlier by the Chevrolet brothers and William C. Durant. The Frontenac company was located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The company enjoyed several victories in the few years just prior to World War One. What they were building were race cars on a Ford Model T chassis. They were building speed parts and mechanisms and bodies to put on a Ford Model T chassis. These cars were given the name "Fronty Fords" .Another name used for the car was simply a "Frontenac".
The first Indianapolis 500 Race was held on May 30, 1911. Driving a Frontenac Ford race car, Gaston Chevrolet competed in the 1919 Indianapolis 500, finishing in tenth place while his brother Louis finished seventh. Gaston would be killed later that year in an accident at a race in Beverly Hills, California.
A Fronty Ford won the Indy 500 in 1921. One of the Frontenac Model T conversions came in at fifth place during the 1923 Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of just under 83 MPH. In 1924, a Fronty Ford attained a speed of 100 MPH on a straightaway. These early 1920's Fronty Fords played a real important role in American car racing history.
A very good book regarding the Model T and the Model T conversion race cars is Model T Speed and Sport by author Harry Pulfer. Another book that might interest you is Model T Speed Secrets / Fast Ford Handbook by Murray Fahnestock.
See additional Muscle Car Journal articles on the links below.....
A 1924 Dodge Brothers Hemi Street Rod
A 1937 Chevy Master Deluxe Street Rod
Chevrolet Engines
Louis Chevrolet had a fascination with engines and with auto racing. With impressive showings at the Indianapolis 500 Race, the Chevrolet brothers acquired a reputation for powerful and reliable engines. The Chevy engine retains that same reputation even to today.
Chevrolet
Brothers Aircraft Company
Later in the 1920's, brothers Louis and Arthur left the automobile business altogether.
In 1929, Louis and Arthur Chevrolet formed the Chevrolet Brothers Aircraft Company with a new engine of their design called the "Chevrolair". The company was lost to investors, principally to aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin and his Martin Company. Martin took a ninety-percent stake in the Chevrolet Brothers Aircraft Company when the brothers fell on very hard times.
The Chevrolet brothers did get back into the automobile business in the 1930's with Sprint type racers.Unfortunately both brothers had tragic endings. Louis died in Detroit in 1941. Arthur died in Slidell, Louisiana in 1946 by suicide. It was said that at the times of their deaths both Chevrolet brothers were broke or near to it.
(Article and photos copyright Muscle Car Journal)
One way to publicize the new motorized vehicles including one's own brand was to enter your automobile into competition. Chicago has the distinction of being the first city to officially put on a road race. The race occurred in 1895 with a 54 miles course. This first automobile race was one by Frank Duryea in a competition that lasted some 10 1/2 hours.
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| Fronty-Ford Racer |
With such publicity the Duryea Motor Wagon Company sold thirteen of their vehicles in 1896, representing the first automobiles sold in the U.S. Nine years later in 1905 the Duryea Motor Wagon Company was producing sixty cars per year.
Model T Conversions and the Fronty Fords
The Ford Model T’s factory 22 horsepower engine was going to be modified quite a bit. A company known by the name Frontenac and founded by Louis Chevrolet and his two brothers in 1916. It's interesting to note that Chevrolet itself had been formed just five years earlier by the Chevrolet brothers and William C. Durant. The Frontenac company was located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The company enjoyed several victories in the few years just prior to World War One. What they were building were race cars on a Ford Model T chassis. They were building speed parts and mechanisms and bodies to put on a Ford Model T chassis. These cars were given the name "Fronty Fords" .Another name used for the car was simply a "Frontenac".
These cars were known for their advanced cylinder head devleopment on the Model T Ford engine. The top race was a DOHC cylinder head that was built specifically for racing. The racing model SR featured twin Zenith carburetors and an overhead camshaft
Fronty Fords at the Indianapolis 500
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| Fronty-Ford or Frontenac on Model T chassis |
The first Indianapolis 500 Race was held on May 30, 1911. Driving a Frontenac Ford race car, Gaston Chevrolet competed in the 1919 Indianapolis 500, finishing in tenth place while his brother Louis finished seventh. Gaston would be killed later that year in an accident at a race in Beverly Hills, California.
A Fronty Ford won the Indy 500 in 1921. One of the Frontenac Model T conversions came in at fifth place during the 1923 Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of just under 83 MPH. In 1924, a Fronty Ford attained a speed of 100 MPH on a straightaway. These early 1920's Fronty Fords played a real important role in American car racing history.
A very good book regarding the Model T and the Model T conversion race cars is Model T Speed and Sport by author Harry Pulfer. Another book that might interest you is Model T Speed Secrets / Fast Ford Handbook by Murray Fahnestock.
See additional Muscle Car Journal articles on the links below.....
A 1924 Dodge Brothers Hemi Street Rod
A 1937 Chevy Master Deluxe Street Rod
Chevrolet Engines
Louis Chevrolet had a fascination with engines and with auto racing. With impressive showings at the Indianapolis 500 Race, the Chevrolet brothers acquired a reputation for powerful and reliable engines. The Chevy engine retains that same reputation even to today.
 |
| A Fronty-Ford Conversion |
Later in the 1920's, brothers Louis and Arthur left the automobile business altogether.
In 1929, Louis and Arthur Chevrolet formed the Chevrolet Brothers Aircraft Company with a new engine of their design called the "Chevrolair". The company was lost to investors, principally to aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin and his Martin Company. Martin took a ninety-percent stake in the Chevrolet Brothers Aircraft Company when the brothers fell on very hard times.
The Chevrolet brothers did get back into the automobile business in the 1930's with Sprint type racers.Unfortunately both brothers had tragic endings. Louis died in Detroit in 1941. Arthur died in Slidell, Louisiana in 1946 by suicide. It was said that at the times of their deaths both Chevrolet brothers were broke or near to it.
(Article and photos copyright Muscle Car Journal)
