For Sale: 1905 Stevens-Duryea Model R in Saint Louis, Missouri

Among their many varying interests in the world of car collecting, Frank Kleptz and his son David were avid competitors in the Great American Race (now known as The Great Race) during its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s. This enormously challenging open road rally is for cars at least 45 years old, pitting competitors against the clock, the elements, and against their own machinery over thousands of grueling miles. This "regularity rally" requires precision driving, timing, and navigational skills, rewarding drivers who arrived at each checkpoint as close to the allotted time as possible. It also tests the creativity and will of competitors, who often have to overcome daunting mechanical challenges just to stay in the race. The Great Race is a test of physical and mental endurance, as much as it is a test of driving prowess. The Kleptzs ran the Great Race on numerous occasions and with several different cars - sometimes entering more than one in a single year. The rulebook includes a handicap system, so the older the vehicle, the better one's chances are at victory and a piece of the prize money. For the 1987 race, they elected to take full advantage of the handicap system by entering the oldest vehicle in the event - this 1905 Stevens Duryea Model R. Before its transformation into a rally car in the early 80s, Frank Kleptz bought the Stevens out of the Blue Field at the AACA Hershey fall meet. It had once been part of Barney Pollard's collection, who kept a veritable hoard of old cars in his barns and outbuildings outside Detroit. At one point, he amassed so many vehicles that he stacked them on end to make space! As found, the Stevens-Duryea Model R was the ideal candidate for a Great Race car. The original touring body (the only style offered on the four-cylinder Model R) was long gone, so it was not viable for a traditional restoration. But it did wear this spartan, lightweight speedster body while in the Pollard collection, making it a great choice to build into a competitive rally car. The race rules require period-correct components, so the Stevens runs a correct 20-hp four-cylinder mated to a 3-speed, progressive shift gearbox. The gearbox features a 1:1 3rd gear ratio, paired to a 3:1 rear differential. The tall gearing, tuned engine, and lightweight coachwork allowed the little 1905 Stevens to cruise at 70 mph! Frank Kleptz added several interesting touches for long-distance rallying. These including a nozzle that sprays cooling water on the front of the radiator, an auxiliary fuel tank, and a twin spare wheel carrier. There's a generous trunk for spares and luggage, along with a folding top and rudimentary side curtains should the weather turn ugly - which it usually does on the Great Race. Frank and David completed the build in time for the 1987 event, which set off from Disneyland in California, with David at the helm. The route following a southern path across Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana, finishing at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida - an epic journey of over 2,500 miles. The cheeky mouse radiator mascot is a nod to that event, though we're not sure if that's Mickey Mouse or Mighty Mouse! The plucky little Stevens Duryea went on to complete a second coast-to-coast run in the Great Race, and David reported it was always a dependable and steady runner. It has been several years since the Stevens last turned a wheel in the heat of competition, and while the engine has recently been test-fired and found to run quite well, additional sorting is required. Once dialed-in and refurbished, the small but mighty Stevens Duryea would undoubtedly be welcomed back to the starting line of the Great Race. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details please view this listing directly on our website https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6858-1905-stevens-duryea-model-r-great-race-speedster/