In Search of Alcos: #4 1913 Alco Convertible Touring Car Formerly at the Milhous Museum
In celebration of the centennial of the Inaugural Indy 500 Race this May, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is currently looking for cars representing the 24 manufacturers that competed in 1911 and were built from 1911 to 1961. Since American Locomotive Company ceased its Alco car production in 1913 and there are only 12 original, restored and rebuilt Alcos existing today, finding an appropriate Alco car to participate in this historic Indy car show is a real challenge.
Let's first see if the Alco "12" can be found.
Three Alcos have previously been described on VanderbiltCupRaces.com. Alco #4 is a beautiful 1913 Alco convertible touring car formerly owned by the Milhous Museum in Boca Raton, Florida:
In January 2012 the car was auctioned for $506,000 in Boca Raton.
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All images courtesy of the Milhous Museum
A close-up of the six cylinder, 60-HP engine
Specifications for a similar 1912 Alco touring car
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com and the Internet:
Archives: American Locomotive Company
Comments
There is a 1912 ALCO 7 passenger touring Model 9-60 in the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, CA.
Hi Peter:
Thanks for the info. Much appreciated!
Enjoy,
Howard
From Bob Swanson:
“I had no idea that only 12 ALCO vehicles exist today, I’ve only rode in the one truck. The Paul Milhous 1913 looks like it has been restored since the post card photo was taken my Henry Austin Clark sometime in the 1960’s I believe. Austie found the car in Walter Scott’s junk yard here in Ridgefield in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s.
I wonder what other cars were out there at the time. Walt had a repair shop next to his house and it is still there. The care taker of St. Mary’s Cemetery lives there now and the property in back will be used for future expansion. Mom and Dad, along with my Grandparents and both Aunties are buried there. Mrs. Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl is just across the way on the corner. I never knew her middle name until I read of her passing. Dad worked for her part time on the weekends in the early 1960’s.
The ALCO Vanderbilt Cup winner lived here while Joel Finn owned it, Dad worked part time for Joel doing carpentry work. He did get a ride in the ALCO.
The 1907 Renault that James Melton had that is now in a Utah collection came out of Ridgefield in the late 1940’s one of seven I believe that William K. Vanderbilt had commissioned for friends. Ridgefield was the only town in Connecticut to have a battle in the Revolutionary War. The Stebbins house on Main Street was part of the barricade the patriots built to slow the British troops on their march to the shore in Westport.
The day Austie Clark told me about the Milhous ALCO he told me the Stebbins were relatives I can’t remember the details. That about drains all the info I have on the topic.”