17 replies to this topic

[wutaba]

Hi
After a big discussion with some fellows of mine,I am no longer sure about my denition of "Specials".When is it a fake,when is it a "creation"?
Please help me.........

[David McKinney]

I don't think there is a definition of "special"
In the UK and Commonwealth it almost invariably meant "one off" - ie, a car of which only one example ever existed.
For a long time US rules required all cars to be called "specials" for reasons I've never quite understood; for reasons of contrariness I like to apply modern nomenclature to these, thus highlighting the builders of chassis and engines. Example from the 1930s might be Stevens-Miller or Wetteroth-Offenhauser.
But in neither the British nor US case would such cars be fakes

[Magee]

The Cooper I raced was designated a "Special" at one time during its road racing era. However, it was also referred to as a Cooper-Porsche and Cooper-Climax. Officially, I gather that it was a Special. Its birth was as a one-off built by Knight and Owen using a Cooper Mark IV Formula 3 frame for land speed record runs. The body was designed using plans from Cooper drawings of an earlier streamliner record car. Its first engine was a 250 cc Norton used for several record runs at Monza. Later it found its way to Canada.
See more details here:
http://www.ugofadini...ooperstory.html
also
http://www.ugofadini...operstory2.html

[Ray Bell]

There are a couple of threads about Specials...

http://www.atlasf1.c...=&threadid=6581

http://www.atlasf1.c...=&threadid=1323

...plenty of them if you want to go looking.

[wutaba]

Many thanks for the replies;after all , I think I was not so wrong with my opinion.

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by David McKinney
For a long time US rules required all cars to be called "specials" for reasons I've never quite understood....

Starting with some point in the 1909 to 1911 period, the AAA Contest Board required that all Racing Cars be named and called a "Special." The Contest Board required each Racing Car be registered. Here is a list from those in the April and May 1916 Official Bulletins of the AAA Contest Board:

No.	Name of Car/Special	Cubic Inches	Owner’s Name

1	Mercedes		299.1		Ralph De Palma

4	Mulford					Ralph Mulford (Cancelled)

109	Ostewig			296.4		S. Ostewig

110	Gandy No. 2		299.0		Lou Gandy

111	Erwin			298.5		Grover C. Bergdoll

112	Erwin			445.3		Grover C. Bergdoll

113	Chalmers		248.9		Harry C. Orndorff

114	Ford			176.7		George V. Armitage

115	Ford			176.7		Whyte Womack

116	Ford			176.7		Ray Puissegur

117	Richard			296.6		R.H. Delno

118	Erwin			298.5		Erwin Motor & Machine Company

119	Erwin			298.5		Erwin Motor & Machine Company

120	J.R.R.			299.0		Joseph J, Ryan

121	K.W.P.			299.0		Kirbe W. Packard

122	Grant			180.2		W.M. Jenkins

123	Peugeot			446.8		W.T. Higgins

124	Sunbeam		294.3		J. Christiaens 

125	Peugeot			274.2		L. Brown

126	Super-Six		288.6		Hudson Motor Car Company

127	Delage			274.3		Harry S. Harkness

128	Delage			274.3		Harry S. Harkness

129	Delage			274.3		Harry S. Harkness

130	Peusun			274.3		Harry S. Harkness

131	Benz			1,300.7		Harry S. Harkness

132	Delage			311.6		Harry S. Harkness

133	Gillis			641.4		Charles Gillis

134	Hudson			288.6		C.E. Hanson & I.M.G. Vail

135	Peugeot			274.2		Indianapolis Speedway Team Company

136	Peugeot			274.2		Indianapolis Speedway Team Company

137	Maxwell			298.2		Prest-O-Lite Company

138	Maxwell			185.8		Walter J. Smith

139	Studebaker		226.2		Edward Gibson

140	McKee			433.1		S.A. McKee

141	Ford			176.7		L.H. Byron

142	Stutz			418.4		Earl P. Cooper

143	Marmon			445.3		S. Landers

144	Adams			298.2		Richard & George Adams

145	Crawford		298.2		Billy Chandler

146	Crawford		298.2		Billy Chandler

147	Crawford		298.2		Billy Chandler

148	Olsen			298.2		C.W. Thompson

149	Fiat			455.6		Oritani Garage (George P. Barbarow)

150	Melcher			282.3		Walter Melcher

151	Tacoma			449.4		U. Aubry

152	Cadillac			213.6		Charles C. Heacox

153	Metz			188.7		W. Fuselehr

154	Regal			198.8		Roy Massecar

156	Duesenberg		299.0		M. Sorensen

The AAA Contest Board issued a plate to each registered car which was required to be affixed to the dash or cowl of the car. It carried the following info: the name under which the Racing Car was registered, the AAA registry number, date pf registry, number of cylinders, displacement in cubic inches, wheelbase, manufacturer's chassis and motor serial numbers.

