Torque January 2016 by james fitzgerald

January - February 2016

Inside This Issue Michigan Region 2016 Activities Calendar………...…..………....………….………4 From Your Editor…..…….….……….……….….….….….….…..….…….…………5 Cover Story:1937 Cord 812 Phaeton……………….………………………………...7 The Story of Cord……………………………………………………………………11 Obituary: Linda Kughn………………………………………………………..…….11 Back Cover Story:1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan…...12 Edsel’s Classics……………..……………….……………………………………....15 The Southern Hospitality CARavan…………………………………………………18 The 2015 Fall Color Tour………………..………………………………………..…21 The Art of Buck Mook………………………………………………………………24 The 2015 Michigan Region Annual Meeting…………………………………….….25 The Cadillac V16s………….………………………………………………………..28 The History of the V16 Engine……………………………………………………….29 The Steering Column…………………….…………………………………………..32 Cover Photos: Don Wood III January - February 2016

2016 Leadership www.classiccarsofmichigan.com 4717 Maddie Lane Dearborn, MI 48126

Board of Managers Director

Publications Committee Torque Editor

Paul Wise

(810) 333-2498 richray2@hotmail.com

(313) 492-0284 sandrawise@me.com

Assistant Director

Tlanda McDonald (248) 563-5651 tlmcdonald999@comcast.net

Secretary/Torque Editor

Club Photographer

Jerry Medow Wally Donoghue (734) 455-0177 wally@plaidpants.net

Activities

Classic Vibrations Editor

Jay Fitzgerald (313) 885-3641 jayf3641@ sbcglobal.net

Staff Doug Houston

Paul Ayres

Bram Over

Wally Donoghue

Ed Meurer III

Ann Donoghue

Ara Ekizian (248) 851-4069 dlekizian@yahoo.com

Activities

Don Wood III (586)201-3391 donwoodiii@gmail.com

(248) 594-4437 medowg@aol.com

Projects/Advertising

Bob Ferrand (248)722-8375 Bobish1@comcast.net

Greg Kosmatka (313) 882-7980 grk129@sbcglobal.net

Membership

Torque Cover Editor

Rich Ray (810) 333-2498 richray2@hotmail.com

Treasurer

Rich Ray

Phil Fischer (734) 377-6553 corbuck6147@att.net

Activities

Dan Clements (248) 437-7193 jclem5780@comcast.net

Grand Classic

Nancy Seyfarth

Area Head Judge

(313) 436-8327 nancyseyfarth@aol.com

Grand Classic

Terry Ernest (810) 987-8977 ternest@sbcglobal.net

Lee Barthel (248) 476-0702 lfbarthel@yahoo.com

Classic Vibrations/Website Jay Fitzgerald (313) 885-3641 jayf3641@sbcglobal.net

Torque Magazine

Historian

January - February 2016

Bruce Thomas (248) 594-6499

No.441

Torque Magazine is published bi-monthly at 24000 Research Drive, Farmington Hills, MI 48833-2606. Change of address and all correspondence should be mailed to Torque, c/o Rich Ray, 12664 Lashbrook Lane West, Brighton, MI 48114. Subscription price is $35 per year for members and $50 per year for non-members. Periodicals postage paid at Farmington Hills, MI and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send PS Form 3579 to 12664 Lashbrook Lane West, Brighton, MI 48114. Written or pictorial material in the Torque Magazine may not be reprinted without permission from Torque Magazine or its authors and credit given to the Michigan Region Torque.

January - February 2016

Michigan Region 2016 Activities Calendar January 14-17, 2016 - CCCA Annual Meeting in Detroit February 14, Sunday - Crank Up Event March 19, Saturday - Local Activity April 16, Saturday - Local Collection Tour May 15, Sunday - Spring Tour June 4, Saturday - National Grand Classic @ Gilmore June 5, Sunday - Gilmore Museum Experience July 10, Sunday - Grand Classic in Ohio August 7, Sunday - Ice Cream Social September 11, Sunday - Steak Roast October 16, Sunday - Fall Color Tour November 6, Sunday - Annual Dinner Meeting

Stay in Touch! If your email, mailing address or telephone numbers change notify Jerry Medow at medowg@aol.com or call (248) 594-4437. This assures that you will receive your Torque Magazine as well as activity notices in a timely fashion. This also applies to those seasonal moves, either up north, down south or out west.

Classic & Exotic Service Experts in the Restoration and Maintenance of Prewar Cars Supplier of Specialty Parts for Prewar Cars

Classic Car We offer a wide range of services to the Classic and Antique Car Owner Including but not limited to:

Classic & Exotic Service, Inc. has been restoring the finest American and European Classic cars since 1988. Located in Troy, Michigan, with over 30,000 square feet of floor space and a staff of 30, we are one of the Midwest's largest and most experienced restoration facilities. Our customers will attest that we provide only the highest quality restora tion. In our restorations, the mechanical functionality of the car is as im portant as the cosmetic appearance. We have completed many resto rations for Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook, St. John's, CCCA Grand Classic and for touring. We have experience with a wide variety of automobiles. From the mighty Duesenberg, luxurious Packard, Lincoln, Pierce Arrow or Cadillac, sporting Bugatti or Bentley, our knowledge, skill and experi ence will make your automobile perform and look its best

Classic & Exotic Service, Inc. 2032 Heide Dr., Troy, MI 48084 USA Phone: 1-248-362-0113 Fax: 1-248-269-9365

January - February 2016

GENERAL SERVICE MAINTENANCE DETAILING RESTORATION WORK MECHANICAL SERVICE Pickup and delivery is available in an enclosed trailer for Classic Car repairs

EMS CLASSIC CAR CARE, INC. 11530 Timken, Warren, MI 48089 1/4 mile South of Stephens (9-1/2 mile), just west of Hoover

Ed & Emica Syrocki Phone: 586-754-3728

From Your Editor By Rich Ray This issue of Torque brings you coverage of several regional and national activities from this past fall. Mary and I participated in the Southern Hospitality CARavan this past September (see page 18). We had a great time with friends we have made during our only two CARavans. In addition, it was fun to drive our Full ClassicÂŽ 1941 Cadillac like a real car. Normally, we tend to carefully check the weather to decide if we will drive one of our collector cars or go modern - any small cloud in the sky or uncertainty in the weather forecast means we go modern. On the CARavan there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that choice - it was either drive the Classic or not go. We went and learned that even during some crummy rainstorms the Cadillac drove on just like it did 75 years ago when it was "modern". Did it pass the water test? Absolutely not, but it dried out later so there was no loss. The car was reliable (fairly), but most importantly, we had a good time driving it. So, while we won't be driving it on Michigan roads during winter, we will be driving it more next spring, summer and fall and we encourage you to do the same. The 2016 Michigan Region Activities Calendar appears on opposite page and is intended to help you make your plans for the year. Some of the activities are very well defined and others should be considered "placeholders", but the Activities Team of Ara Ekizian, Phil Fischer and Dan Clements promise another year of enjoyable activities. Speaking of 2016 car events, I would appreciate if you would consider participating in Le Concours de Livingston (page 31), which is a car show benefitting LoveInc, a charity I support. It is a very enjoyable, relaxing event. Finally, if you are like Hillary and have had to change your email address, please notify our Membership Chairperson, Jerry Medow, so he can keep our records up to date and you will always have the latest news about Michigan Region activities and events. Also, if you let him know when you will be headed south (or west) for the winter (and returning north), he can keep your issue of Torque arriving on schedule. Just email him at medowg@aol.com or call (248) 594-4437.

