Monday, February 13, 2023

I'd like to hear the story behind that thing. Even the front tires don't match.

 


11 comments:

  1. Looks like that is a drive wheel. Note the hub is different from the rear wheel. Also note the drive wheel is just one wheel with two tires mounted

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  2. Must be an art project. The wheels can't steer.

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  3. That is the Christie race car of 1907.

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  4. This a a "Direct Action" one of seven varying version track cars built my Walter Christie starting in 1905. The claim is there were three taxi cab versions also built.

    And yes they do steer, though the front axles/joints are very short indeed.

    Some 70% of the weight was over the front axle and the single-sided dually may have been Christies' way to handle torque-steer.

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  5. hell of a firewall too

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    1. Firewall? That looks like the radiator just in front of the poor driver.

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  6. https://crankhandleblog.com/articles/the-brutal-american-20-litre-v-4-front-wheel-drive-christie-racing-car-of-1907/

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  7. Wonder what that engine sounded like when it was running.

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  8. after learning from experience that a single front tire per side couldn't stand up to the torture of turns, at speed, they went with duals. The extra was known as a parachute... because safety, was the only reason it was there.
    It was the 1st front wheel drive car, and in 1905, it was racing in the Vanderbilt Cup races.
    It was a two speed, and the tires wee 30x4"
    It was a 4 cylinder, and each was good for 60 HP, 6 1/4 bore x 6 3/4 stroke.
    He raced it every where in the USA from New York to Ormond Beach Fla, to the 1908 Minnesota State Fair.
    Here's the most complete article and gallery I could put together on it: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/first-front-wheel-drive-car-1904.html
    Christie's front wheel drive was quickly adapted to steam pumper fire engines, so that horses would be replaced.... Horses aren't fond of going to city fires where buildings are in flames, and smoke is hard for them to breath.

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  9. https://sportscardigest.com/j-walter-christie/

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