Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard, Gene Winfield has made some very good points. One of the main problems with keeping these cars was Product Liability. They were often called cobble cars. It was a great time for private builders - lots of Corporate money.

In the 1950s Italian custom bodies cost about $800 per unit. All the Ghia Exner Chryslers were done as Gene says cheaper and quicker. They have a high survival rate because Chrysler often turned them over to their South American reps.

Ford was more prone to crush them or give them to their sub-suppliers like Andy and Holman-Moody some times to test engines in. Jimmy Holman went to Northwood University in Midland MI in the mid-1960s. He had the Mustang fast-back ‘cobble car’ for a daily driver.

By 1967 there were more problems with what to do with these proto-types. When run with factory manufacturer plates they did not need to have emission parts or crash testing. About 1979 Ford offered a Hutton stretch Lincoln to the Lincoln Continental Owners Club. It was too big for us to store and registration would have been a problem with no smog stuff. Ford ended up crushing several.

Limited production models like woodies and the Packard Caribbean were done by companies like Mitchell-Bentley in Ionia, MI for the cost reasons Gene gave.

The story of the Mustang III is a little more complex than other Ford concept cars. You had to be in the right place and have the right connections. Andy Hotton got the Stevenson PanAm Lincoln and traded it to Bill Harrah for something he wanted.

Hugh

From The Mustang III and the Ford Custom Car Caravan: An Interview with the King of Kustoms Gene Winfield

Why is it called the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge if it connects the John Baker properties?
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From Howard Kroplick

Wayne, great question!  According to my favorite co-author Al Velocci,  Smith’s entire farm was purchased by the Motor Parkway to obtain the right-of-way. The farmway bridge was built to connect the north and south sections of Smith’s former farm so that the Motor Parkway could lease out the unused sections

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #55: The Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville

Hi there.I have some time for this one,I better do it now,might not get a chance again.I think I have two of the answers.The building in the background is the garages for the Vanderbilt Cars over by Krugs Hotel.The date the photo was taken Oct 1906.I got the clues from the photo itself,the water tower and the writings on the building.That’s it for this one

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Good Afternoon, I am looking for the aerial photo just West of this location, any ideas??

Thanks
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From Howard Kroplick

Hi James,

What street do you want featured?

From Then & Now: The Motor Parkway Office in Garden City

My guess would be Mineola, Krugs Hotel Auto Garage Thomas Flyer Headquarters(just north, behind the hotel). The car is travelling south on Mineola Blvd, as the Windmill is opposite the Willis Avenue side. The 3 gentlemen i cannot name but it looks like they are arriving to watch the race on their way down from the north shore. Ok i will guess that the driver is Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, and thats all i can guess on this one. I do like the gasoline shed.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Identify the road in which this photo was taken.
Jericho Tpke.

What was the building in the background?
Krug’s Hotel

Identify the automobile
1906 air-cooled Corbin

Identify the man in the back seat. What was his role in relation to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race?
Sheriff Frederick E. Gildersleeve

When was this photo likely taken?
Oct. 6 1906

What was the likely reason for this automobile trip?
According to the photo’s caption, the men were ‘enroute to Vanderbilt Cup Race’

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

My guess, Jericho Tpke, looking North East.  I would say Krug’s hotel is to the right.  The buildings we see are the garages of Krug’s Hotel.  Which were north of the hotel.

From Mystery Foto #26 Solved: Nassau County Gildersleeve Inspecting the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

I haven’t been over this way in a while. With Dave and Sam next to one of the abutments, it’s size is impressive.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #55: The Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville

Hi all.I have a few minutes now, while waiting for a delivery to come.This certainly was a challenging one without the hints.All is well here,very slow process,trying to get the place the way we want it.Still unpacking boxes.Weather been hot 90 to 102,not much rain.Be in touch whenever I get chance.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Very informative. Love the history!  Great story.

From Ford.com: "The Tale of the Printer and the Two-Seat “Shorty” Ford Mustang"

I guess this is my final answer, so my previous answers can be discarded.

I must admit this was one of the most challenging mystery photos till now, which without hints would have been impossible for me to solve. Even now I’m not 100% sure about my answers, but they are all either a Vanderbilt or directly related to them, which makes sense. The advantage was that I’ve met a lot of new people from the era, which was an interesting and refreshing experience.

When I read polo player, my first thought was Foxhall Keene. However more likely is that the man on the left is Harry Payne Whitney, who was also an avid polo-player. Moreover he married Gertrude Vanderbilt, the great-granddaughter of the Commodore.
The man who owned racing cars was Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt.
The woman on the left: Eleonora Randolph Sears, great great grand-daughter of Thomas Jefferson, famous tennis player, and dating Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, third child and second son of William K..
First I thought that the woman with the veil had to be Margaret Emerson (daughter of inventor Isaac E Emerson). Alfred G. Vanderbilt would marry her in 1911, having been divorced in 1908 from his first wife Ellen French. Margaret Emerson had inherited a race horse stable from her father, which she would give later to her son Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II. As stated however, Margaret Emerson is the inventor’s daughter, so my guess is then that the woman with the veil is her mother, Emily Askew.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’m guessing that the woman (third from left) could be Mrs. Belmont—not really sure of the others.

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Here are my guesses from left to right: Foxhall Keene, Alice Ramsey, Eleanora Sears, and no guess for the car owner. Going for 3 out of 4. Alice Hulsey Ramsey was the first woman to drive across the U.S. (1909).
Hope all is well there. Still working on the Holcomb/Knox project here. Very interesting.
Enjoying the Mustang adventures. You’re never bored, are you.
Best Regards,
Dick Rowley

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Ok, this is my second attempt. If I read polo player, I must immediately think of Foxhall Keene, sportsman, polo player and participant in the Vanderbilt Cup race of 1905. The man who owned racing cars was Alfred G. Vanderbilt. And finally the woman in the middle: Eleonora Randolph Sears, great great grand-daughter of Thomas Jefferson, famous tennis player, and dating Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, third child and second son of William K..

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Hi all,still with you checking things out,trying to keep up to date with what’s going on,but don’t have much time lately,I just take a quick glance.The move to Virginia is taking a toll on me trying to settle in,very frustrating,Sure wish I was their for the collectable car show in oyster bay, sounds great.    Howard,say hi to John for me.Will be in touch when I get a chance,in a few days

From Mustang III at the Ford Custom Car Caravan (1964-1965)

Identify these four spectators (from left to right) who are watching the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race from the Hempstead Plains grandstand.

Larry Waterbury, Eleanora Sears, Mrs. McGrann and Alfred G. Vanderbilt

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

From left to right;
Larry Waterbury, Eleanora Sears, Mrs. McGrann, Alfred G. Vanderbilt

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I could wait until the first hint, but I’ll give it a guess. The couple could be Alice and John Ramsey. Alice Ramsey, a keen motorist, had accomplished her transcontinental tour not long before, and she could well have been a guest of honor during the event. So, I’ll await the hints and if it appears that I’m wrong I’ll give it another try!

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I would say Ava Belmont Vanderbilt is the woman on the left side of the photo.  The guy directly to her left is definitely Sean Connery.  😊

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Willie and his sister, Consuelo, and their childhood neighbors, Dr. and Mrs. Sol Epstein….(No?)

From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: Waterbury ,Sears, McGrann and Vanderbilt at the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race