Durant Motors Internet Forum

Our Purpose

  Preserve the automobiles manufactured by the Durant Motor Company, provide enjoyment for each member with meets, tours & technical assistance.


This forum is provided by the Durant Motors Automobile Club located at durantmotors.org

How to Add Pictures             Rocky

General Discussion Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

20150924-203341
20150924-203427
20150924-203509
20150924-203527
20150924-203651
20150924-203701
20150925-152116


image hosting




Hello all,

I have a 27 or 28 Locomobile. My grandfather (Buddy Beard from Tulsa) restored the car before I was born, it has been in the shop at my house for at least 50 years. After my dad passed I was left the car and bought the house/shop it has been stored in.
Locomobile 8-80
Model 80
car no 588

I was told growing up that this car is very rare, 1 of 3 left in the world. After doing a lot of research I am more lost than before LOL. I think mine might be a special order or the only one left period. There are a couple that look a little similar but not exactly like mine (Think they are 27's with wood wheels). I was told that in the early 2000’s My dad had a Locomobile expert come look at the car and he said that it theoretically does not exist. I believe the title of my car says 1927 (I don’t have it in front of me, in safe at shop) and the Lycoming HDl motor that’s in it was not available until 1928 (maybe not available in a roadster) but the serial # and car # are right for the this car or something to that effect. It might have been a experimental test car.
The title was “built” after my grandfather purchased the car so some information could be incorrect. Does anyone know of any resources for me to find more out about my car? My dad passed 7 years ago and I am ready to get this old girl going again. I have contacted the https://bportlibrary.org/hc/wp-content/uploads/BHC-MSS-0003-Records-of-the-Locomobile-Company-of-America. Great woman, she is looking into what she kind find now. She has a owners manual, not sure if its also a service manual. She is going to send it to me.

Things I would love to find out about it if at all possible is, How rare is it? where to find any lineage such as previous owners, Original colors of paint/ interior.
How much might be worth? I understand its a rare car which doesn't mean its worth more unless it's desirable (no real interest in selling it, If someone made me a offer I would consider it), Just curios for insurance purposes and if anyone did make me a offer.

As far as getting it going again all I need is the linkages that go from the steering colum to the dist. and carb. I have the rods that run down the column. The water pump was off the car, there was a problem with the one that was on the car. I have 2 water pumps that look the same except the inside is a little different (see pics) any one know which one its supposed to have and if I need one, where would I look? It is a old restoration, the paint on the fenders did not bond well (something about bad primer?) it has been like that since a month after it was painted. I have all the parts to put it back together and now the time to.

The only car I have seen like it was the "sawmill Loco frame" I tried to buy it for a parts car but could not get it shipping set up before someone else bought it. I posted pics of mine a long time ago on the sawmill loco, post. I am re-posting them here.

Where Are You From? Tulsa Oklahoma

Do You own a car built by Durant? 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster

Re: 27 Locomobile 8-80 pic of my bill of sale/ title and other useful stuff

Jaosn Beard
\
\
\
\
\
\
\



image hosting





Hello all,

I have a 27 or 28 Locomobile. My grandfather (Buddy Beard from Tulsa) restored the car before I was born, it has been in the shop at my house for at least 50 years. After my dad passed I was left the car and bought the house/shop it has been stored in.
Locomobile 8-80
Model 80
car no 588

I was told growing up that this car is very rare, 1 of 3 left in the world. After doing a lot of research I am more lost than before LOL. I think mine might be a special order or the only one left period. There are a couple that look a little similar but not exactly like mine (Think they are 27\'s with wood wheels). I was told that in the early 2000’s My dad had a Locomobile expert come look at the car and he said that it theoretically does not exist. I believe the title of my car says 1927 (I don’t have it in front of me, in safe at shop) and the Lycoming HDl motor that’s in it was not available until 1928 (maybe not available in a roadster) but the serial # and car # are right for the this car or something to that effect. It might have been a experimental test car.
The title was “built” after my grandfather purchased the car so some information could be incorrect. Does anyone know of any resources for me to find more out about my car? My dad passed 7 years ago and I am ready to get this old girl going again. I have contacted the https://bportlibrary.org/hc/wp-content/uploads/BHC-MSS-0003-Records-of-the-Locomobile-Company-of-America. Great woman, she is looking into what she kind find now. She has a owners manual, not sure if its also a service manual. She is going to send it to me.

Things I would love to find out about it if at all possible is, How rare is it? where to find any lineage such as previous owners, Original colors of paint/ interior.
How much might be worth? I understand its a rare car which doesn\'t mean its worth more unless it\'s desirable (no real interest in selling it, If someone made me a offer I would consider it), Just curios for insurance purposes and if anyone did make me a offer.

As far as getting it going again all I need is the linkages that go from the steering colum to the dist. and carb. I have the rods that run down the column. The water pump was off the car, there was a problem with the one that was on the car. I have 2 water pumps that look the same except the inside is a little different (see pics) any one know which one its supposed to have and if I need one, where would I look? It is a old restoration, the paint on the fenders did not bond well (something about bad primer?) it has been like that since a month after it was painted. I have all the parts to put it back together and now the time to.

The only car I have seen like it was the \"sawmill Loco frame\" I tried to buy it for a parts car but could not get it shipping set up before someone else bought it. I posted pics of mine a long time ago on the sawmill loco, post. I am re-posting them here.
Got the envelope with tittles and info, I scanned some interesting stuff in the same envelope 2 things are not to my car. There was a bill of sale from when my grandpa bought the car in Kansas that says 1927 and has the engine model #HDL34349 which is in my car. Any help would be great!

The Bridgeport library that has all the Locomobile stuff uploaded a bunch of stuff, There is a owner's/ maintenance manual to a 27 8-80 here is the link: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/110002:locomobile

bill-of-sale-tittle
print-of-some-sell-stuff
sales-stuff

Where Are You From? Tulsa Oklahoma

Do You own a car built by Durant? 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster

Re: 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

Can't help much
1927 8-80 vin's 101 to 600 Jan 1 1927 to Dec 31 1927.
1928 8-80 vin's 601 to 1999 Jan 1 1928 to Dec 31 1928
1929 8-80 vin's 2000 to end Jan 1 1929 to March 1929 (plant closure)

Yes your pics are on AACA under the sawmill posting, as well as reposting this forum and same AACA 11 hours ago.

I can't find my notes from Mike of our club with 8-80 on the Lycoming 4HL to HDL time period.

Where Are You From? Ottawa Ontario Canada

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1932 614 sedan made by Dominion Motors

Re: 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

jason, send me a e-mail and i might be able to help you. thanks

Where Are You From? calif

Do You own a car built by Durant? durant-flint-locomobile

Re: 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

Actually that helps a lot. My car # is 588, probably one of the last one's built in 1927 so they probably stuck a 28 motor in it. Or if anything like new cars, it's a 28 model built in 27. Not sure if they did that back then.

Where Are You From? Tulsa

Do You own a car built by Durant? 27 Locomobil

Re: 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

If you were familiar with Billy's vehicles that's exactly what he did, with Durant, Star, Rugby, Flint etc. Aug 1 of one year to July 31 of next year was next year models, up to Dec 31 1929. The CEO of Durant Motors changed that effective with 1930 and later cars. Next years model would only be when a model was upgraded. As example the 1930 614 model year Durant was Jan 4th 1930 to Dec 31 1930. The 1931 model year 614 was Jan 1 1931 to Jan 31 1932. 1932 model year was Feb 1 1932 to end of Durant's in 1932. VIN's are model years not production years.

Another example is the M4 Durant that replaced the M2 Durant. M2 Durant is both 1928 and 1929 model years as the M2 was April 1 1928 to Sept 30 1928, so Aug and Sept are 1929 Model year. Now the M4 Durant is Oct 1928 to Dec 1928 but since after Aug 1st they are 1929 Model year.

Flint line of cars also follows Billy's Aug / July as next years model.

Loco's are a different kettle of fish as a continuation of the Loco's per Billy buying the Co 1922 and model changes 48-7 then 48-8 1923 Series 8 Aug 1 1922 to Dec 31 1923 then 1924 series 8 Jan 1 1923 to Sept 1924 then the 9 and 10 series etc.
Jr 8 is easier as it follows the Jan - Dec model year
1925 model Aug 1 1925 to Dec 31 1925
1926 model Jan 1 1926 to Dec 31 1926
1927 model Jan 1 1927 to Oct 31 1927
90 series also the Jan / Dec model year
1926 model Jan 1 1926 to Dec 31 1926
1927 model Jan 1 1927 to Dec 31 1927
1928 model Jan 1 1928 to Dec 31 1928
1929 model Jan 1 1929 to March 1929 (plant closing)
Your 8-80 follows the Jan / Dec model year

Having said that engines were altered as we move along. The W5 used in Star after the W4 was used up to Dec 31 1929 in Star / Durant but altered. The 22A engine 1930 and later was altered after serial number 20500. Nothing is set in stone with Billy's vehicles and they used old and new parts on same model. De Vaux had the 40A Hall engine which was close to the 22A. But when Continental Motors took over De Vaux 1932 they used the 40A with Hall name ground off. The 1933 Ace used the 40A Hall name ground off, slightly different parts and called it a 41A on the engine plate but block still has the 40A casting and 1931 date.

