1928
Van Blerck
Midget Racer
Sold
Engine:
Van Blerck Aluminum 90ci OHC 4cyl
Transmission:
Automatic
Color:
Red
Interior:
Black
Stock #
539
Drivetrain
Engine Size:
Van Blerck Aluminum 90ci OHC 4cyl
Transmission Type:
Automatic
Chassis
Body
Body Color Original:
No
Stripes
No
Dealer Info
tel: 508-557-0152MS Classic Cars
1865 Fall River Avenue
Seekonk MA, 02771
1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer The Real Deal
**THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSIGNED TO A HEMMINGS ONLINE AUCTION WHICH IS CURRENTLY LIVE. IT WILL BE ENDING ON TUESDAY MARCH 3RD @ 4:30 EST. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED PLEASE REGISTER TO BID. GOOD LUCK!**
Engine #L-1123
Extremely rare find!
Tons of documentation dating back to 1970!
Was part of the Harrah Automobile Collection thats now the National Automobile Museum!
Beautifully restored!
Aluminum body!
1920s Van Blerck Junior aluminum OHC 4cyl Engine!
Amelia Island Concours Award Winner!
Runs and drives!
This rare 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer is the real deal. It is well documented by the Harrah Automobile Collection dating back to 1970 which is included. The Harrah Automobile Collection is now known as the National Automobile Museum. It has been completely restored to show quality standards. It retains an original aluminum body and 1920s Van Blerck Junior aluminum OHC 4cyl engine.
The first midget race car meets in which records were kept were held at the American Legion (Ascot) Speedway in Los Angeles, CA dating back to April 1914. Midget racing continued until interrupted by World War I and did not resume until 1933, when an organization was formed to race a few existing midgets. Loyola Stadium in Los Angeles, CA became the first site for midget racing as an individual sport. The history of midget racing is well reviewed in the book The Mighty Midgets which was written by midget racing expert Jack C. Fox. Included with the sale of this 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer is an authentic The Mighty Midgets book that was signed by Jack C. Fox. This 1928 Van Blerck midget racer is believed to have been built by Leo Faulkner based on his design and comparisons to photos in The Mighty Midgets book. Leo Pop Faulkner is considered to be one of the Californias midget racing pioneers. He was an active builder, tuner, owner and driver until the 1950s. As stated by Jack C. Fox in The Mighty Midgets book, Faulkner was one of the most important men behind the development of midget racing. Since the builders didnt brand the midget racers it was common they were referred to by the engine manufacturer such as this one.
As documented with the paperwork provided by The National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV on February 20th, 2012 this 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer was sold to Alex Koral by Richard Kazar. The date of this transaction is unclear. On August 27th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection reached out to Alex Koral in regards to an ad he placed in Hemmings Magazine for this 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer. Alex Koral completed a check list of details requested by The Harrah Automobile Collection. On September 8th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection requested an inspection which was signed by Bill Harrah. On September 17th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection made an offer which was accepted by Alex Koral on September 23rd, 1970. On September 25th, 1970 the purchase was made which was signed by Bill Harrah. On October 2, 1970 a Bill of Sale was signed by both parties and a check was issued to Alex Koral. On September 29th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection sent the check. They wanted a detailed description and indicated they would arrange to have it picked up. On December 13th, 1970 Alex Koral reached out to charge a storage fee since the car had not been picked up. On December 21st, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection sent a check for storage. The midget racer was eventually picked up and they assigned it stock #986 for inventory purposes. On March 12th, 1971 The Harrah Automobile Collection reached out to get more information. When the midget racer arrived it was in fair condition and painted blue. As indicated in the check list it had a Van Blerck OHC 4cyl aluminum engine. The engine number is #L-1123 and the oil filler number is #L-1570. At some point which is unclear The Harrah Automobile Collection did a light cosmetic restoration. It was painted red with the number 36. In 1986, The Harrah Automobile Collection sold this midget racer at auction in 1986. It was sold Mike Moore from Reno, NV. It was then sold to well-known car collector George Shelley. The time of the sale is unclear. It was completely restored to show quality standards. George Shelley entered the Amelia Island in 2007 with the assistance of Tom Straubinger. It won the Amelia Award which has been documented by the Amelia Island Concours organization. George Shelley sold the car to Jeff Brock on November 15th, 2008. It was in his personal collection until October of 2019.
