1927 Miller Model 91 Images, Information and History (Indy Racer, Derby, Front Wheel Drive, FWD, Ninety-one)

1926 Model 91

1928 Model 91

1927 Miller Model 91 news, pictures, and information
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Racer

By the 1920s, professional race teams had replaced most of the modified stock cars that had dominated motor sports competition through the first two decades of the 20th century. Stock-based chassis and bodies were also giving way to purpose-built racers, such as this front-wheel drive Miller. In fact the years between 1919 and 1929 are viewed by many historians as the 'golden age of the thoroughbred American racing car.'

During this period, purpose-built racers from Duesenberg and Miller dominated the scene, as they alternated wins at the Indianapolis 500 race. In 1924 Duesenberg introduced centrifugal supercharging to the speedway - forced induction by means of a gear-driven compressor. Harry Miller soon became a specialist in this department, applying supercharging to his own racing engines.

This racer was purchased from the Miller factory in California by Pete DePaolo in 1927. Its first outing was in Atlantic City where it overheated very badly. Equipped wîth a large radiator, DePaolo then took the car to Indianapolis for the '500.' Several days before the race, the car's supercharger gears failed. These gears were a documented problem in many of Miller's racers. New gears were flown in from the factory, and the resurrected racer was running in second place when this set also failed.

DePaolo then turned to another company for his gears and went on to first place finishes at Altoona and Salem. He continued to place well throughout the year and despite all the problems wîth the car, went on to win the AAA national championship. The car then changed hands several times and was used in the MGM movie, 'The Crowd Roars.' It was then rebuilt several times, winning the 1930 Indy '500' wîth Billy Arnold behind the wheel.

The car was restored to its 1927 factory condition using the original DePaolo engine and other parts found by Chuck Davis. Dave Hentschel of Hentschel Automotive did the restoration. It is on loan at the AACA Museum, courtesy of The Miller Race Car Collection.

Source - AACA Museum

Racer
Engine Num: 14

For 1926, the regulations covering Grand Prix racing further reduced the allowable engine size to 1.5-liters, or 91 cubic-inches, for supercharged engines. The Indianapolis race adhered to these rules and the cars produced in Harry Miller's shop for the new formula represent, in the option of many historians, the pinnacle of American racing car design. While Miller was also building front-drive race cars, they were only suitable for Indianapolis and on board tracks; those wanting to compete on dirt tracks opted for the conventional rear drive layout. The 91 cubic-inch engine was similar in appearance to previous Miller straight eights, with every component part reduced in size and weight to the absolute minimum. This example has Miller Engine No. 6 (of just seven built) and correct transmission and rear end. In recent years this car has been a frequent participant at the annual Miller gathering at the Milwaukee Mile.

Racer

Rules changes for the 1926 racing season limited the engine size to just 1.5 liters (91 cubic inches). Harry Miller and his extraordinary talented men designed and built an entirely new car. There were no commonality of parts between the 91 and the 122 except for the outside purchased parts such as the tires, wheels, instruments and electrical components. The model 122 and 91 rear drive cars were virtually identical in appearance, with the exception of the 91's three-piece radiator and grille assembly.

Superchargers were fitted to all of the new 91 engines. In this guise, it was capable of producing 155 horsepower. After continual refinements, this was raised to over 250 horsepower.

This Miller 91 became so success that it dominated on speedways of the 1920s and eventually lead to the AAA's rule change for 1930 to the 'Junk Formula', in an effort to stop the Miller 91's winning streak.

This 1927 Miller 91 Rear Drive Racing Car is a faithful recreated with many original parts including the Frank Lockhart 'Perfect Circle' Miller intercooler. Parts were sourced wherever they could be found. If none could be located, they were reproduced.

This example is one of the best recreations of the Miller 91 rear drive race car; there are no known original Miller 91 rear drive cars surviving.

