Author Topic: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special  (Read 48462 times)

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Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #25 on: April 11, 2009, 02:48:33 PM »
another photo:
« Last Edit: April 11, 2009, 03:18:39 PM by Paul Jaray »

Offline Ultra

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #26 on: April 11, 2009, 02:55:25 PM »
I will be happy to help construct an article about this and maximize the site in any attempt to reconstruct the history of the car.

Nice to have you aboard motorcar1.

 :)
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Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #27 on: April 11, 2009, 03:27:25 PM »
From this view, who can tell that this is a 1935 car?
« Last Edit: April 11, 2009, 03:29:44 PM by Paul Jaray »

Offline faksta

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #28 on: April 11, 2009, 03:45:32 PM »
Welcome, motorcar1!
Thanks for the interesting information and photos of the car. As a man interested in racing cars I would also greatly appreciate any further details about Harris streamliner.

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #29 on: April 11, 2009, 04:16:07 PM »
Some more photos:
« Last Edit: April 11, 2009, 04:20:09 PM by Paul Jaray »

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #30 on: April 11, 2009, 04:22:38 PM »
In this note there is written: "build and owned by B.J.Harris III, 224 S....." the last part is hardly readable

Offline Ultra

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #31 on: April 11, 2009, 10:13:09 PM »
the last part is hardly readable

224 S Michigan Ave. Chicago

 ;)
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Offline Ray B.

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #32 on: April 12, 2009, 05:56:10 AM »
Let's ask John agreement and make the front page and a feature article right now.

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Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #33 on: April 12, 2009, 06:31:46 AM »
I just wrote him to write an article about or to give us some material in order to write it for him, let him revise it and then post it. I also asked for some recent pictures of the car. Let's see...

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #34 on: April 12, 2009, 06:57:08 PM »
The pictures arrived and it's extraordinary to see this car after 70 years! It is not in a very good condition but the pictures are amazing. I asked him if I can post them, since He wrote that He really hate to send them. I also asked him once again if He would like to prepare, or us to prepare, an article with his material. I'll keep you posted.

Offline porridgehead

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #35 on: April 12, 2009, 09:45:36 PM »
Even if it's rough, I'd still love to see the pictures. Even more, I'd love to see the car!  Is it being restored or preserved? What are the plans for it?  I think this is definitely worth at least an article, if not a place to serve as an archive for its history!
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Offline motorcar1

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #36 on: April 13, 2009, 08:40:51 AM »
Gentleman,
First off, PJ has the pictures of the current day condition of the car, basicly untouched as we purchased it in 1987, we feel he will post them shortly.

Thank you for welcoming us aboard, what a great technical and informational site !!!!
Been exploring it with great enthusiasm and open eyes.

Ray B, don't know what drew you to post the Harris as a puzzle car, but sure do appreciate it.
Yes, do need help as the story is overwhelming to us as a layman.

Ultra, we do share your curiosity in streamlined and race cars, we have been through soooo many books and archives on streamlining that it all kind of  melts together.
We have found that it's other nameplates are, Aero cars, teardrop cars and streamliners.
As noted above, we do need help in organizing and writting the story, truly appreciate the offer!!

Porridgehead, do appreciate your kind words and look forward to working with everyone, as noted above, we are honoring your request, pictures of the current day condition will be posted soon by PJ.
I am not good at navigating and pasting pictures, just a nit-wit when it comes to figuring it out.

Paul Jaray, what can we say, you have been so outgoing in your support of our quest to let people know about the car, the site owners should be really proud of your past and present participation.
A special Thank you to Paul !!!!!
John


Offline Ultra

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #37 on: April 13, 2009, 02:23:35 PM »
Ultra, we do share your curiosity in streamlined and race cars, we have been through soooo many books and archives on streamlining that it all kind of  melts together.
We have found that it's other nameplates are, Aero cars, teardrop cars and streamliners.
As noted above, we do need help in organizing and writting the story, truly appreciate the offer!!


 the site owners should be really proud of your past and present participation.
A special Thank you to Paul !!!!!
John



I am the site owner.  We love having Paul and the entire gang around here.

Thought this thread might interest you:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=2226.0
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Offline motorcar1

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #38 on: April 13, 2009, 03:54:56 PM »
Ultra,
It is a pleasure to meet you and I look at your site as being one of the best !!!

