AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Birdie num num.

Huh?

Quote from: Ray B. on May 13, 2008, 09:09:57 AM
Birdie num num.

Quoting Peter Sellers in "The Party" when he feeds a parrot. So "Food for the experts" (but it looses the pun if I have to explain it).

Sorry - never saw that one...

The Party is one of the funniest films I've ever seen, well worth a watch in my opinion. Howdy Partner!

I just knew the german sychronization so far, of course, but - brave new world- you can find almost everything somewhere in the internet:


http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=sellers+the+party+parrot&sitesearch=

Quote from: grobmotorix on May 17, 2008, 03:33:57 PM
I just knew the german sychronization so far, of course,

I am a great advocate of seing films in their original language with subtitles, but here this is a must, for Peter Sellers "hindu" accent. Well it's a must for any Sellers movie if you ask me.

Ben Harris 1937

Ben Harris 1937

Achieved in 1936 or 1937. Anyway, it's a bingo !

I received this email,

1935 Harris fwd steamlined speciale‏

Sir,
New to the site, it is really neat, never new it was on the web,
A friend of mine told me that my car was on here somewhere?
Have owned and researched it for 22 years.
By any chance, do you know how I might find it in the posts and categories?
Thank you,
John

Is Benjamin's car you are looking for?

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the picture I used with a better sharpness. But it obviously comes from an issue of Popular Science of 1937.
Here is another scan from the "Encyclopedia of American cars 1930-1942". You can forward it to your correspondent.

The problem is that I don't know who's writing me. I searched trough Google the same request and I found out more less the same email in another site, but just don't know who can it be and how did he get my e-mail. I'm actively registered in this site only while in other place I'm registered just to see the pictures in the pages, so I presume this person was referring to this place. My email is in my profile, that's why I think he is one of us. BTW John, here you are the page you are looking for!
Thanks Ray!

This is the request I found on the net in one site:
"Mr Nabeel,
I have a very special automobile that may be the first true streamlined closed bodied sports car.
The 1935 Harris fwd Streamlined Speciale.
It started as a clay model in 1934 and took the maker 2 years to complete.
To our best belief, it innovated 15 firsts in its design and build.
If you have a regular email address, I can send pictures of this truly remarkable and significant automobile.
With all respect,
John"

and thi in one other:

"I am searching for information about the earliest of fwd usage in automobiles.
Also searching for information about a lost engine;
It was refered to as the Swindler V-8, 2 examples and maybe 3 were built in roughly 1932-33.
It was a dual cam, dual distr, dual carb V-8 that weighed around 150lbs.
George Swindler from Dayton Ohio built them. AKA ( Swindlers Garage in Dayton.)
Searching for any heirs and family that may have parts or blueprints from this amazing engine also.
One such engine was in a old sprint midget car, Harold Crist #25 race car, era 1935.
Also searching for any information, pictures, magazines, newspaper articles, show brochures or WHATEVER for the;
1935 Harris fwd Streamlined Speciale, built in Chicago and Champaign Illinois era 1934-36
Any further information about its builder, Benjamin F Harris, is also desired.
Any pictures of Ben with Gordon Buerhig, Mr. Cord and others is also appreciated, will pay good for any and all items,
Thanks,
John"

He really want this info!

Yes, I found that too.

I'll write him back...

Hello everybody,
Thanks to the people that led me to this site, was surprised to see the car here!!!!

I started out 22years ago sending letters, e-mails when it came about, pictures and probably  300 phone calls or more to get facts on the Harris car over the years.
We are still gathering more.

Some of what is in the articles above is correct, some is adlived through the writer.

Allready have had a BINGO on this site, I have never been able to get the Popular Science Magazine, if anyone has a copy, would be interested in purchasing it !!!!!

ALSO, I am searching for:
a Better Homes and Graden it is written up in, another called Auto Age(think that is the correct name), 1937 or 38 NY International Auto brochure (the car is on the shows brochure cover)  any pictures of the car on pedestal at the 1936 Chicago International Auto Show, a picture of Mr Cord and the owner of Perfect Circle piston rings, the car pacing racing events, the car racing on track and several more, would appreciate any and all leads.

