1915 Van Blerck photos ? ? just what is it ?

To me, this is a boatail speedster or racer not a convertible. Then there is
some photos that add more questions. Photo 27, shows a modern power
steering cap. Photo 40 shows tire types not available repro for that date.
Photo shows (upside down) 1918 patent plate from La France Motors, so if
it is a 1915 how can it have a 1918 part. Yet in many places there are 1915
markings, and even the Van Blerck model/make plate, suggesting there were
more than one made. So what's the story that makes this such a "rare"
vehicle ?

Doby

See -01 comments. It's 'rare' only as it's never been a car - it's a boat
engine in a recently made up 'car'. The tyres just weren't right at first
view. So I looked around.
j

"Doby" > wrote in message
...
> To me, this is a boatail speedster or racer not a convertible. Then there
> is
> some photos that add more questions. Photo 27, shows a modern power
> steering cap. Photo 40 shows tire types not available repro for that date.
> Photo shows (upside down) 1918 patent plate from La France Motors, so if
> it is a 1915 how can it have a 1918 part. Yet in many places there are
> 1915
> markings, and even the Van Blerck model/make plate, suggesting there were
> more than one made. So what's the story that makes this such a "rare"
> vehicle ?
>
> Doby
>

"Ron" <xnews.com> wrote in message ...

> VAN BLERCK SPARTAN 17 LITRE, LA is the place of the unusual and amazing
> when it comes to custom cars - Here is one that is just being finished -
> It is a giant speedster built on a moditied 1920 American LeFrance
> chain-drive fire truck chassis, the engine is a 1915 "T" head engine of 17
> litres. Built by Gary Wales in the famed San Fernando Valley,

Beautiful pics of a very colorful car in more ways than one. Thanks Ron.

All the "famed" San Fernando Valley is known for as heat and smog.
--
Pat

On 10 Apr 2009 22:11:44 GMT, Ron <xnews.com> wrote:

>>Doby > wrote in
m:
>>
>>> To me, this is a boatail speedster or racer not a convertible. Then
>>> there is some photos that add more questions. Photo 27, shows a modern
>>> power steering cap. Photo 40 shows tire types not available repro for
>>> that date. Photo shows (upside down) 1918 patent plate from La France
>>> Motors, so if it is a 1915 how can it have a 1918 part. Yet in many
>>> places there are 1915 markings, and even the Van Blerck model/make
>>> plate, suggesting there were more than one made. So what's the story
>>> that makes this such a "rare" vehicle ?
>>>
>>> Doby
>>
>>
>>I picked up this from the web.
>>
>>VAN BLERCK SPARTAN 17 LITRE, LA is the place of the unusual and amazing
>>when it comes to custom cars - Here is one that is just being finished - It
>>is a giant speedster built on a moditied 1920 American LeFrance chain-drive
>>fire truck chassis, the engine is a 1915 "T" head engine of 17 litres.
>>Built by Gary Wales in the famed San Fernando Valley,
>>
>>[This section was removed and saved as file C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.YOUR-BD627BBF84\Application Data\Forte\Agent\temp\1915_Van_Blerck_Spartan_road ster_03.jpg]
>>
>>
Well, this information confirms in my mind, it is a speedster not a convertible.
It should, again, in my mind be a customized La France speedster build in 1920
using a lot of Rouch instruments, commissioned by etc. etc. and nothing really
1915 about it except a part or two.