January - February 2016

Torque Advertising Rates One Year (6 Issues)

Single Issue

Color Full Page ½ Page ¼ Page

$1,100 $600 $320

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Ad copy should be submitted in print ready PDF X-1a format with all fonts embedded. Contact the editor for specific ad dimensions. Copy should be suitably CCCA Full Classic® oriented. Ad will appear in the first non-assembled Torque issue following receipt of payment and camera ready art. Torque closing dates are: January 1, March 1, May 1, July 1, September 1 and November 1. Make check payable to: Michigan Region CCCA Mail to:

Wally Donoghue, Torque Advertising 5130 Curtis Road Plymouth, MI 48170

The Classic Car Club of America A club founded for the development, publication and interchange of technical, historical and other information for and among members and other persons who own or are interested in fine or unusual foreign or domestic motor cars built between and including, in the main, the years 1915 and 1948, and distinguished for their respective fine design, high engineering standards and superior workmanship, and to promote social intercourse and fellowship among its members; and to maintain references upon and encourage the maintenance, restoration and preservation of all such Full Classic ® cars. Contact the CCCA at P.O. Box 346160, Chicago, IL 60634 or www.classiccarclub.org

What is a “Full Classic®” car? A Full Classic ® as defined by the Classic Car Club of America, is a “fine” or “distinctive” automobile, American or foreign built, produced between 1915 and 1948. Generally, a CCCA Classic was high-priced when new and was built in limited quantities. Other factors including engine displacement, custom coachwork and luxury accessories, such as power brakes, power clutch, and “oneshot” or automatic lubrication systems, help determine whether a car is considered to be a “Full Classic®”. The complete list of the Club’s recognized Classics may be obtained by writing the CCCA, P.O. Box 346160, Chicago, IL 60634 or at www.classiccarclub.org.

The Enthusiast Garage, LLC Where you would send a friend Classic and Antique Restoration and Service Including But Not Limited To: Mechanical, Body, Paint, Upholstery General Service and Maintenance Full Ground Up Restorations

The Enthusiast Garage, LLC Jocko McNeal, Proprietor 2720 N. Monroe, Frenchtown, MI 48162 Phone and FAX: 734-637-1421 Email: highlander809@gmail.com January - February 2016

1937 Cord 812 S/C Phaeton

By Ron Thomas Photos by Don WoodIII and the Author

By the mid 1990’s my wife, Betsy and I had been showing and driving vintage cars for quite some time, mostly Pontiacs as the first car we owned was a ’67 Firebird. But we decided in 1998 it was time for us to broaden our scope, and we decided to attend the Barrett Jackson Automobile Auction in Scottsdale, AZ. As we wandered around the outside tent areas full of beautiful cars, we suddenly came upon a 1937 Cord Phaeton. Wow! What else was there to say? Wow! Upon reviewing our checking account balance, and credit card limits, we felt confident the car would sell for more than our limit. And it did…..in less than three bids. We didn’t even get our hand in the air. However, five years later we were actually able to buy that very same car, through a private sale for an amount within our budget at that time. By this time, we had joined the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Club and began attending the annual Labor Day weekend in Auburn, IN. Several years later we sold that first Cord, a non-supercharged car, and began a new search for a Supercharged model. In 2013 we found it. A 1937 Model 812 Supercharged Cord Phaeton. Rich Maroon, tan top, tan leather interior. Perfect, exactly what we were looking for. Completely restored to a very high standard. As most of us know by now, buying a car already restored will most likely cost less than finding that rust bucket barn find and then spending the next 2 or more years getting it restored. After a lengthy discussion with Mark Clayton, owner of Clayton Restorations of Castle Rock, CO. we concluded a deal in 2013. Before the final purchase we had contacted the ACD Club Historian, Ron Irwin to learn the known history and we contacted Josh Malks, Cord aficionado and author (sadly now deceased) to review what was already known. We learned the ACD Club had previously certified the car, and Ron Irwin was able to tell us the car had been previously owned by Robert Lewis, who then sold it to Glen 8

Mathers, who then sold it to Jerome Hudleson, who then sold it to restorer Mark Clayton. After concluding the purchase we began to further research the car’s history. My wife and I enjoy learning the history of the cars we own. We have several cars that we know we are the third owner, and we often wonder, if this car could talk, could it tell us of the roads it has traveled, what gala parties did it convey it’s owners to, was it just common daily transportation, or did it safely deliver it’s owner to a higher social status, did it transport newly weds from the church to a new life, did it transport illegal moonshine? After talking with Josh and reviewing information published in his book, “Cord Complete”, we learned that VIN #1469H actually started life as a Model 810 in 1936. According to Josh’s work, VIN #1469H was not sold in 1936, but was still in the distribution channel, most likely still at the factory at the beginning of the 1937 sales year. As per Josh Malks book "Cord Complete" on page 290, Josh states: All 1937 models are 812, but not all 812 cars were originally built as 1937 cars. As many as 125 unsold production 810s at the factory and 300 in the hands of factory branches were renumbered as 812s in September 1936. Unsold 810s located in factory branches were renumbered 812-1101 to 1400 inclusive. 810s left in the factory were renumbered 812-1401 to 1525 inclusive. Both model and serial numbers were changed on these cars so there is no correlation between the frame numbers and the serial numbers. All 812s with serial numbers of 1525 or lower were originally built as 810s.

January - February 2016

Clockwise from left: the iconic view of an iconic automobile famous for its exposed exhaust pipes and pod fender; the elegant profile of the Cord; the rear deck’s clean and simple design; the supercharged 289 CID Lycoming V8 producing 125 hp; the pod fender theme carried to the rear.

I am sure other manufacturers of that era faced the same problem in that they produced more cars than could be sold in any particular selling season, and of course they didn’t just discard the cars. They simply rebadged them as a 1937 model. Since we know there were no 1936 Cords built with a supercharger, it was obvious VIN #1469H had at some time undergone an engine upgrade. Did the first, unknown, owner do this? Was it done in 1937 or, more likely in the 1940’s or 1950’s when customizing cars came into vogue after the war? Stan Gilliland, noted Cord restorer and owner of ACD Parts, was able to shed a little light on this. Stan sent me the photo of the car with the top removed, a chrome roll bar installed, single bucket type seats, exterior exhaust pipes, and a two tone paint scheme. Stan told us this photo was labeled “1963” on the backside. Stan also personally knew Glen Mathers, who owned a foundry and was at that time casting reproduction parts for Stan and his restoration business. We know the engine swap occurred prior to Glen’s purchase of the car from Robert Lewis. And in 1985 when Jerome Hudleson bought the car from Glen Mathers, Glen provided Jerome a full page of typed notes entitled, “What was done in the restoration of my CORD 1937 Model 812”, and his signature “Glen L. Mathers” is signed at the bottom of these notes. I have a copy of these notes typed and signed by Glen Mathers in which he referred to the chrome roll bar, the convertible top deck lid being welded shut, and the bucket seats. Glen also did a complete engine rebuild, detailed in his signed notes and repainted the car to an original Cord color. January - February 2016

After we received the car we were able to determine from the 1960 ACD Club Member Roster that Mr. Lewis lived in Houston TX. Glen Mathers was listed in the 1971-1972 Club Roster and he lived in Denver, CO. So we have to assume Mr. Lewis, listed in the 1960 Club Roster most likely turned the original Cord into a “hot rod” of the time, as pictured with this article. Now VIN #1469H is back to the original specs and factory standards of 1937. So, like the four or five previous owners we can document, we are now in charge of the history of this rolling sculpture. We intend to drive the car, document the history we will have with the car, to include shows and touring, and at some point in the future, we too will pass VIN #1469H into the hands another future owner. 9

Clockwise from above: the nearly vertical steering wheel; the instruments are placed against an engine turned panel; simple interior door trim; proud owners Ron and Betsy Thomas; the Cord during its less than glorious “hot rod” days around 1963; the instrument panel during its hot rod days; another view of the Cord in the 1960s; the “coffin nose” front end of the Cord with the delicate horizontal grille bars; the interior of the Cord in its restored state.

