Marmon Enters Indianapolis Race with Front-Drive Specials – Automotive Industries – 5 May 1928
For the first time since 1911, Marmon entered two „Marmon Specials“ in the 1928 Indianapolis 500 Race. Engine was a supercharged eight-in-liner and, more interesting, the car was equipped with front-wheel drive. The two-speed (front) transmission was designed by Earl Cooper and Col. Howard Marmon; although it showed very much resemblance with the Miller transmission. […]
Miller Racing Cars offered in Two Types – Motor Age – 17 June 1926
In 1926, the Miller Cars already were that successfull, that two types could bw bought at the Miller Company; a front-wheel drive and a rear-wheel driven version. Both cars had the same engine; whereas the front-wheel drive car had the engine assembled in reverse. Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.comMotor […]
Locomoteur a pétrole Lepape, Translation – La Locomotion Automobile – November 1895
This design originating from Hippolyte Lepape is really one that differs from many of its time. Lepape was more interested in technical innovations than in production. this one, called the Locomoteur captured front-wheel drive with rear-wheel steering. The rear steering was performed with a special linkage The „locomoteur“ didn’t require a gearbox, as it was […]
Front Wheel Drive Pre-war – a short summary – GrocerJack
Front Wheel Drive Pre-war in historical view Since the onset of mechanically driven vehicles or the „sans-chevaux“, we can observe that in most cases, the propulsive vehicle power was attached to the vehicle’s rear, as shown here left. This is a sketch of the very first Benz carriages of 1899 and pictured in the book […]
La Voiture Doré et Bouisson – La Locomotion Automobile – 13 January 1898
This front-wheel drive vehicle of 1898 has a front-end unit (French: avant-train) with the driving pinion in its middle, driven by a cardan joint. Rotating or swivelling the bogey changes driving direction and by swinging it a 180°, the vehicle drives backward, without the need for a reverse gear. The front-end unit rotates around the […]
Miller Front Drive Racing Car – Motor Age – 11 December 1924
This article, written by the French journalist Paul Dumas, described the Miller 91 front wheel drive of 1924. This car was based on the idea and a request of Jimmy Murphy, who perished that year. Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.comMotor Age, Vol. XLVI (46), No.24, December 11, 1924 Miller […]
Impasse Cirumvented by Front-Wheel Drive, Part I – Automotive Industries – 4 June 1927
Over many years, the technical specialist and highly rated author Peter Martin Heldt wrote for several American automotive magazines. In this 1927 article in Automotive Industries, he explains the different aspects of the then upcoming front-wheel drive. Because of its lengthy write, it’s divided here in two parts. Not only an interesting read, but I […]
Impasse Cirumvented by Front-Wheel Drive, Part II – Automotive Industries – 4 June 1927
Over many years, the technical specialist and highly rated author Peter Martin Heldt wrote for several American automotive magazines. In this 1927 article in Automotive Industries, he explains the different aspects of the then upcoming front-wheel drive. Because of its lengthy write, it’s divided here in two parts. Not only an interesting read, but I […]