Vehicle Description
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/