January - February 2016

The

Obituary:

Cord Story

Linda Kughn By Tlanda McDonald

By Rich Ray

E.L.Cord had launched his namesake brand as part of his automotive empire in 1930 with the L-29 model. The high performance front wheel drive car created a sensation winning 33 international design awards, but not as many sales and it faded from the scene in late 1931 after 5,014 copies departed from the Connersville, Indiana factory succumbing, along with many other car brands, to the tribulations of the Great Depression. However, Cord's other two brands, the medium-priced Auburn and the ultra-luxury Duesenberg, soldiered on, but with only a trickle of sales. As the year 1936 unfolded, the U.S. automotive industry was starting to dig itself out of this production and sales "hole" and the Cord Corporation revived the Cord name with the introduction of a series of eleven revolutionary show cars. The low-slung Cord 810 featured a V8 engine, front wheel drive, independent front suspension, semi-automatic transmission, no running boards and hidden headlamps. Gordon Buehrig's sensational "coffin nose" design was declared "the most unorthodox car in the world" by Britain's Autocar magazine, but the public loved it and it was mobbed at the New York Auto Show in November of 1935. Cord had rushed to build the 100 cars needed to qualify for the show and the electric vacuum semi-autoomatic transmission was really not ready. Some display models had transmissions made of wood and lacked engines. Some components were flown to New York to be installed on the show floor. Cord took many orders at the show promising Christmas delivery. He hoped for production of 1,000 per month, but the semi-automatic transmission was more troublesome than expected and Christmas came and went with no cars for customers. The first production cars did not reach customers until April, 1936. Operations in Connersville were becoming chaotic with four engineering chiefs in the two year period and the executive and sales ranks being similarly shuffled. E.L. Cord himself took direct management control after a two year hiatus focusing on his aviation interests. Supercharging, raising horsepower to 170 and identified by the brilliant chrome-plated external exhaust pipes mounted on each side of the hood, was made available on the 1937 812 models. However, the early reliability problems, including slipping out of gear and vapor lock, cooled initial enthusiasm. Although most new owners loved their sleek fast cars, the dealer base shrank rapidly. Unsold left-over and in-process 1936 810 models were re-numbered and sold as 1937 812 models. In August, 1937, under government investigation of his business tactics, E.L. Cord disposed of his automotive holdings and the last of 3,000 Cord 810/812s were built. 12

Dick & Linda Kughn at the 2014 Michigan Grand Classic

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Linda Kughn, longtime and oh so active member of the Michigan Region CCCA. Linda passed away at her home in Dearborn on Saturday, October 17 surrounded by her family. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She and Dick lived in Dearborn for 32 years. They also had a cottage on Mackinac Island and residences in Bay Harbor, Michigan and Naples, Florida. After earning her bachelor's degree with Honors from the University of Michigan, Linda was a businesswoman for many years. She and Dick shared a strong commitment to the community and many organizations, charities and boards benefited from her expertise, passion and generosity, none more than the CCCA which she and Dick loved. The cars in their collection number too many to count and Dick and Linda could be seen each year driving multiples of them to the Michigan Grand Classic in Dearborn. Many the time our regional activities took us to the Whitney restaurant which they owned. The historic setting and sumptuous food always proved a winning combination as these events always enjoyed our largest turnouts. And too with CarRail, Linda and Dick's magnificent museum of collector cars and Lionel trains. We were so often invited for CCCA events - and again with huge pleasure and participation. That was especially so for the regions 50th anniversary celebration where CarRail was transformed into the glittery, golden setting befitting any golden anniversary event. We will all miss Linda's brightness and quick step; her smile and welcome. We are happy to have known Linda and treasure our memories of her. January - February 2016

1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan

By Rich Ray Photos by Don Wood III

Michigan Region CCCA Club Photographer, Don Wood III and I came across this car sitting somewhat humbly in the background at the 2015 CCCA Grand Experience at the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Judge Joe Cassini of New Jersey told us he had just acquired the car and although it was too late to register it for the show, he unloaded it and displayed it in the background. Needless to say, his 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich is spectacular and while positioned in the background and subtle in color, certainly is not humble. The imposing custom-bodied car rides on a 147 inch wheelbase and features the famous Packard V12 engine displacing 445.5 CID to produce 160 horsepower. CCCA member Joe Cassini is a noted collector of Full Classics® that have received top honors at about every Concours in the country including two Pebble Beach best of show wins, so it is no surprise to see a car of this quality under his care. While it was in the background at the Grand Experience, it has been front and center in many major shows under prior owners including taking Best in Class in the highly competitive American Classic Open class at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Classic Car Club of America Trophy. In 2011, the car received an Amelia Award at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and in 2012 it received a CCCA Senior badge. January - February 2016

To start with, the 1934 Packard 1108 chassis was about as good as it could get when new. With a modified L-head V-12 engine, three-speed selective synchromesh manual transmission, vacuumassisted clutch, shaft drive with a hypoid rear axle, front and rear leaf-spring suspension and four-wheel vacuum-assisted mechanical drum brakes the owner was traveling in the lap of luxury. The body was designed by the famous Raymond Dietrich. Dietrich started his career as an apprentice draftsman at Brewster, where he met Thomas Hibbard, with whom he would co-found LeBaron in New York City. Hibbard eventually went to Paris and decided to stay, while Dietrich was lured to Detroit by the Murray Body Corporation, through Edsel Ford’s influence. There, he took 50 percent ownership of a new firm, Dietrich Inc., which initially worked largely on Lincoln chassis, no doubt to the enthusiast tastes of Edsel Ford. Despite Edsel Ford's patronage, Dietrich designed spectacular cars for many marques, particularly Packard. In 1926 a Packard dealer took three Dietrich designed custom show cars on a nationwide tour resulting in an amazing 150 orders. When 13

Clockwise from upper left: the Packardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commanding grille, headlamps and dual horns would give fright in a rear view mirror; even the exposed door hinges exude elegance; the sweeping lines from the windshield can be appreciated in this view; the veeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d windshield flows into the long hood; Packard Twelve - nothing more need be said; large bumper weights smooth out the ride; the skirted rear fenders continue the flowing lines of the body; the long hood contributes to the flowing look; the trunk rack lends style to the rear view;

January - February 2016

Clockwise from above: the big Packard V12 displaces 445.5 cubic inches to produce 160 hp; Joe & Margie Cassini with their new acquisition; the rollup divider window keeps rear seat conversations private; the rear compartment is simple and elegant; the huge steering wheel is needed to direct this huge car.