This midget racer was professionally restored with an open check book. It was restored as closely as it wouldve been built in the timeframe it was raced. The original aluminum body is in overall very nice condition. The panels are straight and the hood fits nicely. The hood can be removed very easily and is secured with brown leather straps. It was finished in a beautiful shade of red. The paint job is also very nice and shows well. The sides were decorated with advertisements that were hand painted. On one side the advertisement is Gilmore Special who was a sponsor during this era of midget racers. On the other side the advertisement is Van Blerck The Standard High Speed Motor which was done since its equipped with a Van Blerck engine. It sits on Magnesium wheels that are gray with a red center. The wheels are wrapped with new Firestone Deluxe Champion tires that are 4.00-12 on the front and 5.00-12 on the rear.
The inside space seating area and inside paneling is wrapped with black leather. It retains the vintage steering wheel thats been painted and wrapped for gripping. It retains the vintage Foxboro white face gas pressure gauge, oil pressure gauge and temperature gauge which are all in working order. The temperature gauge stays in the last position it was prior to shutting off but works when operating. Its equipped with a power on/off knob which is on the instrument panel. Underneath the instrument panel is a fuel cut off lever and push start button. MS CLASSIC CARS installed the push button start for convenience. Its powered by a new Duracell Ultra battery with plenty of cranking amps.
The engine compartment is nicely detailed throughout with many era correct parts. The aluminum fire wall was left bare and has been polished. It retains the vintage 1920s Van Blerck Junior 90ci OHC 4cyl aluminum engine. The engine number is #L-1123 which matches all the documentation from the Harrah Automobile Collection. The oil filler cast #L-1570 also matches the documentation from the Harrah Automobile Collection. According to Van Blerck advertisements this engine produced 33HP and weighed 165 pounds with the gear, starter and generator. This was the perfect engine for the midget racers because it was lightweight, powerful and reliable. This engine was rebuilt during the restoration and runs beautifully. The engine has a manual pressure pump. It retains the vintage Winfield Model S carburetor that also matches the documentation from the Harrah Automobile Collection. The engine has vintage style spark plug wires, cooper lines and brass hose clamps. The engine breathes through a side exhaust pipe that sounds vicious. A section of the exhaust was wrapped with heat tape for protection. The engine is cooled by a polished brass Austin Motor Company radiator #8103. The engine is coupled to a one-speed transmission with neutral. Its equipped with a double pressure gas cap, Austin Motor Company axles and rear brakes. The brake lever has a leather strap that acts as emergency brake when needed.
This 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer is the The Real Deal. It draws a ton of attention and will be the center piece of any collection. This is a great opportunity that doesnt come around very often.
**PLEASE CALL MS CLASSIC CARS OWNER MARC SCHILIRO FOR A VERY ACCURATE VERBAL DESCRIPTION OF THIS VEHICLE**
MS CLASSIC CARS invested a total of $2,762.07 servicing this vehicle including the parts and labor. An invoice is pictured below that documents everything. MS CLASSIC CARS also invested $600.00 in detailing the vehicle from top to bottom.
Your challenge
I have over 20 years of experience and follow the classic vehicle market on a daily basis. Im experienced with most years, makes and models. Obviously Im more experienced with certain vehicles but follow them all. I price my classic vehicles competitive based on the current market values. I would challenge anyone to find a comparable vehicle for less. Please make sure your comparing the vehicles history, recent documented service work, all options and the entire vehicles overall condition from top to bottom. If youre truly interested in purchasing this vehicle and you have a comparable vehicle thats priced less please call me to discuss further. Im confident that my vehicle will be the better choice. If Im wrong Ill tell you the other vehicle is a better choice and point you in that direction.
As my website indicates Ive collected and sold hundreds of beautiful classic vehicles over the years. Im proud to say MS CLASSIC CARS holds over 30 world record sale prices. Weve also sold many classic vehicles in the six figure plus price range. The point being is that Im a good judge of character when it comes time to describe a classic vehicle. MS CLASSIC CARS collect beautiful classic vehicles that we service and detail. We document this work with an invoice that is pictured in the photos. The vehicle youre about to witness is something Im proud of. If youve been searching for something like this vehicle I would suggest moving forward with investigating it further. Please give me a phone call and Ill go over the entire vehicle with you over the phone. I will tell you everything I know about it. Im the owner and can make all the decisions regarding the price, etc. There will be no pressure. My goal is to make sure the vehicle is the right fit for you. If you decide to purchase it Ill make the transaction transparent and simple. Ill assist you in the financing if necessary. Ill also assist you with the shipping. Its that easy. MS CLASSIC CARS isnt just another dealer. MS CLASSIC CARS is a brand.
