Celebrating its 100th year this year: 1925 Chrysler Maxwell Special.
Chrysler bought out the Maxwell Motor Company in 1925. This machine came out of Chrysler but was still described as a Maxwell.
Bro bought this one in NZ a few years ago and it wasn't original even then, but it did have wooden spoked wheels on it. It has a Chrysler engine (I'm informed Maxwells engine blocks had square corners) so maybe it is the bodywork that is a Maxwell design.
The wire spoked wheels it has now are off an early 1930s Chrysler.
The original had no mudguards but they are a requirement in NZ unless you belong to a hot rod club, so Bro made them but has plans to remodel that as the original car has no welds in it - all bolted, riveted and screwed together. (His addition has welded mounting brackets).
The bodywork is on a wooden frame.
Chrysler were the first car builders to put hydraulic brakes on all 4 wheels - way back in 1925 - so it has flash braking for it's day but they were contracting brakes rather than expanding ones so the brakes have received a modern update (as have various other bits - an oil pump, a starter motor, an alternator...). Bro never wanted to make it original; it's more hot rod than concourse and that was always the intention.
One day I might get to drive it (round the yard).
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteThat's a neat sound... somehow I was expecting more of rattle and hum, but no - it purrs(ish)! YAM xx
It pops a bit. The shed echoes did nothing to enhance the sound. I just happened to be in the sewing workshop when I heard him start it up. We have to play musical chairs with vehicles every day to make room under the hoist and put stuff away again in the evenings. Horse box is going in there next week....for repainting. Xx
DeleteMy hubby and son would understand this post much better than I do.
ReplyDeleteI tune out when they’re talking shop. And they’re always talking shop.
Luckily my daughter in law is like me and we leave them to it and go off to talk about
Something else
Me like !!
ReplyDeleteMe like it too but it plays havoc with one's hairstyle.
DeleteThat's a project and a half - I do like it, though! My son-in-law would love it, though - modern cars have no style
ReplyDeleteput my name on the list of approved to drive it slowly around the yard. woo boy, what a treasure. love it. having worked 10 years in Sears automotive garage, and living with a gear head mechanic,race car drive for 40 years. I understood every word of your post. good job.
ReplyDeleteLet's take it on a hair messing blast up a 30 mile straight road to Mt Somers. 😉(All roads around here are like roads across the prairies.)
DeleteIt's a beauty. If you could make replicas.
ReplyDeleteBro is making a replica of some rare Ferrari (and it is taking forever). He has started to appreciate his limitations (short attention span) and decided to spend his retirement making pedalcar sized replicas of classic cars.
DeleteAiming for the vintage Weekend in Whanganui? Maybe not this year!!
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't qualify I suspect. Too much modification.
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