Rauch & Lang prototype, based upon a 1929 Stearns-Knight M 6-80 Cabriolet

[grobmotorix]

Who knows this car?

What´s special about it?

[grobmotorix]

>>> Expert AutoPuzzles >>>

[grobmotorix]

>>> Professional AutoPuzzles >>>

[targhediferro]

Was it the car of a very very tall man?

[grobmotorix]

 

I am sure you could drive it with a big black cylinder hat on.

But no - this was a stock version of not really mysterious make.

The earlier cars of this make are much better known.

[nicanary]

Stanley Steamer?

[grobmotorix]

Not Stanley.

But from the USA and this one also features a non-conventional drivetrain.

[nicanary]

Doble?

[grobmotorix]

It´s not a Doble and it´s not steam-driven.

[sixtee5cuda]

Battery-powered?

[grobmotorix]

It´s electric, yes.

[4popoid]

Owen Magnetic from about 1921?

[grobmotorix]

Not an Owen.

[4popoid]

Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe from about 1917?

[grobmotorix]

Not a Woods.

[4popoid]

Crown Magnetic from about 1920?

[grobmotorix]

Crown
Owen
Woods

[4popoid]

Milburn Electric from about 1920?

[grobmotorix]

Crown
Milburn
Owen
Woods

[Paul Jaray]

Detroit Electric?

[grobmotorix]

Crown
Detroit Electric
Milburn
Owen
Woods

[4popoid]

Rauch & Lang (owned by Stevens-Duryea) from about 1929?

[grobmotorix]

That´s the one!

[sixtee5cuda]

The puzzle car is one of three hybrid gasoline-electric cars built, presumably by General Electric, for Ned Green at a cost of over $1 Million.  Mr. Green lost one leg as a child, and couldn't drive a conventional automobile.   This project would create a car without a transmission, so he could control it with his one leg.

The puzzle car was based upon a 1929 Stearns-Knight M 6-80 Cabriolet.  The later brougham and sedan models were also based on Stearns-Knight automobiles.  The propulsion system replaced the transmission and driveshaft with a generator and electric motor.  The original Stearns-Knight sleeveless engine drove the generator, which powered the electric motor (connected to the original rear axle).

All 3 vehicles were titled as Rauch & Lang.

The puzzle car was scrapped not long after Mr. Green's death in 1936.  The brougham was abandoned in a field, but has been retrieved and is undergoing restoration.

The sedan still exists and is fully operational.  As of 2011 it was part of the JWR Automobile Museum collection.

Attached are an image of Mr. Green with his roadster, and a recent image of the sedan.

[grobmotorix]

Now, this new information is definitly worth an additional point!

Thank you!

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