this order arrived at the Packard plant in Detroit it obviously got the attention of Packard President Alvan Macauley who quickly ordered another 175 bodies built, beginning a long association between Packard and Dietrich. The most prestigious of these initial Dietrich-bodied Packards were the so-called Individual Customs, which were produced on Super Eight and Twelve chassis from 1932 to 1934. They were built largely to individual tastes, as true factory customs, and their striking bodies were known for their sporty lines. The combination of the veeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d windshields, a beltline curving away from the windshield and an extraordinarily long hood line made for a spectacular look and in 12-cylinder form, they were very expensive making an impressive statement for the owner. This convertible sedan body style was the only open four-door body style offered by Dietrich that year and only about a dozen are known to survive. The car was originally sold by the famous Earle C. Anthony dealership in Los Angeles to an unknown customer. It was most recently part of the famous Andrews Collection in Dallas, Texas who commissioned its restoration.

the windshield which matched the number that was found on the original body wood. He concluded that the car had never been taken apart, the body never off the chassis and the engine and chassis numbers were very close together indicating they were probably both original. A new vehicle number plate was installed, with the empty delivery location and date typical of an Individual Custom. Much of the wood, including the door sills, required replacement, but the shop was able to use all of the original sheet metal, which was refinished in an extremely dark auburn color. The fenders had never been off the car and they still have their original welting around the edges. The glass in the doors was missing, but windows were borrowed from another car to copy them exactly. The original top was good for patterns, as was the interior, both of which were reproduced to exacting original specifications, in light brown leather and tan canvas, respectively.

CCCA National Board Member, Steve Babinsky whose shop did the restoration, found the Dietrich body number of 6626 stamped on

The result is a truly spectacular car that will never be lost in the background, no matter where it is parked.

January - February 2016

By Rich Ray

Edsel’s Classics

Images from the Benson Ford Research Center of The Henry Ford except as noted

If Edsel Ford were alive today, he would probably be a member of the CCCA! How in the world, you say, would one draw this conclusion about the "forgotten son" of Henry Ford, manufacturer of the Ford Model T (Bold NC!). Well, one only has to look at the cars that Edsel personally owned: the list is a Who's Who of Full Classics®: Packard, Bugatti, Daimler, Hispano-Suiza, Rolls Royce, Locomobile, Marmon, Mercer, Delage and, of course, Lincolns as well as many custom-bodied Fords which could be recognized under the CCCA's "applications considered" category. Edsel Ford has long been referred to as "Henry Ford's forgotten son". Many people know the story of Henry Ford and are well aware of his grandson, Henry II, who virtually saved the company from collapse near the end of World War II, turning it into a modern corporation. Henry Ford appeared on the cover of Time magazine four times, Henry II made it twice and Edsel, never. But the quiet and self-effacing, Edsel was the consumate "car guy”, probably on a par with anyone in the history of the auto industry. Although he deliberately avoided the limelight, and it would probably have been impossible for him to outshine his father whose ego

would not allow anyone to be perceived as even equal to him, Edsel probably should be recognized for his complete love of all cars. Henry Ford was a "tinkerer" when it came to automobiles and his genius was his development of the Model T, the simple, low cost, mass produced car that put America on wheels. Even though seven week old Edsel cried when his father famously started his first engine on the kitchen sink, he absorbed his father's mechanical skills as a boy in his own workshop and at age nine began hanging around the Ford plant learning how cars were manufactured. He lived and dreamed cars, drawing them in his school books and studying the exotic cars of America and Europe that his father disdained as unneeded complication. Clockwise from top: Edsel Ford in his 1912 Mercer that he shipped to California for use during his honeymoon; a boyhood sketch of a roadster by Edsel; ten-year-old Edsel towing his friends around the neighborhood (where were the “helicopter” moms!); Henry (left) and Edsel Ford inspecting a Ford V8 engine.

January - February 2016

Clockwise from above: Edsel in his custom 6-cylinder speedster around 1912; Edsel’s 1922 Hispano Suiza H6B with Brunn body; Carol Bray’s 1919 Locomobile is similar to Edsel’s Locomobile except it wears a roadster body versus Edsel’s sedan body,

At the age of ten, Edsel received his first car, a 1903 Ford Model A Runabout. Although he was not yet strong enough to crank start the engine, he was quite competent as a driver. He, with his father's help, "hot rodded" the car, to use the modern term, improving its performance. Edsel received his second car, a 1908 Ford Model N followed by a Model T speedster. He was one of the few students at his high school, even an exclusive private one, that drove his own car to school daily. Henry had a low opinion of advanced education and, as a result, Edsel never went to college, but directly to work full time at the company. He learned every aspect of the business including engineering, manufacturing and sales. In 1912, Edsel and his family spent some time at their winter home in California where he and his father got his Model T speedster up to 54 mph even before "trying those Holley carburetors". He loved Los Angeles for its variety of sporty and exclusive cars including many Pierce-Arrows, Packards, Fiats, Peerless along with some Fords. In November, 1916, Edsel married Eleanor Clay, niece of J.L. Hudson. Their honeymoon consisted of a transcontinental trip to San Francisco and on to Hawaii. They took a train to San Diego and then drove up the Pacific Highway to San Francisco in Edsel's 1912 Mercer touring car that he had shipped ahead. In April, 1919, Edsel ordered a Locomobile 48HP Type M with a 5-Passenger Sedan body by Demarest & Co. It took until January 1921 for him to take delivery after many threatening letters due to the delays and missed promise dates blamed on strikes at the body builder. The 142 inch wheelbase chassis alone cost $7,100 and the body $4,000. After driving the car in November, 1921, he wrote complaining "the rear seat was too high" and it was "hard to shift". He also had a 1919 Packard chassis shipped to Holbrook or Derham for a custom body, although little else is known about the car. January - February 2016

He owned a 1922 Hispano Suiza H6B with a custom body by Brunn. It featured an all-aluminum 6.6L straight-six engine inspired by designer Marc Birkigt's work on aircraft engines. One of the most notable features was its light alloy power assisted brakes, the first in the industry, driven with a special shaft from the transmission. When the car was decelerating, its own momentum drove the brake servo to provide additional power. This technology was later licensed to other manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce. Although Edsel considered the car to be a "marvelous piece of mechanics, powerful, wonderfully built...performs well", he advised a inquiring potential purchaser that it was "not well suited to (U.S.) roads" and was a "high-powered, raging touring car". He took "great pleasure in (his), but rarely drives it" and recommended a Lincoln for everyday use. In 1919, at the age of 26, Edsel was appointed President of the Ford Motor Company by his father. While Edsel was very influential in all of the company's affairs, Henry remained active, often countermanding his son's decisions, often in humiliating fashion. As a result, the soft spoken and artistic Edsel created a niche for himself focusing on those areas that were of little interest to his father. Working with the coachbuilders of the day, he developed discerning tastes in automotive design. To illustrate the differences between Edsel and his father, Edsel once stated "Father made the most popular car in the world, I would like to make the best car in the world." He pushed his father to acquire Lincoln Motor Company from bankruptcy in February 1922. Lincoln, founded by Henry Leland, was known for its top quality cars. Leland, also founder of the Cadillac Motor Company, was renowned as a machinist from the earliest days of the automobile industry. However, like Henry, knowing the industry from its early days when simply making a car that ran reliably was the key to success, by the early 1920s aesthetics were taking a lead role in car buyer's purchase decisions and Leland's conservative body designs, which were designed and manufactured in house, made their cars virtually sale-proof. This is where Edsel's talents made the difference. He was familiar with all of the top coachbuilder's in the U.S., if for no other reason than the supply of his own personal cars. He began using them to design bodies for Lincoln chassis. As the owner of their resulting designs, Edsel would have the bodies built by the body builder or in Lincoln's own body shop. Edsel "discovered" the newly formed LeBaron design house and quickly shifted most of the Lincoln design work to them. Their talent provided Lincoln with designs that attracted customers in droves. Thus with Henry's lack of interest in premium cars, Lincoln became Edsel's "fiefdom" where he used his design talents to make Lincolns that were mechanical masterpieces into works of art. He approved every Lincoln design between 1922 and 1943 as well as influencing the design of Ford cars from the Model A until his death. In particular, he is credited with the creation of the 1935 Lincoln Zephyr , Museum of Modern Art's 17

