VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962 Part 4
A deep dive into more images from the Long Island Automotive Museum. Included is a look at the vehicles as they were in previously unseen images, museum postcards, and information on where the automobiles are today.
It's time again to showcase more never-before-published color slides of the Long Island Automotive Museum from Richard Weir. The photos seen here give a glimpse into what it was like when visiting Henry Austin Clark Jr.'s Museum of Historic Automobiles back in the glory days of the museum. Within this article series, I also provide the last known whereabouts of each vehicle, as well as an update to our ongoing LIAM postcard series. If you haven't already, you can read Part 3 here to catch up with the series.
By Gram Spina
1911 Mercer Raceabout
Hands down, of all the cars owned by Henry Austin Clark Jr., this was his favorite. It is shown here in a side building on the museum property and also in a photograph that shows the interior of the main museum building (shown later in this article).
Notice the unique tire tread pattern — it says "SKID"!
The 1911 Mercer Raceabout was frequently seen on many of the Long Island Automobile Museum's postcards. The Mercer engine T-head was designed by Long Islander Finlay Robertson Porter. Later in life, the designer of the engine head for this Mercer established the F.R.P. automobile company in Port Jefferson, NY.
The family of Henry Austin Clark Jr. held onto the Mercer until 2014 when the car was sold for $2.53 million at RM’s Monterey auction.
This image captures one of the corner rows of classic cars on display inside the main building of the Long Island Automotive Museum. Due to the camera angle and lighting, l am only able to identify the first four vehicles that are closest in the frame. The Mercer Raceabout is the second closest car in this photo. If anyone can identify the remaining cars in this image, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
1906 Cadillac Touring
Up front is a 1906 Cadillac touring car powered by a 1-cylinder engine and a power rating of only 10 HP. This is just one of the multiple “brass era” cars that were on display at the museum. This Cadillac is from a time before steering wheel placement was standardized — as you can see, the wheel is on the right.
The postcard image here gives us a better perspective of the brown on black 1906 Cadillac. Unfortunately, it is not known where this Cadillac is today.
1909 Renault Roadster and 1907 Ford Model K
The last two cars that I am able to identify in this group image are toward the back of the photo. I have added two blue arrows pointing to each car to help you see exactly which cars I am referencing.
1909 Renault Roadster
Only identifiable by the helpful green sign (Thank you, Henry Austin Clark, Jr.), the 1909 Renault is parked next to the 1911 Mercer Raceabout. Unfortunately, there are no known postcards for this vehicle. Where this antique French car is today is sadly unknown at this time.
1907 Ford Model K
I was able to identify the year, make, and model of the car next to the Renault simply because I recognize it from our vast postcard collection. In fact, you could say I have memorized all the cars of the Long Island Automotive Museum.
The Ford Model K seen here has a gray on red paint job with large brass headlights. Its whereabouts are currently unknown.
This type of Ford was marketed to a buyer who had more money in their pocket than one who might typically purchase a Ford Model T — the hope was that it would appeal to someone interested in a large American touring car.
Stay tuned for Part 5 of this ongoing popular segment of articles!
Comments
Wonderful deep dive once again on the cars and the showplace that initially shaped my devotion to all aspects of the automobilia hobby.
Impressions such as this and the ongoing efforts of Howard and his focus on this Vanderbilt forum truly bring ongoing inspiration.
Gram, As custodian of the picky picky department, I must point out that the the 1911 Mercer tire says non skid.
Thanks again for another peek into the LIAM. I’m so glad that you are trying to find out what happened to this impressive collection of automobiles. Those tires with the words “non skid” are something I have never seen before. Great article!
Haha thanks Al, the tire tread definitely says something because it has words written within the tread!
I got my first ride in a pre 1915 car in that Mercer type 35 with Austin Clark at the wheel. We went up North Sea Rd. just west of the museum and then came back down, Were caught by the police on a radar gun as well. Eddie Aldrich of Southampton used to keep the fleet of early cars ready for use by Austin , his son Lance was a great guy too. Actor Gary Cooper was a great friend of Austin and also a lover of cars - he and Austin used to drive about Southampton in the cars Austin had. Cooper’s wife came from an area north of the museum and that is where they lived i Cooper’s final years, he is buried in the cemetery just east of the museum.
Another interesting article, thank you Gram. The Mercer was always a favorite place to stand when I was able to visit the museum. I am attaching a picture of a postcard for a 1908 Renault Victoria Runabout. Not sure about the one year discrepancy, 1908 vs. 1909, maybe new information came to light or maybe just a miss print.
misprint not miss print!
Lee Irwin , yep that definitely looks like the Renault!! it was actually kind of common for the postcards to have a one year off difference, compared to whatever the green signs identified the year of each vehicle. In my previous article, I believe there was another instance exactly like this, where the green identification signed for the Bugatti stated that it was one year off, compared to what the actual year of the car was. Thank you so much for sharing the postcard!!