Re: 1930 7-45 suspension dampers
Posted by West Peterson On 2011/4/12 18:54:21
Dave
I hate to hijack this thread, so I'll put it in a nutshell...
I've never really been told much of the history of how George (fourth CCCA president) bought the car, so what you've said is news to me and very interesting to hear. I think the car had almost 200,000 miles on it by the time George bought it, even having spent time in Africa at some point. The car was awarded CCCA's 5th Senior badge around 1953, and has been driven at least another 100,000 miles since (Yes, more than 300,000 miles on it).
Upon seeing the car at the CCCA Annual Meeting in Buck Hill Falls in 1957, my dad somehow became first on the list if the car was ever going to be sold. That call came in 1974, and he was given the choice between the 734 phaeton and the 734 boattail. A 1939 Delahaye 135MS and a Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio cabriolet were let go to make room for the boattail.
Dad has driven the car some 60,000 miles since he's owned it. In the summer of 1998, still with the 1953 restoration, he drove the car 10,000 miles in 33 days, and put tire to pavement in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. Afterwards it was then taken to a restoration shop and refinished (since it is such a well-known car, we decided to keep the car a similar color as what George painted it, but without any metallic), then displayed in the boattail class at Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook, Greenwich, etc., and has since been put back on the road. It's hard to believe that he's owned it for 37 years. It is hands down the funnest car I've ever driven.
I should add that it is one of just six or seven completely authentic 734 boattail speedsters (original chassis, engine and body), and even has its original dual-throat carburetor (with Heinmuller doing a major rebuild on it in the 1980s).
Attach file:
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I hate to hijack this thread, so I'll put it in a nutshell...
I've never really been told much of the history of how George (fourth CCCA president) bought the car, so what you've said is news to me and very interesting to hear. I think the car had almost 200,000 miles on it by the time George bought it, even having spent time in Africa at some point. The car was awarded CCCA's 5th Senior badge around 1953, and has been driven at least another 100,000 miles since (Yes, more than 300,000 miles on it).
Upon seeing the car at the CCCA Annual Meeting in Buck Hill Falls in 1957, my dad somehow became first on the list if the car was ever going to be sold. That call came in 1974, and he was given the choice between the 734 phaeton and the 734 boattail. A 1939 Delahaye 135MS and a Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio cabriolet were let go to make room for the boattail.
Dad has driven the car some 60,000 miles since he's owned it. In the summer of 1998, still with the 1953 restoration, he drove the car 10,000 miles in 33 days, and put tire to pavement in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. Afterwards it was then taken to a restoration shop and refinished (since it is such a well-known car, we decided to keep the car a similar color as what George painted it, but without any metallic), then displayed in the boattail class at Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook, Greenwich, etc., and has since been put back on the road. It's hard to believe that he's owned it for 37 years. It is hands down the funnest car I've ever driven.
I should add that it is one of just six or seven completely authentic 734 boattail speedsters (original chassis, engine and body), and even has its original dual-throat carburetor (with Heinmuller doing a major rebuild on it in the 1980s).
Attach file:
(66.09 KB)
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