Clockwise from bottom left: the custom speedster designed for Edsel by Bob Gregorie; Edsel’s 1926 Bugatti Type 25A; 1930 Ford Model A dual cowl sport phaeton by LeBaron rode on an experimental Ford chassis; Edsel’s personal 1923 Lincoln coupe by Locke; a 1929 Daimler similar to the one owned by Edsel Ford.

and respond to correspondence. When he and his wife sailed to Europe to select furnishings and paneling for their new Grosse Pointe mansion, he took along a custom-bodied Lincoln touring car for local transportation. As an aside, in true "car guy" fashion, this new mansion included a gate house along affluent Lake Shore Drive, often mistaken for the actual house. The gate house contained apartments for use by staff and an eight-car garage with a turntable to rotate the cars so they don’t need to back out.

"first successfully designed streamlined car in America" and the 1939 Lincoln Continental. Developing a comprehensive list of the cars owned by Edsel Ford is virtually impossible. The Benson Ford Research Center at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan maintains extensive archives of Edsel's papers and correspondence. From 1929 on, they include Edsel's personal automobile title and registration application information. It shows that Edsel maintained a personal fleet of as high as 30 vehicles. These included work vehicles for his three properties: his Gaukler Point estate in Grosse Pointe Michigan; Haven Hill, a retreat northwest of Detroit and a vacation home in Seal Harbor, Maine and in 1936, a new Brewster-bodied Ford Town Car at his New York City apartment. For instance, in 1929, his Gaukler Point estate had a half dozen trucks for various purposes including property maintenance and even a fire truck. There were many Fords, in addition to the six cars including five Lincolns, four of which were custom bodied. Edsel often used a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Town Car for his commute from Grosse Pointe to his office at the Ford Headquarters in Dearborn. This gave him time to read the newspaper and read 18

In 1928, Edsel purchased a 1926 8-cylinder Bugatti Type 35A Grand Prix. One of the most successful racing cars of all time, it was produced in far greater numbers than any other before or since in the history of motor racing. The original Type 35 introduced in 1924 featured an expensive built-up roller bearing crankshaft with one-piece connecting rods, magneto ignition and alloy road wheels incorporating integral brake drums and was utilized from the outset by Bugatti as their factory entry in all the major Grand Prix races of the day. Although the car was never the most powerful in the Grand Prix arena, it gained numerous victories for both the factory and an ever increasing number of wealthy amateur race drivers due to its outstanding combination of superb handling, road-holding, braking, gear-changing and steering. Edsel spent a lot of time trying " to make it run....checking over the distributor coils and replacing the spark plugs....just about to put the car in the paint shop and try to make it look like something." Edsel's "intervention" with the car may have been due to the fact it had been delivered to Bugatti's Paris showroom in 1926 where it must have served duty as a "demonstrator" until Edsel purchased it in 1928. In 1929, his fleet, in addition to the Bugatti, included six Lincolns including one each with Brewster, LeBaron and Judkins bodies. The following year, Edsel bought the first MG motorcar imported to the US, a Midget M Open Sports 2-Seater (NC) as well as a 1930 Daimler 4-Passenger Saloon. To keep U.S. coachbuilders busy, he also added Dietrich and Willoughby-bodied Lincolns. Continued on page 31

January - February 2016

The Southern Hospitality CARavan By Wally and Ann Donoghue Photos by the Authors, Kathy Kosmatka and Rich Ray

The hosts of this great CARavan, Tom and Connie Jones and their team, did a wonderful job. The “Hospitality” in its name was proven continuously to all CARavaners on this hub tour. We have participated in 24 CARavans, starting in 1963 and this was one of the best. It was headquartered in downtown Lexington and featured a wide variety of activities, collections, museums and tours. The routes for driving, many in rural areas, were lots of fun and very interesting, with steep hills, up and down winding roads and lots of sharp curves. The mountainous scenery, rivers and valleys were all beautiful and some were spectacular. An extensive and detailed tour book covered every detail of each day’s activities and driving routes, starting with a summary overview of each day. The event started Friday evening, September 25, with a welcome reception at the headquarters hotel, the Hilton, with Tom Jones giving useful information, what to expect and general instructions. Each day started with a buffet breakfast at the Hilton, with Tom giving instructions for the day’s events and answering any questions that came up. The first day, Saturday, started with a drive to the Elk Creek Vineyards for snacks, beverages, and wine tours with wine tasting. Then on to Midway, a quaint, prosperous town for lunch and shopping. The last event was a short drive to “Old Friends” Farm for a tour of retired Thoroughbred Stallions which we could get up close to and pet. January - February 2016

Sunday started with a trip to Danville for a glass blowing demonstration by Stephen Powell, an internationally known artist, and viewing of many of his works on display. Stephen and his team demonstrated the start-to-finish process for creating one of his masterpieces from the “Screamer Series”. We were right in the studio, experiencing the heat of the furnaces and observing the team work necessary to create such a piece. From there we drove to Berea for lunch at the famous historic Boone Tavern, followed by shopping at several of the shops displaying works by local Berea artists and from students of Berea College. From there we drove over interesting, varied roads back to the hotel . Above: Rich Ray’s 1941 Cadillac At 6:30 we were at Tom and Connie’s “Toy Box” enters a covered bridge on a Kenfor a cocktail party. Their wonderful and very tucky back road. varied collection of all types of cars was enhanced Below: Caravan Coordinators Tom by lovely table settings, beautiful drinks and hors & Connie Jones celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary during d'oeuvres that were so varied, good and plentiful the Caravan. that most people did not feel the need for dinner. An added bonus was the presence of the “Hat Lady”! She brought a large collection of hats that could be bought or rented for wearing to the races. There was a lot of “trying on” and posing for the cameras. Monday was primarily a day of driving through the fantastic Red River Gorge to the Natural Bridge State Park where we had lunch. The weather was sunny and warm, a great day for driving with the top down. On the way there we passed through the 900 foot long Nada Tunnel.

Clockwise from left: Wally Donoghue could not resist the chance to help a fellow CARavanner with car trouble; some of the CARavanners stayed at the quaint Gratz Park Inn in downtown Lexington; Classics on what Kentucky considers a two-lane road; Bill Miller, Dave Gaunt and Greg Kosmatka enjoy Tom & Connie Jones’ “Toy Box” including a rare Porsche and Danica Patrick’s Indy racer (both NC); a 1932 Packard 900 Convertible Coupe and a 1938 Bentley 4 1/4L Sedan share space in the Toy Box; CARavanners enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Toy Box; Classics parked in front of the historic Boone Tavern in Berea, Kentucky.

there we drove to the Headley-Whitney Museum where we enjoyed the collections of jewelry by George Headley as well as, sea shells, bibelots and doll houses. Above: Steve & Amy Plastor leaving Midway, KY in their 1930 Hudson Indy race car. Right: a couple of thoroughbreds observe the passing of a long line of Classics.