Marc Schiliro The Owner.
1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer
1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer
SOLD
- Stock Number
- 539
- Exterior
- Red
- Interior
- Black
- Engine
- Van Blerck Aluminum 90ci OHC 4cyl
- Transmission
- Automatic
Description
1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer The Real Deal
**THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSIGNED TO A HEMMINGS ONLINE AUCTION WHICH IS CURRENTLY LIVE. IT WILL BE ENDING ON TUESDAY MARCH 3RD @ 4:30 EST. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED PLEASE REGISTER TO BID. GOOD LUCK!**
Engine #L-1123
Extremely rare find!
Tons of documentation dating back to 1970!
Was part of the Harrah Automobile Collection thats now the National Automobile Museum!
Beautifully restored!
Aluminum body!
1920s Van Blerck Junior aluminum OHC 4cyl Engine!
Amelia Island Concours Award Winner!
Runs and drives!
This rare 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer is the real deal. It is well documented by the Harrah Automobile Collection dating back to 1970 which is included. The Harrah Automobile Collection is now known as the National Automobile Museum. It has been completely restored to show quality standards. It retains an original aluminum body and 1920s Van Blerck Junior aluminum OHC 4cyl engine.
The first midget race car meets in which records were kept were held at the American Legion (Ascot) Speedway in Los Angeles, CA dating back to April 1914. Midget racing continued until interrupted by World War I and did not resume until 1933, when an organization was formed to race a few existing midgets. Loyola Stadium in Los Angeles, CA became the first site for midget racing as an individual sport. The history of midget racing is well reviewed in the book The Mighty Midgets which was written by midget racing expert Jack C. Fox. Included with the sale of this 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer is an authentic The Mighty Midgets book that was signed by Jack C. Fox. This 1928 Van Blerck midget racer is believed to have been built by Leo Faulkner based on his design and comparisons to photos in The Mighty Midgets book. Leo Pop Faulkner is considered to be one of the Californias midget racing pioneers. He was an active builder, tuner, owner and driver until the 1950s. As stated by Jack C. Fox in The Mighty Midgets book, Faulkner was one of the most important men behind the development of midget racing. Since the builders didnt brand the midget racers it was common they were referred to by the engine manufacturer such as this one.
As documented with the paperwork provided by The National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV on February 20th, 2012 this 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer was sold to Alex Koral by Richard Kazar. The date of this transaction is unclear. On August 27th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection reached out to Alex Koral in regards to an ad he placed in Hemmings Magazine for this 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer. Alex Koral completed a check list of details requested by The Harrah Automobile Collection. On September 8th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection requested an inspection which was signed by Bill Harrah. On September 17th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection made an offer which was accepted by Alex Koral on September 23rd, 1970. On September 25th, 1970 the purchase was made which was signed by Bill Harrah. On October 2, 1970 a Bill of Sale was signed by both parties and a check was issued to Alex Koral. On September 29th, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection sent the check. They wanted a detailed description and indicated they would arrange to have it picked up. On December 13th, 1970 Alex Koral reached out to charge a storage fee since the car had not been picked up. On December 21st, 1970 The Harrah Automobile Collection sent a check for storage. The midget racer was eventually picked up and they assigned it stock #986 for inventory purposes. On March 12th, 1971 The Harrah Automobile Collection reached out to get more information. When the midget racer arrived it was in fair condition and painted blue. As indicated in the check list it had a Van Blerck OHC 4cyl aluminum engine. The engine number is #L-1123 and the oil filler number is #L-1570. At some point which is unclear The Harrah Automobile Collection did a light cosmetic restoration. It was painted red with the number 36. In 1986, The Harrah Automobile Collection sold this midget racer at auction in 1986. It was sold Mike Moore from Reno, NV. It was then sold to well-known car collector George Shelley. The time of the sale is unclear. It was completely restored to show quality standards. George Shelley entered the Amelia Island in 2007 with the assistance of Tom Straubinger. It won the Amelia Award which has been documented by the Amelia Island Concours organization. George Shelley sold the car to Jeff Brock on November 15th, 2008. It was in his personal collection until October of 2019.
This midget racer was professionally restored with an open check book. It was restored as closely as it wouldve been built in the timeframe it was raced. The original aluminum body is in overall very nice condition. The panels are straight and the hood fits nicely. The hood can be removed very easily and is secured with brown leather straps. It was finished in a beautiful shade of red. The paint job is also very nice and shows well. The sides were decorated with advertisements that were hand painted. On one side the advertisement is Gilmore Special who was a sponsor during this era of midget racers. On the other side the advertisement is Van Blerck The Standard High Speed Motor which was done since its equipped with a Van Blerck engine. It sits on Magnesium wheels that are gray with a red center. The wheels are wrapped with new Firestone Deluxe Champion tires that are 4.00-12 on the front and 5.00-12 on the rear.
