The oldest Ford speedster?

[Rob]

Thanks to contributions from Mark Herdman, Bob Trevan and Andrew Brand, John Williams and others from “down under,” we keep piecing together more information about this New Zealand Ford Six (Model K) converted to a speedster. First, Andrew just sent this photo of the New Zealand speedster:

Prior to this, this Model K speedster has appeared on other threads including the link below:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1364567503


Other photos of the New Zealand racer:

And one sent by Bob Trevan that I missed before, showing the six cylinder Ford in the background, ready to race:

9871F33A-A863-4B3D-B08F-F9D64B97D5C2.jpeg (54.22 KiB) Viewed 2464 times

It appears this speedster ran in the late teens and early twenties in New Zealand. I’d like to learn more about it, and information may appear as time and research go on.


Soooo, can this be called the “oldest Ford racer?” Considering it was probably built after the tenure of the Model K had passed, probably not. We know there were Model T speedsters almost from the start. However, we may know of another early Ford that may deserve the title, “first Ford Speester.”

[Dropacent]

This would be my guess , august 1904 Two 1903 model A motors, end to end

[Rob]

Tim, good photo, and choice. One might call Sweepstakes, 999/Arrow and this racer the first Ford speedsters. If the “first” designation goes to a production Ford converted to sport/racing configuration, I have another to offer. It’ll take a bit to find the file (that’s on another ipad charging as we speak, er, type).

[DHort]

The definition of Speedster is 'a fast car'. With that said, you are correct, Sweepstakes and 999/Arrow are the first Speedsters. Currently in the Ford world I think most of us would consider a Speedster to be a modified production car, so the car made from two Model A's would be the first Speedster.

Then you have to ask, how much modification to deem a car a Speedster. If I remove the NH and replace it with a Stromberg, is it now a Speedster? What if I just remove the fenders, running boards, and splash aprons? Paint some flames on the hood so it looks faster?

I think I will just put on a leather helmet, goggles, and a duster and say I am faster than you. Plus my PF Flyers.

[Dropacent]

A lot depends on the question. What was the first speedster of/from (Henry) Ford , or what was the first of FoMoCo ?

[Rob]

This is my candidate for “first Ford speedster.” Heyward Shannon, a young Princeton graduate, bought one of the first Model K Fords in 1906. This photo shows he and his wife and friends driving one of the first Model K. The “humpback” radiator give it away as one of the first dozen or so Model K sold in 1906. It’s reported only nine or ten Model K had this first radiator, before the tank was expanded under the hood:

In early 1907, Ford announced their entry into the high powered roadster market with a Model K. As Ford New York branch manager Gaston Plantiff told the press:

Plaintiff reported “one of the most striking cars of the road racing type seen around New York last season was the spectacular six cylinder speester owned and driven by Hayward Shannon.”

I think a front photo of this “first Ford speester” still exists. This photo was in a file at the Detroit Public Library (courtesy Detroit Public Library, all rights apply). There was no additional information. It is a 1906 Ford Model K, with a custom cowl. It appears there is no back seat, and was obviously customized. Could this be the first true “Ford speedster?”