Only 12 feet wide and 13 feet tall it was a great driving experience. Tuesday, involved a number of interesting stops, including a morning visit to the Old Cane Ridge Meeting House. Built in 1791, it was the largest one room log structure at the time. From there our ride through the country over the original, Collville covered bridge took us to our lunch in Spindletop Hall. This exquisite home now belongs to the University of Kentucky. Docents were available to provide historical information as we toured around the home. Sadly, the demonstration of dressage by Shelby Hume couldn’t occur because of rain!. After lunch we were treated to a driving tour through Donnemire Farms, to view the barns, training tracks and beautiful pastures of a classic Kentucky Thoroughbred farm. From 20

On Wednesday we drove through Kentucky’s capital, Frankfort, where we had a lovely view of the capitol building while taking a detour around roadwork, a wrong turn and having to do a few turnarounds. From there it was on to Buffalo Trace Distillery (making fine alcohol since 1784!) for a tour and tastes of bourbon and a catered lunch. Then, continuing on wonderful country roads, we drove to The Glitz restaurant for their famous dessert, The Nonesuch Kiss, and shopping at The Irish Acres Antique Gallery. Thursday was a big day. We toured both the Toyota Manufacturing Plant and the Kentucky Horse Park. Our tour of Toyota started only after checking and leaving behind all phones, cameras and any other type of recording device. Our riding tour through the plant, with views of the great stamping presses, the start-to-finish assembly line was fascinating. There were so many robots at Toyota that January - February 2016

Clockwise from left: Wally Donoghue’s 1931 Lincoln K emerges from the 900 foot Nada Tunnel that severely challenged 6-volt light systems; Greg & Kathy Kosmatka, Mary & Rich Ray and Vicki Zeiger at lunch in Spindle Top Hall; Stephen Powell and his team demonstrate their amazing glass blowing techniques with a sample of his work inset; listening to Mr. Swope tell the group about the Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum; Marlene, Amy, Mia and Ann Donoghue model fancy hats the ladies were encouraged to wear to the Keeneland races; John Kernan, Gene Perkins, Carl Zeiger and Greg Kosmatka were definitely not encouraged to wear hats, but did anyway; mechanical horse at the Kentucky Horse Park; bourbon aging in barrels at the Buffalo Trace Distillery - so much bourbon, so little time.

it seemed there were more of them than humans. Lunch was at the Kentucky Horse Park and there were a variety of things to see and do including carriage rides, tours of the Hall of Champions, the Breeds Barn Show and the extremely interesting and well done International Museum of The Horse. Friday was our longest driving day covering 200 miles over wonderful fun roads with the usual scenery and interesting sites along the routes. At about the mid point we visited the Swope’s Cars of Yesterday museum with over 60 cars ranging from early antiques, and on up to the early 1970s including many in original condition. Lunch was at the Stone Hearth Restaurant and then back home. Our last day, Saturday, we went to the races at the Keeneland Racetrack. We all dressed in our best, with many fine hats adorning many a fine head. Our cars had preferred parking close to the grandstand and Tom had arranged for a private chalet right on the track. We had our own buffet lunch, bar and bookie inside. We could walk right out to the fence along the track and see the horses close up as they roared by. We bet using computers or the bookie and while most of us came out a little behind, a few came out a little ahead. Adjacent to our chalet were the grandstands and it was fun listening to the loud wild cheers as the spectators were urging their horses on. During the race, artist Peter Williams set up his easel and paints, and captured the scene and mood of the event as we looked on. The finished painting was later purchased by a CARavaner! January - February 2016

Our closing event was dinner at Shakespeare and Co. Restaurant. The various CARavan Awards were given out and everyone shared memories of the week, sad to be saying final good-byes! There were about 68 cars with a good showing of Michigan Region member’s cars. However, most of the Michigan Region Members were out of state members. The Michigan Region Members were: Tom and Rosanne Bayliff, Jim and Gail Cowin, Bill Davis, Wally and Marlene Donoghue, Dave and Mia Donoghue, Amy Donoghue, Ann Donoghue, Dan and Debbie Hanlon, Dave Johnson, Alex Joyce, Greg and Kathy Kosmatka, Gordon and Fanny Linkletter, Paul and Sally Loree, Bill and Sonya Miller, Gene and Sally Perkins, Jay and Dena Quail, Rich and Mary Ray, Skip and Susan Tetz, Dave and Rachael Timmons and Andy and Madonna Wolf, There were some nice extra touches on this CARavan. One was a photographer taking photos of each member as they checked in. These were put in a booklet and given to every participant at the breakfast the next day. During the morning briefings Tom gave us all some info on Kentucky and the area. Then, at the end of the breakfast he gave several quiz questions and the person that answered the most questions correctly won a case of the Indiana Region’s Classic Oil. This was all in all one of the best CARavans we’ve participated in and highly enjoyed by all. Tom, Connie and their team did a wonderful job and deserve our congratulations. 21

The 2015 Fall Color Tour

By Rich Ray Photos by Diane Ekizian and the Author

About 10 a.m. on the beautifully clear and brisk Sunday morning of October 18, forty six stalwart Michigan Region CCCA members gathered at West Bloomfield, Michigan's Marshbank Park for our annual fall color tour. One of the members' colors was a pale shade of blue as the wind combined with overnight freezing temperatures to threaten frostbite. However, organizers Ara and Diane Ekizian had an ample supply of energy producing apple cider and donuts to reduce the risk of hypothermia as a bright sun tried to warm things up. It succeeded as the day proceeded. After chatting and enjoying the donuts, a parade of eight Full Classics® followed by several non-Classic collector and modern cars proceeded around the park to enjoy the fall colors and lake views. The group only got lost once on this short tour (not a promising group of CARavaners, to say the least) and then proceeded around the Cass Lake area to see some of the views of this popular southeast Michigan lake.

about, 1907 Stoddard-Dayton Model K Runabout, 1949 Cadillac Convertible, an Avanti and many more. He started the engine of his 1927 Marmon race car to the delight of all. The car was raced in Uruguay in the late 1920s. It was all quite glorious, although it is probably also the reason that Buck remains a bachelor - some of the ladies in the group were in need of smelling salts and, in extremely sensitive cases, oxygen at the overwhelming sight of a home totally dedicated to car stuff.

Among the Full Classics® in the parade were Paul Ayres 1940 Cadillac, Phil Fischer's 1941 Cadillac, Greg Ornazian's 1929 Duesenberg, Rich Ray's 1941 Cadillac, Paul Wise's 1940 Cadillac, Frank Flynn's 1947 Continental and George Arakelian's 1937 Cord.

The parade then proceeded to The Lodge & Bar in nearby Keego Harbor for an enjoyable lunch with an "up north wilderness" theme including Marquette Meatloaf, Lumberjack Burger, U.P. Walnut Salad, Mackinauk Chicken and Dogsled Lawash. A truly hearty menu to complete the defrosting of our bodies as outside temperatures rose into comfortable ranges.

The cruise soon arrived at Michigan Region member Buck Mook's lakeside home to see his eclectic collection of cars, model cars, artwork, automobilia and more. Buck has been collecting automotive "stuff" since he was 4 years old. His career as an automotive designer at Ford Motor Company provided a treasure trove of sketches including some of his designs that actually hit the road including the Ford Mustang II, F150 trucks and Expedition and Navigator. His "bachelor pad" art studio is packed with hundreds of model cars, plaster car models and other car stuff that overflows through the entire house. Most of his collection of around a hundred cars is stored in offsite buildings, but his home garage and driveway displayed several cars including a 1903 Michigan Run22

Buck gave out packets of his artwork, some of which appears in the adjoining photos. It ranges from serious automotive design to entertaining novelty automotive art (Buck designed vehicles for several 1960s TV shows including the Monkeymobile and the Green Hornet car). Buck is truly an innovative automotive artist and designer to say the least.

