Slightly O/T - Ford "999"

[Special Coupe Frank]

Does anyone know if there is any sound movie footage of either of the Ford "999" /"Arrow" racing cars running ?

There are a few short clips from silent news-reels, but I haven't found any sound footage.

Have there been any recent attempts to run either car ? Doth both cars still exist ?

Thanks !

SC Frank

[diomed]

999 is sitting in the Henry Ford museum. It's right out in the open, so I took some detailed photos. I doubt they ever run it

https://goo.gl/photos/e2YqCseEGhHeeshdA

[C26Pinelake]

it looks like a beast. What is the history of I? Wayne.

[Special Coupe Frank]

Thanks Diomed... gosh that thing is a beast !

[gz]

The last time it actually ran was sometime during the 1960s I believe. I remember George DeAngelis telling me the story as he was involved with getting it running.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Something that is about as equally impressive to watch is the Sweepstakes racer being driven. It can be viewed every year at Old Car Festival. Hits a mean kick!

[diomed]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Something that is about as equally impressive to watch is the Sweepstakes racer being driven. It can be viewed every year at Old Car Festival. Hits a mean kick!

What's the Sweepstakes car? Sounds interesting

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[gweilbaker]

It looks like it has an exposed crankshaft, yikes, at least there's oilers. One scary machine.

[Special Coupe Frank]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Something that is about as equally impressive to watch is the Sweepstakes racer being driven. It can be viewed every year at Old Car Festival. Hits a mean kick!

Brent - saw a video with a present-day Ford team driver and "Sweepstakes"...

Apparently there were also some replicas built...

Is the original extant and running ?

Frank

[Jim Brierley]

Not only is the crank exposed, so is the ring gear!

[Fullraceflathead]

I think the Original 999 is long gone.
I believe Ford built a replica of the Original in the 1960's.
This is what I heard in the 1980's.
The Museum should have the details on it posted.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by diomed

What's the Sweepstakes car? Sounds interesting

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

This was a car Henry Ford built and drove in a race that had a $5,000 first prize. This was after he had failed in what I believe his second attempt to start his car company (may have been his first try). He needed cash to start over and this was his opportunity. He ran against some big dogs with faster cars from the east coast, but they all blew up, spent much time for repairs in the pits, etc. and Henry just kept going and won. Reports say he slowed way down for the turns so got passed, but again, as they say: "To finish first, first you have to finish"!

[gz]

The Sweepstakes race car that gets used at Old Car Festival is a complete replica. Two (maybe just one, I don't remember now) were made in about 2001-2003. Ironically, the "original" Sweepstakes car that is in the Museum is not original either. When Henry Ford was assembling the Museum in the late 1920s, he wanted all of his original, early cars to be on display. The original Sweepstakes did not exist, so he had a team of engineers make a copy of this famous race car in the mid to late 1920s. Some of the other cars Henry experimented with in between the Quadracycle and the first Model As of 1903 were built as well. The Sweepstakes car has been represented as an original at times over the years, but it really isn't-it is a 90 year old replica!!! There has been some speculation that there are some original parts on this car, but I don't believe so. The most current replicas are works of art and are fully functional like the original.

The 999 Racecar in the Museum is indeed the original. There have been some changes made to it. The car was raced and used for a few years after Henry was done with it, so it is not entirely identical to its original configuration, but, generally pretty close. Like all race cars, it was modified every time it was used. After it was retired from racing, it was on display at Billy Hughson's Ford dealership in California. Hughson was one of Henry's first Ford dealers in 1903 and was actually "collecting" cars while the Model T was still in its infancy. Hughson gave the car back to Henry when the Museum was being opened in the late 1920s. If you look real closely on the wooden frame rails, you can faintly see Hughson's name stenciled on the side.

George De Angelis wrote a very detailed description of 999 describing its history in an old issue of the Antique Automobile magazine, the national publication of the Antique Automobile Club of America. If you can get your hands on this article, it is a fascinating read. George was probably the foremost authority on this car.

[henry's 31]

Thanks Kris for sharing those great photos, I visited the Museum several year ago but your photos are great. 999 is a very important part of the Ford History. Several years ago I purchased an oversized model of this vehicle. Again, Thanks for sharing.

[RUNNERBUN]

Originally Posted by gz

The Sweepstakes race car that gets used at Old Car Festival is a complete replica. Two (maybe just one, I don't remember now) were made in about 2001-2003. Ironically, the "original" Sweepstakes car that is in the Museum is not original either. When Henry Ford was assembling the Museum in the late 1920s, he wanted all of his original, early cars to be on display. The original Sweepstakes did not exist, so he had a team of engineers make a copy of this famous race car in the mid to late 1920s. Some of the other cars Henry experimented with in between the Quadracycle and the first Model As of 1903 were built as well. The Sweepstakes car has been represented as an original at times over the years, but it really isn't-it is a 90 year old replica!!! There has been some speculation that there are some original parts on this car, but I don't believe so. The most current replicas are works of art and are fully functional like the original.

The 999 Racecar in the Museum is indeed the original. There have been some changes made to it. The car was raced and used for a few years after Henry was done with it, so it is not entirely identical to its original configuration, but, generally pretty close. Like all race cars, it was modified every time it was used. After it was retired from racing, it was on display at Billy Hughson's Ford dealership in California. Hughson was one of Henry's first Ford dealers in 1903 and was actually "collecting" cars while the Model T was still in its infancy. Hughson gave the car back to Henry when the Museum was being opened in the late 1920s. If you look real closely on the wooden frame rails, you can faintly see Hughson's name stenciled on the side.

George De Angelis wrote a very detailed description of 999 describing its history in an old issue of the Antique Automobile magazine, the national publication of the Antique Automobile Club of America. If you can get your hands on this article, it is a fascinating read. George was probably the foremost authority on this car.

Found this on Ebay and just had to have it. Small (5 inch) promotional screwdriver. Just thought I would share.

[gz]

Wow. That is a really cool screwdriver. By the 1920s, Hughson had dealerships all over California. I am not sure how long his dealership dynasty lasted.