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1922 Battistini Buick Sports Roadster Back in the day of the Model T if you wanted something special to drive you had a custom coachbuilder create your dream. The Battistini is just such a car, built on an early six-cylinder Buick chassis and registered as a 1922 model. The body was built in the early twenties by William Moal in Oakland California. William Moal was French by birth, and apprenticed in Brittany as a wheelwright. He came to California early in the century and opened a shop in downtown Oakland called Auto Metal Works. Moal specialized in building custom radiators, but he also did a little coach building and racecar fabrication. Apparently Moal and his craftsmen built the Battistini along with as many as four more roadsters series customs they were called. In addition to the Battistini, a nearly identical twin called the Green Hornet still exists. The Green Hornet is currently in Australia. Legend has it that a third roadster might have been built for Oaklands Fageol bus and truck making family. William Moal was the grandfather of Steve Moal, owner of Moals Body Shop in Oakland; so the acorn hasnt fallen far from the oak. Steves shop produces prize-winning hot rods and custom cars. Steve Moal doubts that the series of roadsters was built on spec. The roaster that we now call the Battistini was apparently ordered and paid for by John Mondo 
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STOCK/INV. NUMBER:
3956
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