Hope this helps.

[bill moffat]

Definition of a "special". Well many years ago I unearthed such a device from a field in Norfolk. Fired with enthusiasm and convinced that it was one of Chapman's early attempts I paid the farmer far too much for this heap of metal and low-loaded it home.

My experiences over the next few years have reinforced my opinion that a "Special" is:


1) Likely to elicit the wifely response along the lines of "what the hell is that" followed very shortly by the even more painful "how much did you pay for it ?". Arguments and possible divorce will inevitably follow.

2) Specials are devoid of chassis plates and usually have no log book. Further investigation is thus difficult and if successful the usual conclusion is:

3) It was built in a back garden in Essex by Sid Jones and was never the brainchild of Broadley/Chapman or anybody notorious.

4) Specials are fitted with running gear that is non identifiable. Take a brake drum / track rod end or similar to your local motor factor and the reply is "never seen anything like it".

5) All specials need a total engine rebuild when purchased.

6) Specials sit under a tarpaulin in the garage and benefit from intermittent bouts of enthusiasm until :

7) You give up and sell it at a massive loss to another enthusiastic aspirant.

[robert dick]

Contest Board list.
Don - Are there additional, similar lists?
Special no. 130 – Peusun = four-cylinder Sunbeam DOHC-four-valve engine + Peugeot 5.6-litre chassis (and the radiator looks like 4.5-litre Delage) – driven by Aldo Franchi in the 1916 Indianapolis 500, withdrew after nine laps. Any additional specifications and/or infos about this car?

[eldougo]

:

bill moffat 13-May-03

My experiences over the next few years have reinforced my opinion that a "Special" is:


1) Likely to elicit the wifely response along the lines of "what the hell is that" followed very shortly by the even more painful "how much did you pay for it ?". Arguments and possible divorce will inevitably follow.

________________________

BILL . I know just what you mean buy the sentance above. DOUG

[275 GTB-4]

HSRCA Eastern Creek 8-9 Sept 2001

This meeting celebrated the Australian Special. Brian Caldersmith did one of his usual stunning front cover drawings which was a montage of some of the cars competing.

In the program, Graham Howard wrote a very amusing piece titled "The "One Off" Australian Special.

Maybe someone from the HSRCA could post this article?? Some weird and wonderful devices went around that day - the program also featured some good pictures such as the Kleinig Hudson, Maybach and the Terraplane Special.

BTW I seem to recall reading something about the SABAKAT in one of the HSRCA programs - you have me interested now !!!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
HSRCA Eastern Creek 8-9 Sept 2001

This meeting celebrated the Australian Special. Brian Caldersmith did one of his usual stunning front cover drawings which was a montage of some of the cars competing.

In the program, Graham Howard wrote a very amusing piece titled "The "One Off" Australian Special.

Maybe someone from the HSRCA could post this article?? Some weird and wonderful devices went around that day - the program also featured some good pictures such as the Kleinig Hudson, Maybach and the Terraplane Special.

BTW I seem to recall reading something about the SABAKAT in one of the HSRCA programs - you have me interested now !!!

This would be a couple of those Hudsons or Terraplanes:



I have lots more, but not available at this time. But this is...

http://www.atlasf1.c...=&postid=268675

There are other posts on that thread I think you might find interesting...

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
HSRCA Eastern Creek 8-9 Sept 2001

BTW I seem to recall reading something about the SABAKAT in one of the HSRCA programs - you have me interested now !!!

Historic Sandown 9-10 Nov 2002
#112 Richard Bendall Lb Racing Sabakat Monoposto

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by robert dick
Contest Board list.
Don - Are there additional, similar lists?
Special no. 130 – Peusun = four-cylinder Sunbeam DOHC-four-valve engine + Peugeot 5.6-litre chassis (and the radiator looks like 4.5-litre Delage) – driven by Aldo Franchi in the 1916 Indianapolis 500, withdrew after nine laps. Any additional specifications and/or infos about this car?

