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Details
1929/30 DUPONT MODEL G SPEEDSTER
COACHWORK BY MERRIMAC
Chassis No. G949
Engine No. G1349
Cream body with black leather interior
Engine: straight eight Continental, L-Head, duPont modified, 322 ci., 140bhp at 3,600rpm; Gearbox: Warner four speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four wheel Lockheed hydraulic. Left hand drive.
E. Paul duPont, who was associated with the Bell Grain Explosive Co., formed duPont Motors, Inc. in 1919, based in Wilmington, Delaware. His goal was to produce a high quality motor car to compete with the likes of Packard, Locomobile and Cunningham. To achieve this, he searched for the best talent he could find in the industry.
As Vice President and general manager, he hired Arthur M. Maris from the Biddle Company in Philadelphia. John A. Pierson, formerly of Wright-Martin Aircraft, was chief engineer and William A. Smith came on board as sales manager, having left the position of general manager of Mercer Motors. The new company made its debut at the International Salon that year at the Commodore Hotel in New York with the Model A offered in three body styles.
By 1928 duPont had established themselves as builders of limited production luxury automobiles. At the request of the New York distributor, Alfredo J. Miranda, Jr., duPont built two four place speedster models based on their new Model G chassis to compete for the Grand Prix d'Endurance at Le Mans in the summer of 1929. Miranda suggested duPont build a sporting model in the style of the old Mercer Raceabout. E. Paul duPont, being an avid sportsman, needed little convincing. And both then acting chief engineer, L.F. Hosley, and general sales manager, W.A. Smith, had been with Mercer during the company's racing heyday. After extensive preparation and testing, one car driven by Charles Moran, Jr. with Miranda as co-pilot, competed in the race. After three hours the big duPont was lying in eighth place with an average speed of 72 miles per hour and was ahead of all the American entries. Then on the 20th lap, the ballast required by the Le Mans rules shifted on the rear floor, subsequently bending the drive shaft and taking them out of the race. The ultimate winner that year was a six and a half litre Bentley averaging 73 miles per hour, attesting to the short-lived but respectable showing of the duPont.
Replicas in two and four place configurations using the LeMans chassis were offered to the public after the race. It is unknown how many of these speedsters were actually produced, but experts today believe nine are extant. Of these, three were four passenger models with the remaining six being two passenger cars. Of the two passenger cars, three were built as boattails with a hidden spare and three were built with tapered tails and a conventional rear spare. The purposeful Model G Speedsters were really quite sensational. An early customer included the famous actor, Douglas Fairbanks, who purchased the 1929 New York Auto Show car. Most coachwork on the Speedsters was supplied in aluminum by Merrimac of Massachusetts and featured a one-piece fender and running board that seemed to float gracefully along its side. The flowing fenders accented the Speedster's art-deco lines, and duPont guaranteed that every Speedster could top 100mph.
The car on offer here is rather unique in its configuration in that it is believed to be the only Speedster supplied with a fold down windshield. Supplied new in February 1930 to Alfredo Miranda, Jr. at his New York address, the chassis card indicates that it was destined for export to Germany. This all black four speed vehicle was equipped with the folding windshield, Hindview mirror, tachometer, exhaust cutout, rear mounted spare and rumble seat. For reasons unknown, the car was not exported (it may indeed have been a New York Show Car), but instead was first registered to Mr. Charles Hirshhorn, a wealthy individual who owned the patent on packaging tea in paper bags. Over the next 23 years, Mr. Hirshhorn was a very conscientious owner and it is reported that the car was kept garaged at the Shipping and Receiving department of the Long Island Tea packing plant. In a letter from the nephew of Mr. Hirshhorn, it is recalled that a faithful employee was assigned to take care of the car and that the Speedster was only driven in the spring and summer when the weather was fair. The second owner, Mr. R. B. George, a Philadelphia area collector, undertook a cosmetic restoration and stated in a letter of June 1958 that Everything about the car other than its color, is original and authentic. . . I use it week-ends as a regular sportscar and it will move along at 60 to 70 miles an hour without any effort.
For a short period the car passed to its third custodian until in 1962 the current owner managed to acquire it. He himself re-restored the car: the engine was rebuilt by well-known duPont specialist, Bill Long, the body, upholstery, rugs and top were entrusted to another specialist, and the 4 speed Warner gearbox was overhauled by one of the original duPont mechanics. A fine addition is the beautifully sculptured hood ornament: a pair of seagulls originally crafted by Cartier for New York toy merchant, F.A.O. Schwartz. Another later fitment is the pilot ray spot lamp to aid the original woodlites for night driving. Over the past 37 years, the car has had limited use, but still performs admirably upon command. This Speedster has been the subject and feature in a number of articles and publications on the marque including Car Collector, Car Classics and Autoweek. At the October 1993 Fairmont Park, Philadelphia Vintage Grand Prix, this duPont was demonstrated at speed in the Vintage Parade.
The duPont is recognized as a full classic and would undoubtedly be welcome at all club events and tours. This dashing Speedster is as described a unique example, with a fine provenance of just four owners from new and, as one of just six two passenger cars extant, provides a superb and rare opportunity to purchase a great American pre-war sports car.
