Here are a few pics of the "Singer Sewing Machine" that held the record for its cl*** at Muroc back in 1946, 125MPH plus some change. Mel bought the car about 25 years ago and has finally gotten it to where he wants it. It is a 31 Ford shortened roadster body sitting on a 37 Willys runnning gear. It has the same motor with the Hickey head that it ran back in 46. It did have a Graham blower on it way back when but Mel put the Latham on with a Woodworth carb and is still running the old hand pump for the fuel pressure. When he drives up you can't help but smile knowing you are looking at a 60 year old piece of racing history that's still cruising the streets.
BAD! Bad...Bad.... I've logged a ton of "miles" behind a sewing machine. But never one as cool as that! By anychance do you have any period pix? I'd be interested in how they compare.... you know, black & white and scratched so we have to imagine how *****in' the car looks in red paint!
If any of you have some of the Old Rod and Custom Quarterlies, published in the late `70`s, you can find a feature on the then restored car on page 10, with a colour shot on the cover...Same issue has Curly Tremaines Merc, and a cool Chevy 2 powered 29 Roadster....
Sewing machines? That's just a little bit O.T. aint it? That car is one wicked li'l 4-Banger. I was just reading up on the 1960 Pontiac X-400 That ran a Latham blown 389 packed with 4 sidedraft juicers. They put a 160 mph speedo in that hulk. Pretty cool days back then.
The Jalopy Journal
