Trying to identify old racecar...

[/URL]" /> I bought some blueprints from an old racecar a few weeks ago at an auction, and have been unable to find any information on what car this is. It s a front wheel drive Pierce Arrow, and the top left says "A.A.A. Standards 1928". The top left says Finn S. Hudson and has a Kansas City address. The only information I can find on Finn S. Hudson, is just the tons of patents he held (everything from car parts to a bread maker). I was hoping someone could help me identify the car. Thanks in advance for any help.

I have no idea! However that is a cool collectible. I'd probably frame it.

Great piece of memorabilia and I agree with Rupert that it should be framed and displayed. I did a little research, and while I can't tell you what it is, I can at least tell you what I do not think it is. First, it looks like an Indy 500 racer from that era. Second, "A.A.A. Standards 1928" refers to Triple A, the organization that sanctioned Indy car racing until the fifties when that organization bowed out and USAC was formed to take on that role. (Same AAA that provides road assistance today). Third, front drive was cutting edge technology at Indy in the late twenties, first being developed by Harry Miller and raced at Indy in 1925 by driver Dave Lewis. And fourth, from what I can determine, Finn S. Hudson was not associated with the Hudson Motor Car Company of that era.

So ... having said all that, even though it appears to be an Indy 500 race car, I can't find in my extensive personal automotive library that this specific car ever ran at Indy. I don't think it did. Hudson race cars ran there from '31 to '34, but they were Hudson cars with Hudson engines. They don't appear to be front drive cars from pictures either. Also, I don't see that a Pierce Arrow engined car ever participated in the 500. So maybe the car was designed but never built due to lack of funds (most likely). Or, maybe it was built but only ran at routine AAA events and not the 500 (possibly). Or maybe somebody bought the basic design and used a different engine, and called it a different name, which I couldn't recognize from my research (also possible). Anyway, enjoy what you have and treat it as a piece of automotive history!

NOHOME wrote:

Actually, the #36 car in the picture is from the 1936 Indy 500. It's a Miller chassis and Miller engine, modified with four wheel drive, entered by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company ("FWD Special") and driven to fourth place by Mauri Rose. From my big book "Indianapolis 500 Chronicle," otherwise I wouldn't have a clue

It's in a temporary frame until I can get the money to have it framed correctly, the picture is from the auction house's web-site. Thanks for the info guys.