Our thanks go to Ara and Diane Ekizian for arranging this enjoyable fall outing and Buck Mook for hosting the hoard of people in his lakeside home.

Above: Ara Ekizian checks in Jim Morningstar. Top: Greg Ornazian’s 1929 Duesenberg, a 1948 Mercury (NC) and Rich Ray’s 1941 Cadillac ready to start the tour.

January - February 2016

Clockwise from above: a parade of Classics traveling down a country road; Vicki & Don Gale and Patty & Jay Fitzgerald enjoy cider and doughnuts on a brisk fall day; one of the beautiful roads traveled; Rick Barrett’s 1937 Bentley; a 1946 Chevy (NC) and Paul Wise’s 1940 Cadillac; another view of the Bentley and Cadillac; Dan Sommer, Terry & Rita Ernest and Paul Wise catch up on the latest news; Rick Barrett’s Bentley leads Greg Ornazian’s Duesenberg down the road; Paul Ayre’s Cadillac leads Frank Flynn’s 1947 Continental through the park; Paul Ayres’ 1940 Cadillac and George Arakelian’s 1937 Cord S/C.

January - February 2016

Clockwise from above left: Buck starts the engine of his 1927 Marmon race car to the delight of all; a garage wall dedicated to Buck’s rendering of the Marmon Wasp and sketches from his automotive design career; Don Gale and Billy Wolf examine Buck’s 1903 Michigan Runabout; Buck’s 1907 Stoddard-Dayton Model K Runabout; participants enjoy lunch at Keego Harbor’s The Lodge & Bar; Michigan Region Director Paul Wise (center) presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Buck Mook (left) while Ara Ekizian looks on through his stylish dayglow yellow sun glasses; a room with wall to wall automotive art and a ¼ scale NASCAR model; (inset) the view of Cass Lake from Buck’s deck; a stairwell fully lined with more automotive artwork.

January - February 2016

The Art of Buck Mook Buckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artwork demonstrates his love for automobiles of all types as well as his sense of humor. These are some of the pieces that he gave to each participant of the Fall Color Tour and capture the flavor of some of his work. Enjoy.

January - February 2016

The 2015 Michigan Region Annual Meeting By Rich Ray Photos by Don Wood III and the Author

The 2015 version of the Michigan Region CCCA Annual Meeting was held at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Our entry into this exclusive club, with beautiful frontage on Lake St. Clair, was courtesy of Ron and Mary Lamparter, for which we sincerely thank them. The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, which celebrated its centenial last year, was founded in 1914 by 25 men to pursue their interests in ice boating and sailing on Lake St. Clair. In the 1920s, they commissioned Boston architect Guy Lowell to design the clubhouse, but he tragically died at sea before his plans were fully developed. His concept of an 18th-century Italian Renaissance building combining sun-washed stucco walls and terra cotta tile, topped by a 187-foot steeple, stands as a spectacular monument to his creative genius. The 187 foot tall bell tower also serves as a navigational aid for boaters on the lake. The clubhouse, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, officially opened amid great fanfare on July 4, 1929, almost on the eve of the great depression. It was an ironic beginning to say the least but fortunately, the club was able to survive the depression and the world war that followed. In 1997, the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club was accorded the ultimate honor of being named the "Number One Yacht Club in America" in a national survey of professional club managers. The weather was beautiful and actually warm, by November in Michigan standards. Three Full Classics ÂŽ added to the luster of the historic yacht club's grounds: Greg Kosmatka's 1934 Packard, Lee Barthel's 1936 Pierce Arrow and Jim Morningstar's 1940 Cadillac 60 Special. After enjoying conversation during the cocktail hour and dinner and admiring the beautiful building and grounds, the business meeting got underway with the announcement of the 2016 Michigan Region Board of Managers. Phil Fischer and Dan Clements were newly 26

The Italian Renaissance entrance to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and no, the tower doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually lean.

elected to seats on the board and we look forward to their ideas and contributions. Jay Fitzgerald and Jerry Medow were reelected to the board. Paul Wise and Tlanda McDonald will continue as Director and Assistant Director respectively. Greg Kosmatka reported that we had a good year financially. The reported loss of $666.41 is basically breakeven, which is our goal. He thanked the members of the board for their efforts to get to this operating level. Next, the 2015 award recipients were announced: Participation Award: Kelly Driving Award Biggest Challenge Award Stebbins Membership Award Nagler Distinguished Woman Robbins Man of the Year Award Lifetime Service Award

Tom Goad Phil Fischer Bruce Blevins Ralph Turner Amy Jidov Tom Goad Richard Kughn

Katie Robbins and Tom Goad received special Senior Emeritus awards in recognition of their years of service to the Michigan Region. Ara Ekizian announced that he will be working with Phil Fischer and Dan Clements to develop the Activities Calendar (see page 4) containing some exciting events for us to look forward to in 2016. Overall, it was another outstanding meeting that everyone enjoyed. Thanks to Tlanda McDonald for organizing such a great event to wrap up the year 2015 for the Michigan Region. January - February 2016

Clockwise from above: Greg Kosmatka’s 1934 Packard, Lee Barthel’s 1936 Pierce Arrow, Don Wood III’s 1969 Pontiac (NC); Rick Barrett’s Rolls-Royce (NC) and Jim Morningstar’s 1940 Cadillac; the courtyard in front of the GPYC; Katie Robbins chats with Alex Buchan with Larry Seyfarth, Bob Leich and Jerry Medow in the background; Phil Fischer and Dan Clements commiserate their fates as new board members; Lee Belf and Tlanda McDonald greeted arriving guests.

Clockwise from above: Wally Donoghue, Ed Meurer III and Michelle Michael share a laugh; Nancy Seyfarth and Judy Kudla; Dick Thams, Don Sommer and Debbie Hayes chat; Vicki Gale, Eric & Ginny Lundquist and Don Gale; Paul Wise smiles as he realizes how much Ara Ekizian is willing to pay to get Phil and Dan’s help with Activities; Ron & Mary Lamparter, who sponsored us into the GPYC chat with Dick Thams; Jerry Brochstein and Diran Yazejian

January - February 2016

Top row from left: Michigan Region’s 2016 Board of Managers; Paul Wise and Nancy Seyfarth present the “Cinderella” Woman of the year Award to Amy Jidov. Second row from left: Paul Wise presents the Participation Award to Tom Goad; Tom Goad receives the Robbins Man of the Year Award; Phil Fischer received the Kelly Driving Award. Clockwise from right: Director Paul Wise addresses the group; Debbie Hayes accepts the Lifetime Service Award on behalf of Dick Kughn; Bruce Blevins accepts the Biggest Challenge Award; Ara Ekizian describes the 2016 Activities Calendar to the group; Tom Goad and Katie Robbins accept their Senior Emeritus awards from Lee Barthel.