The V-8 twin cam, dual ign, dual carburated engine sung out 6,000 rpm's, it had a roller bearing cranshaft. Some have told me that it ran even faster than 110.

Spice Dana built there first ever fwd half shaft for this car, still looking for a write up they did in a magazine in the late 30's.

Yes, Gordon Buerhig was Bens best buddy  until their deaths, Ben was Gordons best man at his wedding, the wedding took place while the car was being built.
Alex Tremulis is being discussed on another site also, as we believe it may have inspired him in his youthful years, he worked at Auburn-Cord-Duesenburg, he was around 20 years old.

Has anyone ever heard of the David Biggs collection from Clarksville Missouri, Biggs was a racing fan and had a unbelievable collection of very rare cars, the Harris car was on loan to David for his museum,
Ben started SCCA racing in Illinois, he was awarded a life time membership and continued as an official for them in Illinois for many years. Ben and David were good friends.
He also ran with the Granatelli's and many others,

LOOKING for any and all other information, getting ready to unload our 22 years of research to tell the whole story, do so want the Historians opinion on the car and its place in History.

FIRE away at me with any questions, there are sooooo many things that it incorporated into its build and style.
Glad to meet everyone,
JOHN

Congratulations Autopuzzles!. I daresay this is a milestone. The first member to join here to hopefully garner information about their incredibly rare automobile. For some reason, this just tickles me. I mean, how cool is this?

All I can say is: Welcome John. You have an outstanding automobile and I am sure that I am not the only person who would like to hear all about it. Do you have any current photos of the car? 

Here's a better shot from the same magazine:

Wonderful stuff.  :)

Gee, am I proud to have dug up this one! I knew the car from a long time, from the book clipping I have posted, but it was just a legend.
Unfortunately, what is above is all I know about it.
Maybe John could make it an article for our Feature Articles section.

I received an email from John, with other pictures and info. Now everybody, start search in our archives and databases and help him finding any details about this car!

Paul and everyone above,
Thank you for your kind words on the car, and your help!!

Paul, dumbie me, I did not realize you were whom I was addressing in our other e-mail correspondence.

I did forward you an e-mail today, please do post the other pictures I forwarded.
They should give everybody a better idea and understanding of the car and its construction.

The car was thought lost many years ago,  even though it was thought as gone in 1964, it still gained and captured many writers imaginations in articles, last known article in a national magazine was about 5 years ago.

Ray B, would be happy and honored to work with you and Paul !!!!!

I am not a very good writer and the mass of information I have is overwhelming to me.
I figure that it will take 14 chapters to describe everything about  the car, its build, its inovations, Ben and the people he ran with together with its history over the past 74 years.

Couple of Interesting points for you guys;
the fire at the Biggs museum was spotted by a gentleman breaking the worlds Genisse (sp) record for sitting atop a flag pole in Clarksville Mo,

after Ben had passed away, he was not burried until years later, still lost on that one!!!!

The Fordilac built in the early 50's with the help of the Granetelli's, was another of Bens cars.

Ben sat at dinners with Roosevelt, campaigned with his good friend Barry Goldwater and also knew Whacky Arnolt Bristol and Harley Earl, this is a start.

He was an amazing man that traveled the world in first class, he could purchase whatever he wanted at anytime, but yet, ""went hands on"" to build this car.

We like to think, as he had no other street cars to go by, Ben:
"unkowingly built/created the future to come" in street and race design as we know it,  even to this very day many of his incorporated ideas are used in some fashion.

We have been the care takers of this piece of History for 23 years now, do so hope that all of your help on this remarkable site helps us to further the car's history for all to enjoy.
It has already !!!!!!
Thank you gentleman,
John
Nebo Illinois

Here are the pages John sent me:

another photo:

I will be happy to help construct an article about this and maximize the site in any attempt to reconstruct the history of the car.

Nice to have you aboard motorcar1.