The inside space seating area and inside paneling is wrapped with black leather. It retains the vintage steering wheel thats been painted and wrapped for gripping. It retains the vintage Foxboro white face gas pressure gauge, oil pressure gauge and temperature gauge which are all in working order. The temperature gauge stays in the last position it was prior to shutting off but works when operating. Its equipped with a power on/off knob which is on the instrument panel. Underneath the instrument panel is a fuel cut off lever and push start button. MS CLASSIC CARS installed the push button start for convenience. Its powered by a new Duracell Ultra battery with plenty of cranking amps.
The engine compartment is nicely detailed throughout with many era correct parts. The aluminum fire wall was left bare and has been polished. It retains the vintage 1920s Van Blerck Junior 90ci OHC 4cyl aluminum engine. The engine number is #L-1123 which matches all the documentation from the Harrah Automobile Collection. The oil filler cast #L-1570 also matches the documentation from the Harrah Automobile Collection. According to Van Blerck advertisements this engine produced 33HP and weighed 165 pounds with the gear, starter and generator. This was the perfect engine for the midget racers because it was lightweight, powerful and reliable. This engine was rebuilt during the restoration and runs beautifully. The engine has a manual pressure pump. It retains the vintage Winfield Model S carburetor that also matches the documentation from the Harrah Automobile Collection. The engine has vintage style spark plug wires, cooper lines and brass hose clamps. The engine breathes through a side exhaust pipe that sounds vicious. A section of the exhaust was wrapped with heat tape for protection. The engine is cooled by a polished brass Austin Motor Company radiator #8103. The engine is coupled to a one-speed transmission with neutral. Its equipped with a double pressure gas cap, Austin Motor Company axles and rear brakes. The brake lever has a leather strap that acts as emergency brake when needed.
This 1928 Van Blerck Midget Racer is the The Real Deal. It draws a ton of attention and will be the center piece of any collection. This is a great opportunity that doesnt come around very often.
**PLEASE CALL MS CLASSIC CARS OWNER MARC SCHILIRO FOR A VERY ACCURATE VERBAL DESCRIPTION OF THIS VEHICLE**
MS CLASSIC CARS invested a total of $2,762.07 servicing this vehicle including the parts and labor. An invoice is pictured below that documents everything. MS CLASSIC CARS also invested $600.00 in detailing the vehicle from top to bottom.
Your challenge
I have over 20 years of experience and follow the classic vehicle market on a daily basis. Im experienced with most years, makes and models. Obviously Im more experienced with certain vehicles but follow them all. I price my classic vehicles competitive based on the current market values. I would challenge anyone to find a comparable vehicle for less. Please make sure your comparing the vehicles history, recent documented service work, all options and the entire vehicles overall condition from top to bottom. If youre truly interested in purchasing this vehicle and you have a comparable vehicle thats priced less please call me to discuss further. Im confident that my vehicle will be the better choice. If Im wrong Ill tell you the other vehicle is a better choice and point you in that direction.
As my website indicates Ive collected and sold hundreds of beautiful classic vehicles over the years. Im proud to say MS CLASSIC CARS holds over 30 world record sale prices. Weve also sold many classic vehicles in the six figure plus price range. The point being is that Im a good judge of character when it comes time to describe a classic vehicle. MS CLASSIC CARS collect beautiful classic vehicles that we service and detail. We document this work with an invoice that is pictured in the photos. The vehicle youre about to witness is something Im proud of. If youve been searching for something like this vehicle I would suggest moving forward with investigating it further. Please give me a phone call and Ill go over the entire vehicle with you over the phone. I will tell you everything I know about it. Im the owner and can make all the decisions regarding the price, etc. There will be no pressure. My goal is to make sure the vehicle is the right fit for you. If you decide to purchase it Ill make the transaction transparent and simple. Ill assist you in the financing if necessary. Ill also assist you with the shipping. Its that easy. MS CLASSIC CARS isnt just another dealer. MS CLASSIC CARS is a brand.
Marc Schiliro The Owner.
SOLD
- Stock Number
- 539
- Exterior
- Red
- Interior
- Black
- Engine
- Van Blerck Aluminum 90ci OHC 4cyl
- Transmission
- Automatic