McFarlan - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

elchivito · #16 03-23-2012, 05:52 PM

This old dog just learned something. I never heard of a McFarlan before. Thanks and I look forward to hearing more about this.

wow! http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/mcfarlan/mcfarlan.jpg

elchivito · #17 03-23-2012, 05:53 PM

Do the Capone cars still exist?

SwampYankee · #18 03-23-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Do the Capone cars still exist?

I know FDR used one of Capone's armored Cadillacs after the Pearl Harbor attack (it had been seized and sitting in an impound lot at the time). It must be in a museum somewhere. I'll have to mobile google that and see where it ended up.

The Clk Man · #19 03-23-2012, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

I know FDR used one of Capone's armored Cadillacs after the Pearl Harbor attack (it had been seized and sitting in an impound lot at the time). It must be in a museum somewhere. I'll have to mobile google that and see where it ended up.

Have you been watching the History Channel again?

SwampYankee · #20 03-23-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

Have you been watching the History Channel again?

Again? Still!

hill · #21 03-23-2012, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carleton Hughes

Ahh yes, the ol' Twin Valve Six. Years ago I had the pleasure of working on what was supposedly Jack Dempey's 1922 Berline. But I've learned to beware of automotive provenance, every dealer and collector has a story....Lovely car finished in maroon and black. It was in a collection in Connecticut that I maintained for the owner, I recall the magneto functioned flawlessly but the distributor was housed in an alloy case and had an odd centrifugal spark advance which would hang up and lose phase with the other ignition. Wound up rebuilding the pivot points and bearings. Fun car to drive.

This fellow also had a service truck made on a shortened McFarlan chassis, the sad fate of many large, powerful cars. I gotta go thru my files now and find the guy's number.

I think the first Holmes wrecker was built on a cadillac chasis.

nate300d · #22 08-26-2012, 11:15 PM

Gentlemen, the plan is for Wednesday evening to begin the trek to Daingerfield, Texas for the McFarlan TV.

Botnst · #23 08-27-2012, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate300d

I am a volunteer at the museum. I primarily clean cars and give tours. My goal for the museum is to have this engine rebuilt and running. I know that the museum would like to see that as well. I want to invest in this venture of rebuilding this engine as this is such a rare find. I am sorry for not being clear. I have been so excited about this find that my head has been spinning especially after having a phone call with another one of my father's bothers who was the one that originally discovered the engine at a gravel pit. He then gave it to his brother in Texas.

When my uncle in Texas got the engine he disassembled it with the intention of overhauling it. However, at that time his health was beginning to diminish and he passed away. My parents went to Texas in February to visit my late uncle's wife and son. While there my mother mentioned about me working at the museum. My cousin knowing the connection about McFarlan and Cord told my parents about the engine that his father had. My cousin told them that he did not know what to do with the engine, but he did know that he could not bring himself to take it to a scrap yard.

That is a fine story and worthy goal, well told. Best of luck to you!

cmac2012 · #24 08-29-2012, 11:40 AM

On a trivial note, I like this story as the namesake of the engine is from the same broad collection of Scottish clans (pretty sure) that I am, the one that spun off from the old MacPharlane clan. The engine name is spelled slightly different than mine but it's close.

Amazing that the engine had enough longevity to be used as it was when found.

nate300d · #25 09-03-2012, 08:33 PM

Well, I arrived home a bit ago from Texas with the remains of McFarlan TV engine #615. The content was disappointing as both cylinder jugs, all 24 valves, and one piston assembly are lost as well as any possibility of rebuilding this engine since it is made from "unobtainium". What is great is the construction of what is there. The aluminum intake, oil pan, and crank case are very light. The piston rods have a copper tube from the crank bearing to the piston pin for lubrication. The valve train has roller lifters. A distributor to fire 2 spark plugs and magneto to fire one. Although this engine is partial, its construction has greatly increased my interest in this make. Tomorrow I will be taking the engine to its final home in Auburn. I will take pictures ans post them.

nate300d · #26 09-04-2012, 07:09 PM

Here are some pictures. Here is the very light aluminum intake and up draft carburetor.

t walgamuth · #27 06-17-2013, 05:03 PM

I was in connersville in sunday for an autocross and was told that they built macfarlans there as well as auburns and cords.

nate300d · #28 06-18-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I was in connersville in sunday for an autocross and was told that they built macfarlans there as well as auburns and cords.

One question that I have had for the curator is 'who build what and where'?
Although the museum has many records of what took place within Auburn Automobile there is far more lost. There are many single 'facts' stated once in some publication, however, these are most often 'facts' that can not be verified.

Auburn Automobile was established by Charles Eckhart with his sons Frank and Morris in 1900. There first production auto was in 1903. The museum has a 1904 Auburn which is the the oldest known Auburn in existence.

The business was family owned until 1919 when it was sold to a group of investment bankers from Chicago. This group small the automobile as an up and coming thing believing it would be very profitable, however, these men were not knowledgeable about this type of business and Auburn Automobile began a decent.

After a few years of decline this investment group realized that they needed someone to run Auburn Automobile for them. Enter Errett Lobban Cord in late 1924. A young man with a reputation for selling automobiles. He was hired with a small salary, but plentiful with stock options. Cord was so successful in turning around Auburn Automobile that by 1926 he was able to make a leverage purchase of all of Auburn Automobile.

Now in full control Cord when shopping for businesses to expand his vision. He purchased Lycoming Engines (Williamsport, PA) of , Duesenberg (Indianapolis, IN), Lexington, Central Manufacturing, and McFarlan all of Connersville just to scratch the surface. Between this time and the end of Auburn Automobile many bodies were built in Connerville. Even as a docent I hear different stories of who built what for this car and that car. Cords were built in Connersville and in the very end all of the Auburn production was moved there as well. In general Connersville became key to production of Auburns and Cords.

There is the long answer to your short question.

This is an area of interest to me as there are reports of some one-off bodies built by Mcfarlan for Auburn and Duesenberg that I would like to verify.

t walgamuth · #29 06-18-2013, 08:42 AM

Thanks for your elaboration.

cmac2012 · #30 06-18-2013, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carleton Hughes

Ahh yes, the ol' Twin Valve Six. Years ago I had the pleasure of working on what was supposedly Jack Dempey's 1922 Berline. But I've learned to beware of automotive provenance, every dealer and collector has a story....Lovely car finished in maroon and black. It was in a collection in Connecticut that I maintained for the owner, I recall the magneto functioned flawlessly but the distributor was housed in an alloy case and had an odd centrifugal spark advance which would hang up and lose phase with the other ignition. Wound up rebuilding the pivot points and bearings. Fun car to drive.

This fellow also had a service truck made on a shortened McFarlan chassis, the sad fate of many large, powerful cars. I gotta go thru my files now and find the guy's number.

It's a bit staggering how big some of the older luxury cars were. I saw a Duesenberg at the Palo Alto auto show a few years back and it was huge. Had about as much passenger room as a '72 Honda (auto).