:)

From this view, who can tell that this is a 1935 car?

Welcome, motorcar1!
Thanks for the interesting information and photos of the car. As a man interested in racing cars I would also greatly appreciate any further details about Harris streamliner.

Some more photos:

In this note there is written: "build and owned by B.J.Harris III, 224 S....." the last part is hardly readable

Quote from: Paul Jaray on April 11, 2009, 04:22:38 PM
the last part is hardly readable

224 S Michigan Ave. Chicago

;)

Let's ask John agreement and make the front page and a feature article right now.

I just wrote him to write an article about or to give us some material in order to write it for him, let him revise it and then post it. I also asked for some recent pictures of the car. Let's see...

The pictures arrived and it's extraordinary to see this car after 70 years! It is not in a very good condition but the pictures are amazing. I asked him if I can post them, since He wrote that He really hate to send them. I also asked him once again if He would like to prepare, or us to prepare, an article with his material. I'll keep you posted.

Even if it's rough, I'd still love to see the pictures. Even more, I'd love to see the car!  Is it being restored or preserved? What are the plans for it?  I think this is definitely worth at least an article, if not a place to serve as an archive for its history!

Gentleman,
First off, PJ has the pictures of the current day condition of the car, basicly untouched as we purchased it in 1987, we feel he will post them shortly.

Thank you for welcoming us aboard, what a great technical and informational site !!!!
Been exploring it with great enthusiasm and open eyes.

Ray B, don't know what drew you to post the Harris as a puzzle car, but sure do appreciate it.
Yes, do need help as the story is overwhelming to us as a layman.

Ultra, we do share your curiosity in streamlined and race cars, we have been through soooo many books and archives on streamlining that it all kind of  melts together.
We have found that it's other nameplates are, Aero cars, teardrop cars and streamliners.
As noted above, we do need help in organizing and writting the story, truly appreciate the offer!!

Porridgehead, do appreciate your kind words and look forward to working with everyone, as noted above, we are honoring your request, pictures of the current day condition will be posted soon by PJ.
I am not good at navigating and pasting pictures, just a nit-wit when it comes to figuring it out.

Paul Jaray, what can we say, you have been so outgoing in your support of our quest to let people know about the car, the site owners should be really proud of your past and present participation.
A special Thank you to Paul !!!!!
John

Quote from: motorcar1 on April 13, 2009, 08:40:51 AM
Ultra, we do share your curiosity in streamlined and race cars, we have been through soooo many books and archives on streamlining that it all kind of  melts together.
We have found that it's other nameplates are, Aero cars, teardrop cars and streamliners.
As noted above, we do need help in organizing and writting the story, truly appreciate the offer!!


the site owners should be really proud of your past and present participation.
A special Thank you to Paul !!!!!
John

I am the site owner.  We love having Paul and the entire gang around here.

Thought this thread might interest you:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=2226.0

Ultra,
It is a pleasure to meet you and I look at your site as being one of the best !!!

Glad you steered me to the post above, there were many individuals that had great designing skills and abilities.

Glad also because Tuckeroo is there, we both are on the Tucker site and have worked on the Tucker Convertible question of the day.

Tuckeroo pointed me in the direction of this site, I now know why he praised it as such.

PJ should be posting the other pictures of the Harris soon, he must be away, what a quality guy.
JOHN

Here I am finally, and here are the pictures:

Oh dear.  :(

Here's another article i found:

"Harris was obviously a student of Jaray aerodynamics...."   that is weird!!  :o

Quote from: Paul Jaray on April 14, 2009, 08:30:35 AM
"Harris was obviously a student of Jaray aerodynamics...."   that is weird!!  :o

What, you don't remember him? ;)

Here you are the mails that Mr John wrote me:

"We to believe it was far advanced and light years ahead of everybody.
Yes, the cars of the era were behemoth in weight and size compared to the Harris in the photos.
A writer that did an article on the car called it the Hormone 8, Ben was not happy about that.
He expressed it in another article."