Doby

It was built a couple of years ago. The engine is from 1915 allegedly and
seems about that old.
2005 American LaFrance-Van Blerck speedster
j

"Doby" > wrote in message
...
> On 10 Apr 2009 22:11:44 GMT, Ron <xnews.com> wrote:
>
>>>Doby > wrote in
:
>>>
>>>> To me, this is a boatail speedster or racer not a convertible. Then
>>>> there is some photos that add more questions. Photo 27, shows a modern
>>>> power steering cap. Photo 40 shows tire types not available repro for
>>>> that date. Photo shows (upside down) 1918 patent plate from La France
>>>> Motors, so if it is a 1915 how can it have a 1918 part. Yet in many
>>>> places there are 1915 markings, and even the Van Blerck model/make
>>>> plate, suggesting there were more than one made. So what's the story
>>>> that makes this such a "rare" vehicle ?
>>>>
>>>> Doby
>>>
>>>
>>>I picked up this from the web.
>>>
>>>VAN BLERCK SPARTAN 17 LITRE, LA is the place of the unusual and amazing
>>>when it comes to custom cars - Here is one that is just being finished -
>>>It
>>>is a giant speedster built on a moditied 1920 American LeFrance
>>>chain-drive
>>>fire truck chassis, the engine is a 1915 "T" head engine of 17 litres.
>>>Built by Gary Wales in the famed San Fernando Valley,
>>>
>>>[This section was removed and saved as file C:\Documents and
>>>Settings\Owner.YOUR-BD627BBF84\Application
>>>Data\Forte\Agent\temp\1915_Van_Blerck_Spartan_r oadster_03.jpg]
>>>
>>>
> Well, this information confirms in my mind, it is a speedster not a
> convertible.
> It should, again, in my mind be a customized La France speedster build in
> 1920
> using a lot of Rouch instruments, commissioned by etc. etc. and nothing
> really
> 1915 about it except a part or two.
>
> Doby
>

"Paddy's Pig" > wrote in
:

> "Ron" <xnews.com> wrote in message
> ...
>
>> VAN BLERCK SPARTAN 17 LITRE, LA is the place of the unusual and
>> amazing when it comes to custom cars - Here is one that is just being
>> finished - It is a giant speedster built on a moditied 1920 American
>> LeFrance chain-drive fire truck chassis, the engine is a 1915 "T"
>> head engine of 17 litres. Built by Gary Wales in the famed San
>> Fernando Valley,
>
> Beautiful pics of a very colorful car in more ways than one. Thanks
> Ron.
>
> All the "famed" San Fernando Valley is known for as heat and smog.

Hi Pat, I'll send the rest

I'm glad these pictures provoked a bit of reaction. It really is an
interesting car even if it was made recently.

max

"Doby" > wrote in message
...
> On 10 Apr 2009 22:11:44 GMT, Ron <xnews.com> wrote:
>
>>>Doby > wrote in
:
>>>
>>>> To me, this is a boatail speedster or racer not a convertible. Then
>>>> there is some photos that add more questions. Photo 27, shows a modern
>>>> power steering cap. Photo 40 shows tire types not available repro for
>>>> that date. Photo shows (upside down) 1918 patent plate from La France
>>>> Motors, so if it is a 1915 how can it have a 1918 part. Yet in many
>>>> places there are 1915 markings, and even the Van Blerck model/make
>>>> plate, suggesting there were more than one made. So what's the story
>>>> that makes this such a "rare" vehicle ?
>>>>
>>>> Doby
>>>
>>>
>>>I picked up this from the web.
>>>
>>>VAN BLERCK SPARTAN 17 LITRE, LA is the place of the unusual and amazing
>>>when it comes to custom cars - Here is one that is just being finished -
>>>It
>>>is a giant speedster built on a moditied 1920 American LeFrance
>>>chain-drive
>>>fire truck chassis, the engine is a 1915 "T" head engine of 17 litres.
>>>Built by Gary Wales in the famed San Fernando Valley,
>>>
>>>[This section was removed and saved as file C:\Documents and
>>>Settings\Owner.YOUR-BD627BBF84\Application
>>>Data\Forte\Agent\temp\1915_Van_Blerck_Spartan_r oadster_03.jpg]
>>>
>>>
> Well, this information confirms in my mind, it is a speedster not a
> convertible.
> It should, again, in my mind be a customized La France speedster build in
> 1920
> using a lot of Rouch instruments, commissioned by etc. etc. and nothing
> really
> 1915 about it except a part or two.
>
> Doby