January - February 2016

A 2016 CCCA Annual Meeting Appetizer As you can gather from the ad on page 30, the 2016 CCCA Annual Meeting will be hosted by the Michigan Region from January 14-17, 2016 and the theme is Sweet Sixteen celebrating V16s from the Classic Era. To whet your appetite one last time before the event begins, shown on this page are a couple of period photos of Cadillac V16s provided by Michigan Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jim Morningstar. While there are only Cadillacs represented in these photos, the theme of the annual meeting includes all three manufacturers who built V16s during the Classic Era, Cadillac, Peerless and Marmon. The goal is to have the largest collection of V16s ever assembled in one place. So enjoy these photos and register for the Annual Meeting to see V16s in person.

January - February 2016

The History of the V16 Engine

By Rich Ray

The 2016 CCCA Annual Meeting celebrates the 16 cylinder engines that powered Classic Era automobiles. While the Cadillac V16s are probably the most well known, the history of the V16 engine is much broader. By the end of the 1920s, the 8-cylinder was the epitome of the automobile engines. Cadillac General Manager Lawrence Fisher wanted a smoother and more powerful engine for Cadillac, feeling that a luxury car should be capable of higher speeds and effortless hill climbing performance. Beginning in 1926, Earnest Seaholm, the Cadillac Chief Engineer, studied the possibility of larger 8-cylinder engines and 12-cylinders in various configurations and, after considerable study, arrived at the conclusion that a V-16 of modest bore and stroke could satisfy the requirements. He commissioned ex-Marmon engineer Owen Nacker and a small group of engineers to design the V-16 engine at a remote location, reportedly a farmhouse away from Detroit. Prototype parts were ordered under the guise of a multi-cylinder "bus" project for another GM Division. As this work was taking place, Fleetwood was designing a series of bodies commensurate with the new powerplant. The V-16 Cadillacs were announced in December, 1929 as 1930 models. Cadillac V16 engine. The V16-powered Cadillac was the most exclusive model in the brand's lineup from January 1930 until 1940. Two varieties were built. From 1930 to 1937, Cadillac used a 452 CID overhead valve design with a 45° V. For 1938, a new flathead 431 CID 135° V design was introduced for the Series 90 that resulted in a much lower cowl height. The 431 was in many ways a superior engine, producing as much power as its immediate predecessor while being far less complex with a stiffer crankshaft for increased durability and smoothness. However, it was never as popular or highly regarded as its 452 CID predecessor. In total, Cadillac built 4,076 V16s, despite the ongoing economic depression. Howard Marmon began his V16 engine in 1927, but was unable to complete the production 'Sixteen' model until 1931. By that time, Cadillac had already introduced their V16 and Peerless also was developing a V16 with help from another ex-Marmon engineer, James Bohannon. Marmon personnel played key roles in all three V16 developments The automobile industry has been and remains fairly incestuous!

Marmon V16 engine.

The Marmon Sixteen was a 45° engine made almost entirely of aluminum. Like modern engines, it used pressed steel cylinder liners. Just 400 Marmon Sixteens were produced between 1931 and 1933. The first known use of a V16 in auto racing was by Maserati with their 1929 Tipo V4. Harry Miller installed a custom-built V16 that he had built for a Cord "supercar" into a chassis that he had built for the 1931 Indianapolis 500 driven by Shorty Cantlon. The car was competitive, charging from 26th on the grid to 3rd, but was slowed by poor reliability, further exacerbated by having to change all sixteen spark plugs. Bryan Saulpaugh qualified the car third for the 1932 Indianapolis 500, but the car suffered a broken oil line on lap 55 and its race was over. A V16 also ran in Grand Prix racing in the mid-engined Auto Union cars that rivaled Mercedes from 1933 to 1938. Alfa Romeo made two cars with V16 engines: the Tipo 162 (135° V) and the Tipo 316 (60° V). The first was a prototype producing 490 HP and the 316 ran in the 1938 Tripoli Grand Prix.

Cadillac V16 catalog bodystyle illustration.

Period Marmon V16 advertisement.

January - February 2016

t e e w S

16 The Michigan Region of the Classic Car Club of America is hosting the 2016 CCCA Annual Meeting and we are eager to deliver another serving of our legendary hospitality! ● Featuring the Sweet Sixteen ● 16-cylinder Full Classics® ● Discover the boldness of robust engineering. ● Plus a compliment of Full Classics® ● Lunch at the restored Packard Proving Grounds. ● Experience Motown music at the Motor City’s Hitsville USA. ● Dine onstage at the historic Michigan Opera Theatre. ● Tour the 2016 North American International Auto Show before the public opening. ● Visit several splendid private car collections. ● Headquarters and Grand Classic at the Hyatt Place at the Surburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI. ● Lodging and Grand Classic in one allindoor venue including unloading, displaying and viewing the Classics. ● Complimentary hot breakfast daily. Find more information at classiccarsofmichigan.com as the date draws near. We look forward to your arrival!

January - February 2016

Edselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Classics Cont.

Edsel at the wheel of a 1922 Lincoln with a Judkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sedan body.

However, by 1935, Edsel no longer had any non-Ford or Lincoln personal cars registered with the State of Michigan. It is only speculation, but it could be that the company purchased upscale competitor cars for evaluation as is common industry practice today or Edsel became aware that ostentatious appearances put his family at risk during the depression and, as union issues grew in the company, he may have wished to pursue a lower profile. Edsel's health was also a problem during most of his adult life and became very serious in 1941, leading to his death in May, 1943. It may be simply not feeling well contributed to his disposal of the interesting non-Ford cars in his personal collection. At his death, Edsel only owned seven cars: the speedster that Gregorie had designed for him, four 1941 Fords and Mercurys, a 1942 Mercury coupe and a his favorite 1941 Lincoln Continental cabriolet - all very nice cars, but certainly not as entertaining as the spectacular cars of his younger days.

In 1932 he had an aluminum, boat-tailed speedster automobile custom designed by Ford's first designer, E.T. (Bob) Gregorie. This car had several features not available on any other car. Most of the design features appeared in many Ford models throughout history. It had Ford's brand-new V8, the first low-cost eight-cylinder engine. Many car collectors around the world have tried to locate this car for their personal collections but have been unsuccessful thus far. The one of a kind car was the first collective creation by designer E.T. "Bob" Gregorie and Edsel Ford but the prototype never went into production. The car is considered one of the most valuable and the world's first "Hot Rod" by many car experts and historians. Two years later Edsel had another car designed, this one a low-riding aluminum-bodied speedster. He owned a LeBaron-bodied 1930 Ford Model A Dual Cowl Phaeton with an experimental Ford chassis. Can you imagine a Model A with CCCA recognition?

Come be part of the 6th Annual Le Concours de Livingston Classic Car Show August 6, 2016 At Whispering Pines Golf Club in Pinckney,MI Live Music, Exquisite Food and Adult Beverages Participate in Live and Silent Auctions More info @ www.leconcours.org

January - February 2016

The Steering Column By Paul Wise

As we move into 2016, a couple of things come to mind. First, a big thank you to all of our Board Members who have worked so hard to make this club what it is today. Many work long hours to make events outstanding and memorable. This year our activities calendar is set and Phil Fischer and Dan Clements are hard at work on some great events. This year our Grand Classic will be held jointly with the Ohio Region, in Ohio. Dave Johnson has a wonderful event planned, so please try to give them our full support and plan on attending. The Classic Car Club of America Museum is working on a new entrance and future expansion to ensure that our Full Classic® vehicles will be appreciated for many years to come. Those of you who want to go on the website, www.cccamuseum.org, may see what the future is unfolding. Please join us this year at all events and don’t forget to drive a Classic! Also, Rich Ray, our Torque Editor, needs more technical articles. Any help anyone can provide would be appreciated. Happy Motoring,

Paul

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