COACHWORK BY MERRIMAC
Chassis No. G949
Engine No. G1349
Cream body with black leather interior
Engine: straight eight Continental, L-Head, duPont modified, 322 ci., 140bhp at 3,600rpm; Gearbox: Warner four speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four wheel Lockheed hydraulic. Left hand drive.
E. Paul duPont, who was associated with the Bell Grain Explosive Co., formed duPont Motors, Inc. in 1919, based in Wilmington, Delaware. His goal was to produce a high quality motor car to compete with the likes of Packard, Locomobile and Cunningham. To achieve this, he searched for the best talent he could find in the industry.
As Vice President and general manager, he hired Arthur M. Maris from the Biddle Company in Philadelphia. John A. Pierson, formerly of Wright-Martin Aircraft, was chief engineer and William A. Smith came on board as sales manager, having left the position of general manager of Mercer Motors. The new company made its debut at the International Salon that year at the Commodore Hotel in New York with the Model A offered in three body styles.
By 1928 duPont had established themselves as builders of limited production luxury automobiles. At the request of the New York distributor, Alfredo J. Miranda, Jr., duPont built two four place speedster models based on their new Model G chassis to compete for the Grand Prix d'Endurance at Le Mans in the summer of 1929. Miranda suggested duPont build a sporting model in the style of the old Mercer Raceabout. E. Paul duPont, being an avid sportsman, needed little convincing. And both then acting chief engineer, L.F. Hosley, and general sales manager, W.A. Smith, had been with Mercer during the company's racing heyday. After extensive preparation and testing, one car driven by Charles Moran, Jr. with Miranda as co-pilot, competed in the race. After three hours the big duPont was lying in eighth place with an average speed of 72 miles per hour and was ahead of all the American entries. Then on the 20th lap, the ballast required by the Le Mans rules shifted on the rear floor, subsequently bending the drive shaft and taking them out of the race. The ultimate winner that year was a six and a half litre Bentley averaging 73 miles per hour, attesting to the short-lived but respectable showing of the duPont.
Replicas in two and four place configurations using the LeMans chassis were offered to the public after the race. It is unknown how many of these speedsters were actually produced, but experts today believe nine are extant. Of these, three were four passenger models with the remaining six being two passenger cars. Of the two passenger cars, three were built as boattails with a hidden spare and three were built with tapered tails and a conventional rear spare. The purposeful Model G Speedsters were really quite sensational. An early customer included the famous actor, Douglas Fairbanks, who purchased the 1929 New York Auto Show car. Most coachwork on the Speedsters was supplied in aluminum by Merrimac of Massachusetts and featured a one-piece fender and running board that seemed to float gracefully along its side. The flowing fenders accented the Speedster's art-deco lines, and duPont guaranteed that every Speedster could top 100mph.
The car on offer here is rather unique in its configuration in that it is believed to be the only Speedster supplied with a fold down windshield. Supplied new in February 1930 to Alfredo Miranda, Jr. at his New York address, the chassis card indicates that it was destined for export to Germany. This all black four speed vehicle was equipped with the folding windshield, Hindview mirror, tachometer, exhaust cutout, rear mounted spare and rumble seat. For reasons unknown, the car was not exported (it may indeed have been a New York Show Car), but instead was first registered to Mr. Charles Hirshhorn, a wealthy individual who owned the patent on packaging tea in paper bags. Over the next 23 years, Mr. Hirshhorn was a very conscientious owner and it is reported that the car was kept garaged at the Shipping and Receiving department of the Long Island Tea packing plant. In a letter from the nephew of Mr. Hirshhorn, it is recalled that a faithful employee was assigned to take care of the car and that the Speedster was only driven in the spring and summer when the weather was fair. The second owner, Mr. R. B. George, a Philadelphia area collector, undertook a cosmetic restoration and stated in a letter of June 1958 that Everything about the car other than its color, is original and authentic. . . I use it week-ends as a regular sportscar and it will move along at 60 to 70 miles an hour without any effort.
For a short period the car passed to its third custodian until in 1962 the current owner managed to acquire it. He himself re-restored the car: the engine was rebuilt by well-known duPont specialist, Bill Long, the body, upholstery, rugs and top were entrusted to another specialist, and the 4 speed Warner gearbox was overhauled by one of the original duPont mechanics. A fine addition is the beautifully sculptured hood ornament: a pair of seagulls originally crafted by Cartier for New York toy merchant, F.A.O. Schwartz. Another later fitment is the pilot ray spot lamp to aid the original woodlites for night driving. Over the past 37 years, the car has had limited use, but still performs admirably upon command. This Speedster has been the subject and feature in a number of articles and publications on the marque including Car Collector, Car Classics and Autoweek. At the October 1993 Fairmont Park, Philadelphia Vintage Grand Prix, this duPont was demonstrated at speed in the Vintage Parade.
The duPont is recognized as a full classic and would undoubtedly be welcome at all club events and tours. This dashing Speedster is as described a unique example, with a fine provenance of just four owners from new and, as one of just six two passenger cars extant, provides a superb and rare opportunity to purchase a great American pre-war sports car.