Kleiner’s Korner: Two Cars that Didn’t Make it to the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Automobile makers saw the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race as an opportunity to promote their cars to an enthusiastic and growing audience. However, this didn't necessarily translate into reality.
Art Kleiner
The "Vanderbilt"
The Pennsylvania Auto Motor Company decided to name its proposed racer the "Vanderbilt". How original! Its engine was to be a "valve-in-the-head" type. (The Automobile, May 14, 1908)
History of the Pennsylvania Auto Motor Company: The sum is better than the parts! (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 26, 1907)
The Sun, Mar. 20, 1908
Was the "Vanderbilt" in the Vanderbilt?
Two of the "Vanderbilt" cars appear to have been entered in the 1908 Garden City Sweepstakes (The Sun, Oct. 10, 1908)
However, neither appear to have actually raced.
Two years later, the Pennsylvania Auto Motor Company was merged along with several other auto manufacturers into the Consolidated Motor Company of Cleveland. (The New York Times, Dec. 29, 1910)
Raymond Healy's Private Racer
Auto enthusiast Raymond Healy also supposedly built a car to be raced in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. (The Topeka Daily State Journal, Mar. 2, 1908)
To be 1,800 pounds with 90 horse power and able to go 95mph. (The Automobile, Mar. 5, 1908)
Healy was owner of the Healy Leather Tire Company and developed a special tire for his racer which he intended to promote. (The Topeka Daily State Journal, Mar. 2, 1908)
Prior to this he was involved with various automobile clubs and races along with A. R. Pardington, including the Long Island Economy Run. (Brooklyn Life, Dec. 16, 1905)
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jun. 26, 1907
Sponsoring a "Zust" automobile in a 1906 event, he was disqualified as only those owners who drove their machine could win. (The Motor World, Jun. 21, 1906)
The Brooklyn-Poukeepsie Economy Run in which the Zust participated operated at $1.35 per person and had no mechanical repairs. Interesting how the economy was judged, e.g., the cost per passenger. (The Motor World, Jun. 21, 1906)
A "Zust" driven by Healy in Suffern, NY. (Detroit Public Library)
No further information has been found indicating Healy actually raced a car in a Vanderbilt Cup Race. So here are two cars that appear never to have made it to the races. I would suppose there are more!
Comments
Great pic of Healy’s Zust; I knew of the make but this got me curious. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zust> reveals it was originally Züst and one 28/45 HP was in the 1908 New York to Paris Race. Sam, III
Sam - here’s an article from The Automobile of May 10, 1906 with some more info. on the Zust. Hope all is well!
Found another three photos of the Zust car. I just realized that my last comment to Sam about the Zust was after his passing - if you’re able to look down and keep reading our favorite blog, here’s three more for you Sam! All are from 1908 and are from the Chicago to Paris and NY to Paris Races. Emilio Sirtori is driving the Zust in the NY to Paris race accompanied by journalist Antonio Scarfoglio.
For some reason I like this Zust ad; don’t know why but thought I’d share it. From “The Sphere” of March 20, 1909.