Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard, I remember going to a great party and tour of the museum in the mid ‘60s when it was alive and well. We were racing at the Bridge and we were invited over. It was a spectacular museum.

Art

From Then & Now: Long Island Automotive Museum

The writer claims that Clark owned a Bugatti Royale, but doesn’t say which one.  He could never have owned 41100, 41121, 41131, 41141, or 41150.  The only possibility then is 41111, unless 41150 was briefly with him between Peck and Nethercutt. Did he ever really own either one, or is that just local lore combined with wishful thinking?  Does anyone out there know for sure?

From Film "The Long Island Automotive Museum"

Hi Don:

I have 4 Ford Town Car postcards (1 Model T and 3 Model As). Here’s the link: http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog/article/long_island_automotive_museum_postcards_ford_town_cars

The postcards have the photo on the front and information on the back. I woul estimate the value around $1 per postcard.

Howard

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#1-6)

In the event that Austin Clark did own Bugatti 54213, then it went from him to Mr. Luddington.  I admit to being unsure about its ownership at the time.

From Film "The Long Island Automotive Museum"

Certainly the most extraordinary car ever to have been associated with the Long Island Automobile Museum was Bugatti ch. no. 54213.  Originally a factory T.59 GP car in blue, it was later painted a striking two-tone coffee and cream. Returned to blue by English enthusiast Rodney Clarke, with full road equipment, including Atlantic-style riveted pontoon fenders, it became an iconic Bugatti, then and only then when the road equipment was added. It was photographed countless times, served as the subject for the most expensiive 1/2 scale model and was very widely known. The Long Island Autommobile Museum published a postcard of 54231 that looks like it might have been taken on or near the grounds of the Museum.  It was probably owned at the time by F. H. Luddington, who lived in the NY Metropolitan area. It went from Mr Luddington to Hans Holterbosch, also a New Yorker, who wisely kept it in its unique configuration.  A few years ago it was sold to someone in England or France who, in a misguided act of vandalism, had all the road equipment removed, thereby destroying what many considered one of the most superb of all Bugattis.

From Film "The Long Island Automotive Museum"

I’m the owner of the 2 breese Paris autos. & that is without dout the BLM. It was planed to go into production with a number of different bodies Built in NJ with FRench engines. The 1906 recession put an end to production. also there were 2 James Breeses:  the father & son.  There were 4 males in the family; James Breese the father, Sidney Breese oldest son (designer of the engine for the Spirt of St Louis), James Breese (chief engineer of the NC4 first aircraft to fly across the atlantic around 1919) & Robert Breese (the designer & builder of the Breese Paris).

From A Mystery Photo from the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race: The B.L.M. Racer

We are looking for Postcard(s) showing the Model T Ford Towncar
-Don

From Postcards from the Long Island Automotive Museum (#1-6)

We have so much history here on Long Island, the LIMP is part of it. If You want to see more, come out to the LIEF, Long Island Early Fliers picnic at the Bayport Aerodrome on Aug 14. Thank U Howard.

From First Meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society

Hi Sam III:

I tend to agree with you that it does not appear to be the Motor Parkway in the background. The concrete posts do not seem to be LIMPish….not enough space between the consecutive posts.

It is possible that the film script identified the road as the Motor Parkway…the Kirbys were driving on Long Island heading to New York City. According to IMDb, the film location was 380 South San Rafael Avenue, Pasadena, California. This was also the TV residence for Batman:

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/wayne-manor-batman-residence/

Howard I

From Was the Long Island Motor Parkway in the 1937 Classic Film "Topper"?

From JJZBullit109:

“Mr.Kroplick is one of the nicest men I’ve ever met in the classic car hobby. Your attitude toward people is truly welcoming; most would never allow people to breathe on their car the wrong way. It is a great pleasure to see such a beautiful and important piece of automotive history of an all but forgotten era of motorsports preserved. Cheers”

From Long Island Automotive Update: News, Comments & Events- Saturday, July 30, 2011

From Sam Berliner III:

  “This is the segment of “Topper” where the backdrop may have been filmed on the Motor Parkway. Any opinions?”

