1911 National Model 40 Speedway Roadster

National built cars from 1900 to 1924 in Indianapolis, originally powered by electric motors. Electricity was phased out as a power source in 1906 when Arthur C. Newby became company president. Newby was one of the four founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where National won the 500-mile race in 1912 with an average speed of 78.2 mph. National still holds the record for the largest engine ever to win the Indy 500. The four-cylinder engine displaced 490 cubic inches.

This car is one of three team cars raced by the National factory in the 1911 Indy 500, where it finished 7th driven by Charlie Merz. The National team cars were 'stock' cars with shortened frames, higher gearing, and highly modified engines. In later years this car was converted to the 'Cody Special', a further shortened car with narrowed bodywork that ran in the 1916 Santa Monica Road Races driven by movie stuntman Bill Cody. Its professional racing career ended in 1918 when, no longer competitive for any top racing series, it was driven by one of the 'Speederettes' in the first woman professional racing series, prompted by Omar Toft. It was found in Northern California in the early 1950s and ended up in Indiana where it was modified into a touring car, its racing heritage is known only by a few people. It was restored to its original racing configuration in 2011 to participate in the Centennial Celebration of the Indy 500.

Source - Car Owner