1927 Ford Other

4 banger

33027

Clear

Up for auction is a 1927 Whippet, Leo Monnin Speedster. Leo was born on 6-1-1892 and passed away on 2-18-1976. He was a WW1 mechanical engineer, when he came home he operated a mechanical shop in 1924. In 1928 he was a mechanic at a gulf station, star route, Meadville PA. In 1932 he was a mechanic at 964 park avenue Meadville,PA. In 1946 he owned and operated Leo’s Race St garage on 1000 E. Race st, Meadville PA. Leo retired in 1958. He raced the speedster in 1936 and 1937 at the old Meadville fairgrounds and Rt 322. Guys with speedsters and jalopies would tow or drive from Oil City, Franklin, Sugar Grove etc. Leo drove the speedster on the street until 1943, Leo’s best friend stated that they had got in trouble with the law for scaring buckboard horses in town, they were told to drive like men or don’t bring it into the town streets anymore. his best friend also stated that he had only seen the car once between 1945 and 1976, and that was at the Victory Day parade in September 1945. Before Leo passed away he had sold his estate to his best friend, when he got around to cleaning everything out he couldn’t believe Leo still had the car when he had passed away. The gentleman I bought the car from was the purchaser from Leo’s best friend, It took him approximately 4 years to convince Leo’s friend to finally sell it. The previous owner got the car and immediately started work on it. He started to sand down the entire car, it was green at the time and found yellow beneath, silver front suspension, red split wishbones. He sprayed it back yellow including the brass at he bottom of the body. He changed the zenith carb to a tillitson, put on 4 WWW firestone tires on spokes, a headlight a replaced the windshield glass. When I bought this car it was Banana yellow I could not have that so we had it painted grey. I think this color fits the period better anyway. We did take this to the Race of Gentlemen and had a blast I would love to keep it and do the California race and the Colorado Hill climb but time and space are hindering me and I don't see any change for a long time off. I hope the person that buys this will use it and have as much fun with it as we did! This speedster becomes unspeakably cool when you look at the list of parts it was built from, who it was built by, and how well it was built to exist nearly 90 years after it was originally constructed and we mean constructed because your jaw will hit the floor when you see what s thing is actually made from. The car does come with an album with pictures of the builder and pictures of where the car was found. Grille is a custom stone guard 27 whippet radiator, hood and cowl 28 Essex boattail (rear body) 24 star continental flathead 25hp 31 Packard gear box 18 Nash dash? T-Frame upside down T-1 ton straight axle Split leafspring rear suspension Adjustable windshield (narrowed) 35 olds or gm sloped nose guard split wishbones front and rear mechanical breaks (rear only)