In 2009 this recreation was offered for sale by RM Auctions at their Monterey Auction, where it was estimated to sell for $400,000 and $650,000. The lot failed to sell after achieving a high bid of $380,000.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009

Racer

The Miller 'Derby' is a front-wheel-drive car built by Harry Miller. It has a 1.5-liter supercharged twin-cam engine. After appearing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1928 and 1929, the car was bought by British race driver Douglas Hawkes for his wife, Gwenda Hawkes-Stewart. She drove the car at Montlhery in 1930 and set many records with the car over the next five years. In 1934 she set a record of 147.79 mph at Montlhery in France. In 1935 she broke the Class E and Ladies Race record at Brooklands that has never been broke. After she sold the car, the engine was bought by a newspaper owner in Northern Ireland and then by the Indianapolis Speedway Museum. The rest of the car had remained in England and now the car has been reunited and restored to its former glory by its current owner, who bought the car in 1993.

Racer
Chassis Num: 2

In 1913, Miller, based in California, started using engine he designed with aluminum pistons and engine blocks. The basic architecture design was based on the Peugeot racing engine. In this configuration, Miller automobiles would enjoy many years of successful racing in Indy Company. The twin overhead cam engine design would even inspire Bugatti to build a DOHC powerplant. Another innovation Miller feature was the use of a front-wheel drive setup.

This Indy Car was built by Earl Cooper and Harry Miller under the sponsorship of the Buick Motorcar Company. This car is known as the Cooper Miller.

Its first Indianapolis 500 race was in 1927 where it was piloted by Peter Kreis to a 17th place finish. Between 1927 through 1950, the car would compete in 19 of the 23 Indy races. The most successful finish for the Cooper Miller was a 10th place in 1930, when it was known as the 'Gauss Front Drive' and driven by Joe Huff. Other drivers who piloted this vehicle include Fred Frame, Dusty Fahrnow, Russ Snoberger, Ralph Hedburn, Doc Williams, Chet Miller, Tommy Boggs, Beinke & Tomei and Carl Foberg.

The car also participated in the 1927 Italian Grand Prix where it finished 3rd driven by Earl Cooper and Peter Kreis.

After its impressive racing career had come to an end, the car was disassembled and sold to collectors including Jim Brucker and Jim Latin. The car, using its original components, were later restored to its 1927 configuration by Charles Bronson.

The car is powered by a 91 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine breathing through four Miller Dual Throat Updraft carburetors. It produces 167 horsepower and powers the front wheels. There are mechanical drum brakes and a live axle suspension.

Racer
Chassis Num: 2

This 1927 Cooper Miller Indy Racer was built and first raced by Earl Cooper and Harry Miller under the sponsorship of the Buick Motorcar Company. The car had several owners throughout its racing career. It was taken apart at one point and sold in pieces to collectors including Jim Brucker and Jim Latin. In the 1980s, the parts were reunited by Charles Bronson and the car was fully restored to its 1927 configuration.

The supercharged Miller engine featured a revolutionary front-wheel drive and DOHC. Miller designed his original engines with aluminum pistons and engine blocks, starting in 1913, using the layout of the Peugeot four-cylinder engine. In the history of the Indy 500, a racer using a Miller engine won the Indy 500 12 times, second only to the Offenhauser engine that won Indy 27 times. Offenhauser took over Miller's shop in 1933 and continued the development of the Miller engine under the 'Offy' name. After five years running the Miller eight-cylinder engine, the car ran other portions of its 23-year racing career with a Marmon 16-cylinder (two times), a Miller four-cylinder (five times) and an Offenhauser four-cylinder (six times).

The front-wheel drive concept was a significant advance pioneered and used by Harry Miller long before it was truly accepted. With the driveshaft out of the way, the driver sat nine inches lower in the car.

Racer

In 1928, the next to last year in which supercharging was to be permitted for almost a decade, Leon Duray (real name George Stewart) established Indianapolis qualifying track records which held up for eight years. The beautiful low-slung, front-drive, 91.5 cubic-inch, supercharged Miller, acquired by Leon Duray in 1927, recorded four laps at 122.391 mph. It raised the single lap mark to a then astonishing 124.018 mph.

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1926 Model 91

1928 Model 91

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1927 Miller Model 91 news, pictures, and information