1911 EMF Model 30 Speedster

Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Company built a series of light-eight runabouts and touring models from 1908 to 1912. This example has been actively campaigned and recently restored, winning the Belnap Cup for Oustanding Racer at New Hampshire International Speedway.

The car is powered by a 4-cylinder side valve engine with twin spark magneto ignition and a single updraft carburetor coupled to a 3-speed sliding gear transaxle. It is fitted with live axles, semi and full elliptic springs, Hartford shock absorbers, and two-wheel mechanical brakes.

History of E-M-F Racer #33

This car #37361 along with two other E-M-F racers was sent to Savannah, Georgia, to participate in the Tiedeman Cup Race of November 27, 1911. That year Savannah hosted the Vanderbilt Cup Race. The Tiedeman Cup Race was the preliminary event for 'small' cars. E-M-F #33 finished third with the other two E-M-F entries finishing first and second. The car was driven at Savannah by Jack Tower.

The car was first restored in 1989 and has participated in numerous vintage racing events including a re-enactment of the Great Savannah Races. Other events that the car has been involved in include: the Mount Equinox Hillclimb, the Mount Washington Hillclimb, the Vintage Celebration at NHIS, the fall meet at Lime Rock, and the Miller Club Meets at the Milwaukee Mile. In 2003 the car was certified by AACA in class 24B.

The car has been re-restored in the Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach as well as at Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance.

The E-M-F was one of three cars the factory built to enter in the Tiedeman Cup Race in Savannah in 1911. E-M-F 33 finished third averaging 57 mph over the 170+ miles.

The car was first restored in 1989 and raced at such venues as NHIS, the Milwaukee Mile, and Lime Rock as well as hill climbs at Mt. Equinox, VT, and Mt Washington, NH. In November 1994 the E-M-F participated in the re-enactment of the Great Savannah Races.

In 2007 the car was invited to Pebble Beach, received a 1st in class at Radnor Hunt Concours, and got its first Junior AACA at Hershey.

It was awarded a national award from AACA (Past President's Racing Cup).

The E-M-F Company was named after the initials of the last name of the three founders: Barney Everitt, William Metzger, and Walter Flanders. All three individuals were experienced in the motor industry and brought a unique talent to the team. Everitt had worked as a coachbuilder, Metzger had been a salesman at Cadillac, and Flanders had been a production manager with Henry Ford. The first EMF vehicle appeared in 1908, around the same time that Henry Ford introduced his Model T. The EMF, however, was perhaps slightly up-market from Ford. The first EMF was powered by a 30 horsepower engine, as were all subsequent models, and given a three-speed, sliding gear transmission in the rear axle. Production of this model peaked in 1910 with 15,300 units produced. Unfortunately, a major fallout between the three partners saw this independent marque absorbed into Studebaker in 1912. The vehicles that followed wore the Studebaker badge.

The most influential form of early advertising was racing. It was an easy way to demonstrate the vehicle's speed, reliability, and capabilities. Most of the American racing scene was dominated by the specially-produced, behemoth racers - often sharing little with the production cars they represented. A new series of stock car type racing was emerging, however, and featured production-based racers that were dubbed 'light car races.' The racing was competitive as it put manufacturers against one another in machines that were closely related to what was available at the dealership. This was the beginning of stock car racing in America, a format that would dominate American racing.

The most prestigious event for this class in 1911 was the Tiedeman Trophy Race held in Savannah. Savannah in 1911 was the largest motorsports event in the country, hosting the Vanderbilt Cup, The American Grand Prix, and the Tiedeman Trophy. Over 500,000 spectators flocked to see this premier international motorsports event.

EMF fielded a team of three factory '30' Racers for the 1911 Tiedeman Trophy. They were all built on a chassis that EMF claimed was being pulled 'right off the production floor.' The three chassis numbers were 37859, 37430, and 37361. They were given minimal bodywork, a pair of bucket seats, a large-capacity fuel tank, and a supplemental engine oil tank. They were equipped with additional instrumentation, two spares, a radiator stone guard, tall axle ratios, and fuel and oil hand pumps. All three cars were finished in a dark blue racing livery with French grey numbers.

This was a two-man race, which meant each driver would have a riding mechanic. The mechanic's duties were maintaining the hand-pumped fuel pressure, supplying fresh oil to the crankcase, changing the inevitable puncture, and dealing with any unexpected repairs.

The three EMF cars were very successful at Savannah, having had no reliability issues, and finished in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. They nearly broke the world record for their class, missing by only a few minutes.

This particular example is the only surviving EMF factory-racing car and is believed to be the only surviving car from the Tiedeman Trophy. The current owner acquired it as a restoration project in the late 1970s. Among the many boxes of parts was a photo of the number 33 Savannah racer. Further research revealed that this car, chassis number 37367, had been driven by Jack Tower.

The first restoration was completed in the 1980s and the car began an active life on the vintage racing circuit. It frequently raced in hill climb events like Mt. Equinox and Mt. Washington. It has also raced at the Milwaukee Mile, New Hampshire International Speedway, and Lime Rock Park.

After over a decade of vintage racing, a second restoration was undertaken, which brought the car back to its authentic 1911 configuration. The engine was rebuilt, new high compression ARIAS pistons and a fresh twin spark ignition were fitted, and a free flow racing exhaust was installed. The 4-cylinder side valve engine has a single Updraft carburetor and is mated to a 3-speed Sliding Gear transaxle. There are Hartford Shock absorbers and 2-wheel mechanical brakes.

In the mid-2000s, the car was shown at several Concours events including the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2016