Robert,

I will see what else I can dig out since perhaps at least some other information is lurking in the reels of microfilm I am still attempting to convert to "hard copy" for myself, the IMRRC, and anybody else who wants it. A very slow process and expen$ive to boot.

Currently I am assembling the 1916 season for the material I am collecting and assembling for the IMRRC. Phil Harms has been a great help in assisting me. If you want a draft -- still incomplete -- or a later version of it when I finish adding the data, let me know by sending me an email address and I will send you a copy.

By the way, the Peusun Special saw plenty of action during the 1916 season.

Added note:

Robert,

I forgot to mention that I do have a list with -- as far I can with just a few exceptions -- ALL the cars registered with the AAA Contest Board for 1916 (there are 325 cars listed). This is contained in the Contest Board's "1916 Autobmobile Contests" which is absolute goldmine of information. -- Don

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


This would be a couple of those Hudsons or Terraplanes:



I have lots more, but not available at this time. But this is...

http://www.atlasf1.c...=&postid=268675

There are other posts on that thread I think you might find interesting...

Terrific stories Ray - thanks - hope all this stuff is being put into print to preserve it.

[Ray Bell]

It's only written if it's going into print...

Except for some special stuff I might post on TNF.

[WDH74]

I was always under the impression that a "special" (in racing) was a competition car that has been significantly modified through major driveline transplants (ie, engines that were never offered as options, so transplanting one of the higher spec engines into your Lotus Eleven to replace the MG unit you bought it with does not a special make). The Zerex Special and the Lycoming engined Lotus mentioned earlier are examples of this type. There are also the road going "specials" that I am always reading about in Classic and Sports Car, cars with sometimes unusually proportioned fiberglass bodies and resting on the chassis of a Ford Pop or an Austin Seven, complete with Eezyclean wheels. These days, I call this type a kit car. The American oval racing "special" is, I think, special in name only, usually named after the sponsor or owner, or occasionally the manufacturer. The Lion Head Special, the Packard Cable Special, and the H.C.S. Special were all specials of this kind, bearing all kinds of names but all being Miller racing cars. Then there's the 1976 MG Midget I used to own, which was mustardy yellow and had the word "Special" in black lettering on the side, with stripes. Had something to do with wheel trims and a luggage rack added at no extra charge when it was new.;)
-William

[Phil Harms]

The implied "special" classification goes back to the very early days of racing in the US. The stock classification was spelled out in great detail as to what could be done while retaining the stock classification -- cosmetic things like removing fenders and such. To run in the stock class, for example, the car must be a model of a production of at least 50 vehicles. All of this was to assure the consumer that what they purchased on Monday was truely what was raced on Sunday.

Take 1910 as an example. Class A was stock chassis split by selling cost: 1A was $800 and under, 2A was $801 to $1200, etc.

Class B was stock chassis split by piston displacement and minimum weight: 1B was 160 ci and under and 1100 min #; 2B was 161 to 230 ci and 1400# and so on.

Class C was any car that was manufactured by a builder that had produced at least 50 cars but not necesssarily of one model. Piston disp still applied: 1C was 160 ci and under, 2C was 161 to 230 ci, 3C was 231 to 300 ci, and so on. An example of this would be the Buick Special, Stutz Special, etc.

Class D was any car, period. No restriction on piston disp. A special in every way. The monster race car. Examples would be the Blitzen Benz, the Christie FD and so on.

With all of the classifications and subdivisions a day of racing could have over 20 events, each one unique. The finale was sometimes called the free-for-all.

If you want to get technical, the first named special at the Indianapolis 500 was the Richards Special (a Hudson) in 1920. But the term was used before then to indicate a non-stock car.

[Ian McKean]

One aspect of the definition of a special that one might have inferred from previous posts but I don't think was stated explicitly is that it should be built by an amateur.

OK, one can a stretch a point on occasion, as Bolster did when he included Sidney Allard's Steyr-powered hillclimb special in his book. His justification was that although Allard was a car manufacturer, he built this special in his own time at home rather than in the factory using only tools and facilities available to an amateur.

I think there is an intrinsic difference between the kit cars marketed today and the specials made in the 1950's with fibreglass bodies. The latter very often had a similar specification, i.e. E93A Ford engine and chassis with one of the many fibreglass bodies available at the time, but you could not buy all the parts you needed from a body maker as you can today from a kit car manufacturer.

The use of the term "Special" to describe all American racing cars reminds me of Churchill's comment about two peoples divided by a common language.