Far from being the LIMP, that segment appears to have been filmed in or around Old Westbury-Brookville (or the Hamptons).  There are no LIMP guard rails or property posts.  The fences appear only occasionally, on one side or the other, only, and are private property fences, still quite prevalent in the areas.  The wild reverse curves are also not consistent with the LIMP.

  “Also, can anyone identify the amazing car driven by Cary Grant?”

Without extensive checking, it seems to be a 1936 (or so) Auburn 852 Boat Tailed Speedster.  The V-8 had outside pipes on both sides, unlike a Duesenberg straight 8 with pipes only on the right.

As always, I love what you’re doing; keep on truckin’!

From Was the Long Island Motor Parkway in the 1937 Classic Film "Topper"?

Hi Sam III:

I agree. I have adjusted the arrow pointing to the location of the Meadow Brook Lodge site….south of the Motor Parkway Right-of-Way and currently in the parking lot of the New York Community Bank building.

From Then and Now: The Meadow Brook Lodge in Westbury

From Sam Berliner III:
Re: The site of the Meadow Brook Lodge: I think not, Howard; the lodge was on the south side of the RoW, as you plainly state a few paras. back:  “The entrance to the lodge was south of the Motor Parkway”.

From Then and Now: The Meadow Brook Lodge in Westbury

Thank you so much for this atricle, it saved me time!

From Archives: Drennan Collection

Hi Greg:

Thanks for the information. Great to see you and Deidre at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society meeting.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Was the Long Island Motor Parkway in the 1937 Classic Film "Topper"?

Hi Marc:

The Black Beast is scheduled to lead the parade! It should be fun.

Enjoy,

Howard

From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap

Howard,
We met at Eisenhower Parks Nassau Counties Motor Parkways recent News advent. I was with the Ford Model A Club, and no I wasn’t one of your many passengers. The Black Beast is truly a beautiful piece of machinery. I was wondering if you knew of Lake Ronkonkoma’s upcoming “First Annual Sunday Drive” I know you’re very busy, but the Heritage Society would surely find the Black Beast #8 a special addition to the advent.
Please see attached short cut to their website:
http://thelakeheritage.org/CurrentEvents.html
The person to contact is Ellen and I’ll be glad to give you her number if you email permission.
Thank you
Marc Hillman

From Exclusive Video: Emerson Fittipaldi Driving the Alco Black Beast During the 2011 Indy 500 Parade Lap

Upon looking at the Topper car a little more closely, (after finding it was custom built) I discovered that the Topper car is a much closer match to a 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster than the Cord 810.(The Topper car and the Auburn are almost identical)

From Was the Long Island Motor Parkway in the 1937 Classic Film "Topper"?

“Also, can anyone identify the amazing car driven by Cary Grant?”

Turns out, that’s a trick question! My first thought was that must be a model of Cord I’ve never seen, (since no other manufacturer had such beautiful styling like that in the 30’s) but I guess I was wrong. Here’s the info on the car from IMDB;

“The fancy finned-back car driven by the Kerbys was custom built by the Bohman & Schwartz Co. using a 1936 Buick Roadmaster chassis. Originally the producers had in mind to use a coffin-nosed Cord, but it wasn’t large enough. In the custom-made Buick there were special compartments for camera equipment, etc. The Buick resembles a Cord, but the supercharger pipes on the side were just decorations (a Cord comes with an actual supercharger). After filming the Buick was bought by the Gilmore Oil Co. and was used for promotional purposes for many years. It was updated in 1954 with a Chrysler Imperial chassis and drive train. The car driven by Cosmo Topper is a 1936 Lincoln Model K.”

From Was the Long Island Motor Parkway in the 1937 Classic Film "Topper"?

Dear Howard. Thank you for posting the Fresh Meadows article. I was five years old when my family moved into a new house in 1953 on the other side of the expressway. Before the War, a golf course and farms. After the war - all filled in, with Francis Lewis Blvd. as well. I can’t remember the number of times I took my bike on the Motor Parkway.

From The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #1 North Hempstead Turnpike Bridge in Fresh Meadows