"The two pictures are not flattering whatsoever, but felt the need and responsibility to send as requested.
These pictures were taken a few months ago, we had removed the car from the storage building it had been in for quite some time.
We have hopes of starting a full blown,
"Invitational Quality" restoration when the monetary means can be found.
We have not attempted to change the car in any manner over the past 23 years, it is as you see it and how we purchased it in the two attached photographs.
We feel the pedigree of the Harris needs to be kept in tact and everything about it's restoration should be of impeccable detail as well as photographed.
We were once accused of lying about the very existence of this special car.
With this said, and with regret for its looks at this time, it is real, it is original and we do so hope that it will entertain the readers and writers.
Something new to investigate and form conclusions on is always fun, historical and informative, we shall work with all of you and forward more material.
After reading posts and replies in the site, my writing and ability to express the car in a comprehensive way pales to just about anyone writing on this site, your help is sooooo welcomed.
We could not have wished for a better group of responsible and intelligent automobile experts to help in finishing the history of this futuristic car that Ben unknowingly built.
Thank you for your warm welcome, and we believe that Ben, as well as us, would be  honored to have his creation in time brought before the publics eyes in this great site, "

and about these pics:

"I really hate to send these pictures.
You guys have been very gracious to us so we felt we should extend the same.
I guess everybody can start hashing it over, some will undoubtedly pick on it, so be it though."

Thanks for your kind words, John, but I'm just collecting the few info I've got about this rarity. I'm posting a new quiz, to let everybody look for the other car you have, and I'll add also what you know about it.
The pictures of your car are magnetic, it's not in a very good shape, but it cames from the 30s! And this is such a special car... these pictures are really a thrill.

Otto Puzzle,
We do agree with the sad face and the oh dear,
This is the condition of the car until monetary means are found to start its detailed and concourse restoration,

We first wanted to gather as much history as possible, thank you guys for bringing more history to the table.
Again, thank you Paul for your continued assistance.

We found the new article posted by PJ very interesting, as the author of the article calls it a "Sporting Car", we ourselves have called it a sports car because we have never found, in our research, anything like it, sooooo, guess it is a sports car, a first ????

We also found it interesting and very complimenting that he used Paul Jaray as a possible inspiration for Ben.
We think that Tremulis was inspired by Bens creation, as a youthful 20 year old, he worked at auburn cord duesenberg, no hidden fact that Mr Buehrig and Mr Cord were fully aware of this car, >>> Alex , we fully assume, knew also?

On to new things, the paint:

The Harris car is shown in three different colors, per our research,
First it was "chrome metallic"
Second it was a cream-yellowish color, seemingly like the cord color, it paced a Chicago race in this color,
Third, it was painted a deep maroonish color, this was for the Indy Rod and Custom show where it prevailed as a winner 16 years aged at the time in design,

Duco Lacquer, wow;
Through our research, DuPont discovered that its new found base of Duco Lacquer allowed for
the development of "metallic paint".
It had been attempted in enamel, but never achieved the show finish they desired and found.

Seems attempts in mixing created greenish, quite ugly tarnishing, cracking and rough surfaces, together with a mountain of other problems.

Per our archive research and the help of Dupont archives specialists, we found that Duco Chrome Metallic paint was introduced at the same time the car was being built.
To our best knowledge, the Harris fwd Streamlined Speciale was completely adourned as the first with this special new paint,

The chrome metallic paint looked like a brilliant chrome finish, guess they heavily loaded the metallic in the paint, must have been outstanding with the red leather, red engine and other red details.

It seems that it took them another 2 years to figure out how to add blue and green to make colors available.

How do you gentleman want us to send the overwhelming mass of documents and facts on the car?
Your talents far surpasses ours, and we feel Bens creation in time deserves a well written in depth story, in all probability, there is enough to literally write  a book .
Please instruct us.
What a great site and great bunch of guys,
John

Quote from: motorcar1 on April 14, 2009, 12:56:08 PM
Please instruct us.
What a great site and great bunch of guys,
John

You can attach it here using the additional options link beneath the posting box or you can email it to me:

webmaster@autopuzzles.com 

Email it in pieces if you go that route.  It will help when I download the material on this end.

