Roy "Multi" Aldrich roadster found?

So is anyone reproducing those multi-lifts? They don't look all that complicated to build.

 

Hey Dave,

Do you have any close up pix of that T about 3 or 4 posts up? It looks like a T frame, but the suspension is hung out front instead of under the front cross member. I'd be interested in that setup on my T frame.

Thanks,

Jay

 

Jay,

I don't have any more pictures of the Saultzbaugh car, but it was in Hop Up (I don't recall the volume, but VI sticks in my mind). The perch is bolted to a stock frame and was supposedly made with hand tools ala Murray Feinstock's book "Model T Speed Secrets." It's just steel plate and should be simple to fabricate with a big vice and a torch. It's definitely prettier than Multy's perch (though he has mounted his axle in front of the spring, too, for extra drop and wheelbase, which is nice). I wonder if it wouldn't bend in a major pothole, though.

Regards,
Dave

 

Just for the record, and because I often refer back to this thread:

A description of the roadster by Multy himself, circa 1983:

From: http://peelout.typepad.com/peel_out/2006/05/bonneville_83_m.html

-Dave

 

Just a little trivia story about Multy.
I first met him in 1952, the first time I ran at Bonneville. He was the head tech inspector. We talked many times after that over the years.
After he inspected my car I hung around and watched him inspect other cars. This particular car had a nail for a cotter pin in one of the 4 backing plate bolts on the front end. He told the guy to put a cotter pin in it. The guy said he would get a pair of pliers and fix it instantly and went back to his trailer. Multy had a sly grin and after the guy left reached down, straightened the nail out bare handed, pulled it out, reached in his pocket, pulled out a cotter pin and installed it bare handed and bent it back double over the bolt, just like it should be. Now that was tough fingers. He was working as a framing carpenter at the time.
His roadster had a Ruckstell rear end at the time and he had run it through the traps at the 1949 Bonneville. I don't remember what his time was.

 

great little story pete, id like to read more of 'em if you have some time...

i know you are an old time racer, and as far as i can gather you are still building flatheads.

we can all probably learn a thing or two.

 

I bought this car from John a couple years ago. If you need info or detailed pictures please feel free to PM. It is a fun car!

Dave

 

I can't think of any other Multy stories..Most of our conversations were just about racing.

I am still building flatheads and vintage circle track racing.
I did replace the flathead in my racecar with an SBC because the flathead was too expensive to maintain. I can run the Chev 2 seasons without opening it up. Every 5 races for the flathead.
The flathead is fresh and taking up space on my welding bench and for sale, listed in the HAMB classified.

 

Great to have you Pete, thanks for sharing.

 

I'm pretty sure the owner of that T is a HAMB member, because I'm like 99.9% sure he sent me copies of the article once when I PM'd him about the car form a different thread.

 

The engine in Bob Anderson's car is a one off "Hodge"
Multi's car was around the So Cal area for a while. The guy that had it didn't know what he had. Sold off the wheels, etc. and after we all tried to educate him the remains got stupid expensive. Don't know what ever happened to it.

 

Docauto owns it. He posted three posts above you about it.

-Dave

 

That's a crying shame. I'm not sure of the order of events here, but I'm hoping the fellow in San Diego I mentioned in the first post is not the guy who started parting it out.

-Dave

 

A few years ago I bought a lot of Multi Aldrich memorabilia at a junk store in Lake Co. Ca. A 1949 Bonn. trophy, a lot of paper. Vida Ore WWII News to the troops, old parts books and Bonn. Catalogs. Evidently it was left in a storage and it was sold for back rent. I ended up selling it all to Vern Tardel. I think it got a good home.

 

Hello, My father just bought a car at bakersfield ca that is said to be Roy car. It came with the book The American HotRod and a few magazine articals. And he also had the story of how Roy's son got the car and parted it out. It has the body and front and rear axel. Im looking for any information at all on this car. We want to restore it to how it was. We might not even touch the paint on it, it is faded though. So please keep the information on this car coming so that we can give this car a good restoration and keep the history with it. Thank You Steve Lang

 

Wow, amazing! I'm so glad to hear the car will be preserved. Unfortunately, I've never known much about it aside from what I've listed above. That and a conversation on Fordbarn netted me the tip that the steering wheel looked like early Ford V8. Hopefully some of the guys on here who knew Multy can dig into their memory banks and help you out.

-Dave

 

Sounds like you've got quite a car, Steve!

It would be great to see some pictures as you move along with it.

 

Many, many people will be happy to hear this car is being restored. Myself included.

If you start a new thread to bring attention to the restoration, you may get a good bit of info. Please keep us all posted on the progress.

EDIT: Oh yeah and please post some pics of what you are starting with. We love photos.

 

I never saw the car but I will always remember Multi at El Mirage with cookies at inspection and he brought plenty of wool caps for people spending the night on the lake bed. It gets cold out there after the sun goes down. Multi and Vera were "Hospitaly" for sure.

 

I just got home from Bakersfield and the "Multi" car lives! Will be great fun work for Don and his boy. I hope they bring it back to Bonneville in a few years

 

Did anybody take pictures??

-Dave

 

Exhaust pipe questions answered: The stock T (as would be used with the "Multi-Lifts" is on the right (passenger) side. The conversion to Rajo B puts the exhaust on the left.

 

Here are some photos from bakersfield, We got a few of the pieces for it and are looking for the others. I already have the Rajo B head.

 

WOW! Thank you for posting the pics! I too love this car and am very happy to see it found...and appreciated. Too bad it got parted, but looks like there is enough there to work with.

Please keep us posted on it's restoration.

BTW, was it at the AACA swapmeet?

Thanks,

Neal

 

yup, saw it at bakersfield, neat piece. Let me know if you ever want to pass it on.

Dave

 

Totally cool tread.
Missed it the first time around.

Keep us posted on this wonderfull car.

Paul

 

Here a similar photo to the one posted here earlier.
Described on the AHRF page as the Aldrich - Passer T.

P

 

Slang, thank you so much for posting those! On one hand, it breaks my heart to see that car like that. On the other hand, it's very exciting to see modern pics of something I've only seen in ancient ones.

AV8-Rider, if that is the same car, I wonder how they mounted the V8 wires. I have other pics of that car you posted, but I've never been 100% certain it's the same one. Multy's car seems always to have had those Bardahl stickers and Buffalo wires.

-Dave

 

Hey Don- Great car! Congratulations on the purchase! Guy Z.

 

My friends dad,Rich LeNarz,worked with him at Bell Auto Parts. He said they were good friends. I'll ask my friend if he remembers anything about him.