Glad you steered me to the post above, there were many individuals that had great designing skills and abilities.

Glad also because Tuckeroo is there, we both are on the Tucker site and have worked on the Tucker Convertible question of the day.

Tuckeroo pointed me in the direction of this site, I now know why he praised it as such.

PJ should be posting the other pictures of the Harris soon, he must be away, what a quality guy.
JOHN

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #39 on: April 13, 2009, 07:13:57 PM »
Here I am finally, and here are the pictures:
« Last Edit: April 13, 2009, 07:21:14 PM by Paul Jaray »

Offline Otto Puzzell

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #40 on: April 14, 2009, 03:09:34 AM »
Oh dear.  :(
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Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #41 on: April 14, 2009, 08:18:34 AM »
Here's another article i found:

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #42 on: April 14, 2009, 08:30:35 AM »
"Harris was obviously a student of Jaray aerodynamics...."   that is weird!!  :o

Offline ImpishGrin

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #43 on: April 14, 2009, 08:34:13 AM »
"Harris was obviously a student of Jaray aerodynamics...."   that is weird!!  :o

What, you don't remember him? ;)
It's not denial, I'm just very selective about the reality I accept.

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #44 on: April 14, 2009, 08:45:11 AM »
Here you are the mails that Mr John wrote me:

"We to believe it was far advanced and light years ahead of everybody.
 Yes, the cars of the era were behemoth in weight and size compared to the Harris in the photos.
 A writer that did an article on the car called it the Hormone 8, Ben was not happy about that.
He expressed it in another article."

"The two pictures are not flattering whatsoever, but felt the need and responsibility to send as requested.
These pictures were taken a few months ago, we had removed the car from the storage building it had been in for quite some time.
We have hopes of starting a full blown,
"Invitational Quality" restoration when the monetary means can be found.
We have not attempted to change the car in any manner over the past 23 years, it is as you see it and how we purchased it in the two attached photographs.
We feel the pedigree of the Harris needs to be kept in tact and everything about it's restoration should be of impeccable detail as well as photographed.
We were once accused of lying about the very existence of this special car.
With this said, and with regret for its looks at this time, it is real, it is original and we do so hope that it will entertain the readers and writers.
Something new to investigate and form conclusions on is always fun, historical and informative, we shall work with all of you and forward more material.
After reading posts and replies in the site, my writing and ability to express the car in a comprehensive way pales to just about anyone writing on this site, your help is sooooo welcomed.
 We could not have wished for a better group of responsible and intelligent automobile experts to help in finishing the history of this futuristic car that Ben unknowingly built.
 Thank you for your warm welcome, and we believe that Ben, as well as us, would be  honored to have his creation in time brought before the publics eyes in this great site, "

and about these pics:

"I really hate to send these pictures.
You guys have been very gracious to us so we felt we should extend the same.
I guess everybody can start hashing it over, some will undoubtedly pick on it, so be it though."





Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #45 on: April 14, 2009, 08:49:23 AM »
Thanks for your kind words, John, but I'm just collecting the few info I've got about this rarity. I'm posting a new quiz, to let everybody look for the other car you have, and I'll add also what you know about it.
The pictures of your car are magnetic, it's not in a very good shape, but it cames from the 30s! And this is such a special car... these pictures are really a thrill.

Offline motorcar1

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #46 on: April 14, 2009, 12:56:08 PM »
Otto Puzzle,
We do agree with the sad face and the oh dear,
This is the condition of the car until monetary means are found to start its detailed and concourse restoration,

We first wanted to gather as much history as possible, thank you guys for bringing more history to the table.
Again, thank you Paul for your continued assistance.

We found the new article posted by PJ very interesting, as the author of the article calls it a "Sporting Car", we ourselves have called it a sports car because we have never found, in our research, anything like it, sooooo, guess it is a sports car, a first ????

We also found it interesting and very complimenting that he used Paul Jaray as a possible inspiration for Ben.
We think that Tremulis was inspired by Bens creation, as a youthful 20 year old, he worked at auburn cord duesenberg, no hidden fact that Mr Buehrig and Mr Cord were fully aware of this car, >>> Alex , we fully assume, knew also?