Glad to be of service.

Charlie

John, you asked how I came to choose the Harris car for a puzzle.
I had it in a book for 25 years (the clipping I scanned and posted after your first request). When I joined Autopuzzles I had become more and more interested in the streamlines prototypes of the 1930's, but  this car's design had always struck me because it never became outdated.
Then I found this magazine article on the internet, and the typewriting added on the page made it even more mysterious and I posted it.

I would never have... (EDIT: my wireless keyboard's batteries went dead last night, here is the rest of the sentence)... dreamed that one day the owner of the car would come up with the whole story and those wonderful pictures. This is the best reward for the car detectives we are all.

Ray B,
That is quite interesting indeed.
Who ever would have thought that the picture you kept aside, would end up bringing the car to daylight and its story that has been so long untold.

We were surprised to see the one article, we had a part of it, but never could date it or place a month with it to search out the magazine. It had the chrome metallic paint at the time.

We were overwhelmed at the other picture and article also.

Was it shear luck or maybe the shear persistent natures of car guys to discover more, this persistence led us here in hopes of finding a befitting spot for Bens Creation in History Ray B !!

We so much desire to tell the whole story.
Parts are still in California where Ben led the last years of his life, even then, writers came to him for the story of the Harris car.

To our best belief, the clay model, the original renderings, photographs, newspaper articles, more magazine articles, SCCA articles, personal photographs & letters which in all probablity contain many other known persons associated with Ben ,  a large painting of the car, trophys and more,
Yes, I did make contact with Bens daughter in law, his son, Ben the 4th, has long passed.

I also spoke with Mrs Buerhig, she is the second wife, Gordon was widowed from his first wife.
She remembered Ben, but instructed me to contact his daughter in NY, as she had most of Gordons possesions and library.

What a treasure hunt these two places would be, a car guy in heaven !!!!!

At this time we do not have the means to accomplish this research and fact finding.

We are more than happy to shair what we have accumulated though, at least many parts can be told for History sake.

We have started numerous chapters, none are complete and none are professional.
We figure it will take 14 or 15 chapters to tell the story.

Each chapter should be quite thrilling with all telling the full story of what Ben built, how he built it, others parts, Dupont, Spicer-Dana, foam rubber, the engine, seat belts, interior flip open areas, f & r Suspension, the V-8 engine, the radiator build, the futuristic design and so much more, not to exclude the realm of persons Ben associated with and held dear.

I will start by placing information on discs and then piece mail it in.

You have no idea of how happy and estatic I am at this time.

Thank you,
John

When I first posted this puzzle, I did it with a tiny, poor quality pic.
I hadn't realized that I had also THIS...

Awesome, Ray! Thanks a lot.

Ray B.,
Thank you so much Sir !!!!

I did forward a private message back.

There is so much more besides what was in this article about Ben and the Car.
Please do not give up on me !!!!
The caretaker of Bens Creation,
John

This thread is getting a lot of hits today.   Did somebody link it somewhere?  Anyone know what is up?

Yes. Here's what happened.
http://blog.hemmings.com/
Although their link doesn't seem to function too well. Can you check it? I don't know s... about these things.

That's how I found my way here, I signed up to see the pics.  Cool stuff.

BTW - If folks remove the '&action=printpage' from the Hemmings link, it'll bring up the forum properly.  Their link seems to be the print preview page.

Thanks for signing on and letting us know what was up.  Take a look around.  This place is quite the find for a Hemmings reader.  Start here:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=7269.0

Updates will arrive shortly...

I would like everyone to remember that in the "Feature Writers" section, our friend John is composing his great article about this car...you can became a feature writer writing an article yourself and help the work in progress (or just watch it being completed) or you can wait untill it will be done...

