Essex Rails

Many old dirt-track racers and vintage Indy cars used 1926 and '27 Es*** ch***es. A few street roadsters, too.

Anyone know what was the advantage of the Es*** rails? Strength or size?

Dave

 

Straight side rails that had a nice taper changing into a deep cross-section midways. They also had a beautiful kickup for the rear crossmember. They were also parallel leaf front springs for those guys running 3 spring suspension.
Looked for years for some for a re-pro sprinter, and finally gave up.

 

Do you know of any sites that have racers with Es*** frames?
Or any photos to post? What do you mean by three spring setups- a cross spring in the back?
Dan

 

I may have a set of [just 2 side rails] like that....wondered what they were-had parallell leafs frt and rear....here is whats left of em.....they are as I found them........

 

Choprods: PM me if you want to sell them. Thanks!

 

I want them too.

 

early dodges had those also, parralel rears, and paralell fronts too.

 

can anyone help ID these rail I posted? here are some facts- 5" side rail height 1-3/4" wide at top and bottom lips.
1/8 to 3/16" thick.
at the front they are cut and are 4" tall there...no ID markings anywhere -whats left is 107" long
I see a hanger for the frt leaf[paralell] on one rail but none obvious at the rear step?

 

bttt, anyone that can verify the pic to be Es*** rails? Inquiring minds want to know

 

those don't look like the ones I have.....no I don't have a pic, sorry

There is much more of a tapper on the front

 

I saw some here at a swap a couple of years back and considered them for model A duties... jsut wasn't sure, the ones I looked at were almost 32 Ford kinda size way more meaty then a rails.

 

The Iskenderian roadster runs on Es*** rails. I wasn't sure about this, but looked it up to confirm the facts. The car is famous, and lots of pictures exist, but I know of none of the underside, or just the ch***is. I guess it confirms the use of these ch***is for hot rods.....

 

nuther angle [ note 4 bolt steering mount]
BTW-WAS ES*** a GM stepchild?

 

"BTW-WAS ES*** a GM stepchild?"

Nope, Hudson. Import car, built in Canada

 

Good post, I have wondered what they looked like for years, surely someone has a real set they can post pictures of?

 

Marts site has a ton of old dirt track pics of roadsters with Es*** frames.

 

Dave, I think they used Es*** rails because they were straight sided and had that great looking rear kickup. The Riley 4-Port sprint car I had years ago had Es*** rails. This is a page out of #5 Ray Kuns Automobile Racing from 1939. Hope the details come out. Choprods; I think you have an Es*** rail there, but the ends have been cliped. I had a real nice uncut set years ago, I'll look around for a photo of them.

 

This one is fairly well known, used a '27 Es*** frame: