1916 Chalmers Six-30 35-A w/ Speedster Recreation Bodywork

A rare blue and white 1916 Chalmers Six-30 (Model 35-A) with red interior arriving at the 2023 San Marino Motor Classic at Lacy Park. Founded in Detroit in 1908, the Chalmers Motor Company was known for its cars’ durability, performance, and success in racing. It ultimately merged with Maxwell Motor Company in 1922 before Maxwell was absorbed by Chrysler Corporation in 1925. This Chalmers, chassis no. 60646, is powered by a 224-ci inline-six engine mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Originally a five-passenger tourer, it underwent a comprehensive rebuild completed in August 2012 during which it received custom fabricated bodywork as a recreation of the record-setting 1917 Speedster driven by Joe Dawson, 1912 Indianapolis 500 winner, which covered 1,898 miles at Sheepshead Bay with an average speed of 81.09 mph over 24 hours.

Here's another car from a brand I had never heard of until I saw it and did some research afterwards. Over a century ago, Chalmers was a significant player in American automotive manufacturing and a successful name in racing. It also had a role in the formation of Chrysler Corporation, which we're now far more familiar with. A market listing for this car from a few years ago stated that it had spent several years sitting upside-down in a tree grove, then was kept in storage for another few decades. It's probably safe to say that the poor car was in need of some work both inside and out, which made it an excellent candidate for this unique refurbishment project. The Speedster bodywork looks great, and I'm glad the owner of this rare car is helping keep alive the history of what is now a largely obscure brand.

Would you have rebuilt your Chalmers with this Speedster bodywork? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!