Yes that's a possibility as engines are cast months before being used in a vehicle. The 22A used 1930 and later can have Oct 1929 casting dates. Something we discovered was a 32A engine used in some Dominion Motors cars had wrong engine plate on it as Durant not Frontenac. Leaside must have grabbed the wrong engine and stuck it in a vehicle. Before you ask, last US plant 1931 was Lansing which stopped Aug 1931, Leaside became totally Canadian owned and operated Jan 14 1931 to make whatever it wanted. They chose to continue the Durant car / Rugby truck lines. Durant 1932 and Rugby 1933 along with our Frontenac Aug 1931 to Dec 1933. Name changed to Dominion Motors from Durant Motors. REO also built there 1932 and later. Brochures show all 4 makes at bottom

IMG

Perhaps Mike has thoughts on yours. Might well be the engine was sitting off to one side for the 1928 production and accidently got put in the 27. If we could only step back in time to unravel so many questions on Billy's empire and off shoot Co's. Always more questions than answers.

Where Are You From? Ottawa Ontario Canada

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1932 614 sedan made by Dominion Motors

Re: 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

Man thank you for all the info! I am not familiar with the Billy's vehicle, how can I find out more about it? I am still reading thru all of it piecing stuff together. That was a long response and I really appreciate it!!

Where Are You From? Tulsa Oklahoma

Do You own a car built by Durant? 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster

Re: 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

Actually yours is not a Roadster. It appears to be a Cabriolet

1927 models .. Roadster, Sport Touring, Coupe non collapsible, Brougham, Sedan 5 passenger, Sedan 7 passenger, Sedan Suburban 7 passenger.

1928 130 inch wheelbase .. Roadster, Phaeton, Coupe Collapsible, Victoria Coupe
140 inch wheelbase .. Touring 7 passenger, Victoria Sedan 5 passenger, Cabriolet 7 passenger, Sedan 7 passenger, Sedan Suburban 7 passenger. (That doesn't seem right a 7 passenger cabriolet)

1929 130 inch wheelbase .. Roadster, Phaeton, Coupe Collapsible, Victoria Coupe, Cabriolet 6 passenger, Brougham, Sedan 5 passenger, Sedan 5 passenger 5 wire wheels, Sedan 5 passenger wooden wheels.
140 inch wheelbase .. Touring 7 passenger, Sedan 7 passenger, Sedan Suburban 7 passenger.

I think you should be talking to Mike to help try straighten out what you have if he can. Found the note from Mike 2017 and he said back then, the HDL Lycoming was 1928 only but might have spilled over to next year.

Where Are You From? Ottawa Ontario Canada

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1932 614 sedan made by Dominion Motors

Re: 27 or 28 Locomobile 8-80 roadster, need help with year and a few parts

Alright guys lets get everyone on the same page. 1927 and 1928 locomobile 8-80 had 2 wheelbases. 130 and 140. If the car was a seven seat model it was a 140" wb. All others were 130" wb. Jason you car is 130" wb. The car should have Lycoming motor eight cyclinder model with cast "en bloc" L head - 3 1/4" bore .4 1/2" stroke and a displacement of 298.5 cu. in. You had a question with carburetors? equipped was a Schebler model "s" 1 1/2". On some special production cars, they did put a Stromberg o-3 carburetor. Mine has a Stomberg due to the customization of limo. There was a few that were customized and they were approximately ser# 303-315 for 8-80's. They went down the street to Central body company and were assembled on #1 and #2 production line. These cars should have a plaque under the passenger side of dash. Also they did offer stromberg o-3 carburetors with duel carburation. list price was $60.00 retail or bargain price of $37.95. I would like to see the dual carburation model, they should really get up and go. For the water pump, you would have to e-mail me so I can send information and pictures. Note: If you car has a Stromberg carburetor then the horsepower was increased. Personally, I did't like Schebler carburetors due to the reliability factor. I tried one on mine and it always leaked. Even with new gaskets. I do have your car listed in my registry but engine # was unknown. Any more information let me know.:+1:

Where Are You From? calif

Do You own a car built by Durant? durant-flint-locomobile

 

The Durant Motors Automobile Club