Quote from: Ray B. on April 14, 2009, 05:36:24 PM
John, you asked how I came to choose the Harris car for a puzzle.
I had it in a book for 25 years (the clipping I scanned and posted after your first request). When I joined Autopuzzles I had become more and more interested in the streamlines prototypes of the 1930's, but  this car's design had always struck me because it never became outdated.
Then I found this magazine article on the internet, and the typewriting added on the page made it even more mysterious and I posted it.

I would never have... (EDIT: my wireless keyboard's batteries went dead last night, here is the rest of the sentence)... dreamed that one day the owner of the car would come up with the whole story and those wonderful pictures. This is the best reward for the car detectives we are all.

RAY B;
WHEN you posted the Speedster for ID, it started a whole new avenue for our research, thank you !
We forwarded the incomplete and rough story to many known persons and organizations we believed Ben or the Speedster were associated with>>>> BINGO.
The only problem, so much of it leads to other known racers, politcal figures, life long friendships, business, Navy invention, WW II Foundaries etc, that it has stopped the press per se.

Francesco has unearthered other articles which he has sent us, all lead to even more research and remarkable finds.
Without Francesco, Charlie, yourself and others herein Autopuzzles, NONE of this would have happened,

We checked and found out that site and topic area's about Ben and the Speedster are numerous, in sites the man and car are brought into, there have been over 30,000 hits in all. Great work guys.
By the way, anyplace I go myself, I bring Autoipuzzles into the postings

With all respect and hopes that we can finish the story in the near future, lots of research to finish and more coming in.
John

NOTE:, If you desire to read MORE, go to FEATURE articles on the front page of autopuzzles, the story is unfolding.
Thank you,
JOHN

Hemmings just came up with scans of the same SIA article I have shown, in their SIA flashbacks section.
I've justed posted there a comment about all that had been researched here and redirecting to this topic in Autopuzzles.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/01/08/sia-flashback-harriss-sensational-fwd-streamliner/

As a pretty neat little addition, here is a note from Soviet magazine - that is Za Ruljom #5, 1937 - early March of that year.

QuoteA compact and fast single-seater racing car was designed and built by a constructor from Chicago.
The car is equipped by a purposely designed 1.5-liter V8 engine, and although the latter provides just 32hp at 3200rmp, speed of the car reaches 177 km/h.
Such results have been achieved primarily because of a low and aerodynamic body and a small weight of the car. Wheelbase - 2184mm, track - 1210mm, total height - 1089mm, weight - 680kg.

Faksta,
Thank you for keeping an eye out and adding material to Bens story.

Ben wrote that his Speedster was in three or four different European magazines>>>
I think that the UK, Germans and France or the other countries which found Bens car worthy and notable for magazine articles on his creation>> from America.

This is the first which has turned up>>> again >>thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


PJ mentioned to me, after the last puzzle>> about the one page bio on Ben he posted, that it may be a good idea to open a second story, so the other links>>> which have been brought forth>>> could be left open for addition and comments.

Will check in with PJ>>> sounds like another gooooood idea he has came up with.

John

You're welcome. I was quite surprised to see this car in a Soviet magazine, to be fair. Most probably this info was taken from some foreign mag.

I worked for Ben at C-U Model Raceway slot racing track during 1968-69.He was a unique and accomplished man. He had a pictorial display of the FWD Speedster hanging on a wall near the tracks. His son, Ben Jr, told me the car was lost in the fire at the Biggs facility. Today I was looking around the internet for a picture to show my family and stumbled upon Autopuzzles. I was shocked to find out the car still exists! I hope the car can be restored to its original glory.  A couple of BFH stories: One day at the raceway business was slow so Ben picks up the phone to call his prep school roommate Barry Goldwater. A voice on the other end answers "Hello" and Ben answers " Hi Barry, it's Bucky" (his nickname) and they had a short conversation. Ben spent a lot of his own money trying to help Goldwater get elected. Another idea he had for a car was to place the cigarette lighter in the center of the steering wheel so the driver would not have to reach across the dashboard for it. He had a great influence on me and my affinity for all things automotive.

That's fantastic. I'm in contact with John, the owner of Harris' car. He's been looking for info about it for so long!