My 216 RAJO Chevy 6 cylinder

My maternal grandfather was Joe Jagersberger who founded RAJO back in 1914 in Racine Wisconsin. I've got Joe's last car (52 chevy styleline 216 deluxe sedan) bought new in June of 52 just four months before he passed away (Oct 52).

The car has been going thru a meticulous nut & bolt rotisserie restoration for the past 3 years and is almost finished. The car has been in the family since new & I have had it since 1970, its been a long 44 years coming!

I always thought that I had the only Chevrolet Compound Induction RAJO head till I found one here a few years ago and one at the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln Nebraska.

Sure looking forward to spring & summer and burning up some gas!

 

Hello from Viroqua Wisconsin

posted with a box of crayons on the outhouse wall

 

Welcome.

 

Howdy, Jim!
I just ran across your post, while searching the HAMB for RAJO.
I started a 216 group (linked in my signature), and would love to hear all about this rarest
(and perhaps coolest) 216, and any historical info you might share. There are a few members there still modifying the old spray oilers, who I'm sure would be equally fascinated.

I hope to hear from you on the 216 board.
Thanks!
mo

 

MO,

When I checked out your link, the screen said that I did not have privileges to post. What else would like to know about grandpa Joe's 216 RAJO (pronounced RAY-JO)cylinder head. The 216 has the stock intake and stock exhaust manifolds and has a 2nd RAJO intake manifold on another set of intake ports, both intakes feed all 6 cylinders so it is not a split intake such as a Fenton.

My parents gave me the car back in 1970 & the rotisserie restoration I started three years ago is about 98% complete, it should be on the road (in my trailer) in the next couple of weeks. As I posted back in February, for the past 40 plus years, I was always under the assumption that I had the prototype for Joe's last cylinder head.

Two years ago I discovered Roxy had one on her 53 Chevy and there is also one on a very nice display at the museum of American speed in Lincoln Nebraska.

I've got the original blueprints for the 216 ( dated 1950 ) along with a couple of dozen other blueprints with hundreds & hundreds of original pictures of Joe.

I tried to upload a couple of pictures of Joe's 52 but I keep getting errors that my files are too large.

http://www.nwvs.org/Technical/Engines/RajoE033.shtml

http://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/Ford-Model-T-Rajo-Model-A-OHV,15454.html

http://www.nwvs.org/Technical/Engines/EngineRajoGrpThumbs.shtml

Below is the RAJO display at the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln Nebraska

Jim

 

Jim you just need to join the group and you can post as much as you would like. Hope you do I'm out in Jefferson Wis.

 

Thanks so much, Jim. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Somehow, the thought of using the stock intake manifold had never crossed my mind.
It shows the head assembly much more clearly than with the 2x1 aftermarket manifold.

I will see that this makes it onto the 216 Board, but as LEADFOOTLOON said, you can post there simply by joining the group.

Thanks again for your courteous reply.
mo

 

That original RAJO is so stunning it's scary ....

Thanks for sharing .

 

There's a young woman here at the HAMB that goes by ChevyGirlRox who owns this cool '53 Chevy with a 216ci 6 cylinder with rare Rajo racing head, 2 part intake with 3 carbs. Look her up.

 

I saw the finished product in person last night at the local car show. WOW. It' over the top and looks nicer than new cars. I was nervous about standing too close to it! Jim, you should post up some pics of it to share with the rest of the world.

 

welcome! as a closet model T speedster nut, always wanted BB RAJO for my T.