On to new things, the paint:

The Harris car is shown in three different colors, per our research,
First it was "chrome metallic"
Second it was a cream-yellowish color, seemingly like the cord color, it paced a Chicago race in this color,
Third, it was painted a deep maroonish color, this was for the Indy Rod and Custom show where it prevailed as a winner 16 years aged at the time in design,

Duco Lacquer, wow;
Through our research, DuPont discovered that its new found base of Duco Lacquer allowed for
the development of "metallic paint".
It had been attempted in enamel, but never achieved the show finish they desired and found.

Seems attempts in mixing created greenish, quite ugly tarnishing, cracking and rough surfaces, together with a mountain of other problems.

Per our archive research and the help of Dupont archives specialists, we found that Duco Chrome Metallic paint was introduced at the same time the car was being built.
To our best knowledge, the Harris fwd Streamlined Speciale was completely adourned as the first with this special new paint,

The chrome metallic paint looked like a brilliant chrome finish, guess they heavily loaded the metallic in the paint, must have been outstanding with the red leather, red engine and other red details.

It seems that it took them another 2 years to figure out how to add blue and green to make colors available.

How do you gentleman want us to send the overwhelming mass of documents and facts on the car?
Your talents far surpasses ours, and we feel Bens creation in time deserves a well written in depth story, in all probability, there is enough to literally write  a book .
Please instruct us.
What a great site and great bunch of guys,
John




Offline Ultra

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #47 on: April 14, 2009, 01:03:10 PM »
Please instruct us.
What a great site and great bunch of guys,
John





You can attach it here using the additional options link beneath the posting box or you can email it to me:

webmaster@autopuzzles.com 

Email it in pieces if you go that route.  It will help when I download the material on this end.

Glad to be of service.

Charlie
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Offline Ray B.

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #48 on: April 14, 2009, 05:36:24 PM »
John, you asked how I came to choose the Harris car for a puzzle.
I had it in a book for 25 years (the clipping I scanned and posted after your first request). When I joined Autopuzzles I had become more and more interested in the streamlines prototypes of the 1930's, but  this car's design had always struck me because it never became outdated.
Then I found this magazine article on the internet, and the typewriting added on the page made it even more mysterious and I posted it.

I would never have... (EDIT: my wireless keyboard's batteries went dead last night, here is the rest of the sentence)... dreamed that one day the owner of the car would come up with the whole story and those wonderful pictures. This is the best reward for the car detectives we are all.
« Last Edit: April 15, 2009, 03:29:21 AM by Ray B. »
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Offline motorcar1

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Re: Whaddyacallit #79 - Harris Front Drive Special
« Reply #49 on: April 14, 2009, 10:47:30 PM »
Ray B,
That is quite interesting indeed.
Who ever would have thought that the picture you kept aside, would end up bringing the car to daylight and its story that has been so long untold.

We were surprised to see the one article, we had a part of it, but never could date it or place a month with it to search out the magazine. It had the chrome metallic paint at the time.

We were overwhelmed at the other picture and article also.

Was it shear luck or maybe the shear persistent natures of car guys to discover more, this persistence led us here in hopes of finding a befitting spot for Bens Creation in History Ray B !!

We so much desire to tell the whole story.
Parts are still in California where Ben led the last years of his life, even then, writers came to him for the story of the Harris car.

To our best belief, the clay model, the original renderings, photographs, newspaper articles, more magazine articles, SCCA articles, personal photographs & letters which in all probablity contain many other known persons associated with Ben ,  a large painting of the car, trophys and more,
Yes, I did make contact with Bens daughter in law, his son, Ben the 4th, has long passed.

I also spoke with Mrs Buerhig, she is the second wife, Gordon was widowed from his first wife.
She remembered Ben, but instructed me to contact his daughter in NY, as she had most of Gordons possesions and library.

What a treasure hunt these two places would be, a car guy in heaven !!!!!

At this time we do not have the means to accomplish this research and fact finding.

We are more than happy to shair what we have accumulated though, at least many parts can be told for History sake.

We have started numerous chapters, none are complete and none are professional.
We figure it will take 14 or 15 chapters to tell the story.

Each chapter should be quite thrilling with all telling the full story of what Ben built, how he built it, others parts, Dupont, Spicer-Dana, foam rubber, the engine, seat belts, interior flip open areas, f & r Suspension, the V-8 engine, the radiator build, the futuristic design and so much more, not to exclude the realm of persons Ben associated with and held dear.

I will start by placing information on discs and then piece mail it in.

You have no idea of how happy and estatic I am at this time.

Thank you,
John