I found quite a bit of info on Harry Miller by simply googling "Miller Race Cars" Turns out the original Offy was actually derived from a Miller engine. Check it out. There's also a connection to Ford, which may explain why some of the cars were found in Detroit. Must have happened after WWII though.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

There was some connection there. Not sure what it was. My Dad knew Millar (?) or so he said, but I was too dumb to press him on that issue. When they tore down the waterfront warehouses in Detroit around 1935-1940 he told me they found several old Indy Millers in there. The front wheel drive versions. Goosen was the designer of the The Offies, there were several versions including a Midget version (140 CI) and the larger Sprint car/ Indy car versions. Alan, those cars were Indy or Sprint cars, Front wheel drive, front wheel steering.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

I can't tell from those small pictures but is it possible those are "rear-steer" cars? Just wondering. School me. I have never studied any of those hill-climbers before.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Frank: Millar front drive cars is likely a good guess.. Millar was I believe also involved in the evolution of the Offenhauser engines. Some of the engineering of those engines or cars was likely done by Leo Goosen.

Paul

Millers?

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

I wanted to add this photo to the message above.



This is a photo of some of the first generation of American Unsers. These are early Pikes Peak race cars -- mid '30's. The road up Pike's Peak was just a rough graded road. One of these guys, Joe Unser was killed practicing on the road between Littleton and Colorado Springs. The car went off the road, was not damaged but Joe was found dead. I guess these were either front wheel or 4 wheel drive. I can't make out any steering mechanism. Can you imagine what it was like to be driving a load of vegetables in you little Model T or A and have one of these beasts bearing down on you on a narrow road?

I went to the Unser Muselum in Albuquerque last weekend. That was a real treat. The only disappointment was that there were none of the Unser stock cars in the museum and certainly no mention of y-blocks. It appears to be Bobby's museum as there are a lot of his dirt track and other race cars. Good Indy exhibits. Bobby has a good collection of Model A's that he has restored. Well worth the couple of hours that it will take to visit. Also hit the Nucleur Energy Museum for a couple of hours. Another great exhibit.

i did catch that at the Knotts Ford show back on the 21st.

Fabulous Fords Forever Knotts 2013.249 by PrimerPodcast, on Flickr

Fabulous Fords Forever Knotts 2013.449 by PrimerPodcast, on Flickr

Fabulous Fords Forever Knotts 2013.450 by PrimerPodcast, on Flickr

for that money, i'd want a hardtop.
just my opinion of course.

This ain't no L-Kamino!

Dennis. Thanks for the additional info. That M engine code makes more sense now and especially with this car potentially being a very early production car.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Re Patent Plate Paint Codes and VIN ...

An assumption made is the patent plate is original.

The 49-57 Ford Parts Book indicates paint code S = Special. In earlier years, SS = Special Paints.

Re VIN number: M7F 100009

M (Engine) Being such as early car, the 1956 engine code may of still been used.

7 (Model Year) = 1957

F (Assy Plant) = Dearborn

Blank (Body Style) = Blank The unique trim may explain the blank body code?

100009 = Consecutive Unit Number

I looked thru my internal paperwork collection and there is a VIN listed with the same Assy Plt and CUN, which I assume is this car as:

"C7FT100009 Horton, driver"

C would be a 292 2V, F= Dearborn, and T= Fairlane/Fairlane 500 Sedan

Any idea who driver "Horton" is? The name is also assigned for driving a convertible. I looked thru a copy of "Dust and the Glory" and the name doesn't appear anywhere.

Re engine code, it wasn't unusual for Ford to use an incorrect engine code on early models. I've seen it occur on early Lightweight Galaxies, Thunderbolts, and 68 Lightweight CJ Mustangs. I think this may of had more to do with the code not yet set up in the system or the punch not yet being available.

Wonder what the VIN is stamped on the frame? Is there a way to find out?

Regards,

Dennis