TOPIC: Another Nautilus Original

Before I got serious about restoring antique boats, I restored antique cars, mostly in the teens and early 1920s. I built this speedster back around 1992. I started with a 1923 American Lafrance pumper which I cut down to 120" wheelbase and powered it with a 1947 American-LaFrance V12-J engine. I sold it in 1995 and eventually it was sold at auction in 2012. Here's the listing:

rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/HF12/Hershey/lots/r215-1923-american-lafrance-speedster/280919

That is a very cool looking ride! That's something to be proud of.

I read the article and it said before you came to your senses. Did that really happen???

Always have liked that project you did!!!!!!! Now you have to get that other LaFrance V-12 in that Riv!!!!!!

Bob

Cal: That car was dangerous! You didn't sit in it, you sat ON it. The wooden wheels weren't balanced and when I got it up to about 75, the front wheels did that shopping cart flapping thing and I was afraid I was going to lose the whole front end. Yeah, I finally came to my senses and sold it. I had $9,000 in it; sold it in 1992 for $58K....same as $117K+ today.

sounds like you made out very well on that sale. nice job. I know that the original wooden wheels is part of the appeal, but I wonder how she would have ran if it had some one off billet rims was made to immolate the original wooden ones.

Nautilus wrote: Cal: That car was dangerous! You didn't sit in it, you sat ON it. The wooden wheels weren't balanced and when I got it up to about 75, the front wheels did that shopping cart flapping thing and I was afraid I was going to lose the whole front end. Yeah, I finally came to my senses and sold it. I had $9,000 in it; sold it in 1992 for $58K....same as $117K+ today.

Atta boy Luthor.