1921 Daniels Speedster D-19

After the conclusion of the First World War, America entered a ten-year period of wealth and prosperity. Known today as the 'Roaring 20's,' it was a decade that was marked by conspicuous consumption, ragtime music, flappers, speakeasies, and fast automobiles.

While most people owned conservative touring cars and sedans, wealthy 'playboys' of the 1920s had two-seat sports cars which were often called speedsters or raceabouts. These earliest sports cars featured simple bodies that were lightweight and sporty in design.

This 1921 Daniels is an example of such a car. Built in Reading, Pennsylvania, it is powered by a 464 cubic-inch V8 engine that produces 90 horsepower. The crankcase is made of cast aluminum, and the cylinder blocks are cast iron. The radiator is made of German silver. The body construction is framed in wood, which provides the inner structure and strength. The wood framework is covered with a sheet metal overlay. This construction method was very typical during the 1920s.

The body style on this rare Daniels was called the Submarine Speedster and has several design features and accents that would normally be found on sporting boats of the period. Only 100 Submarine Speedsters were built by Daniels, and this example is the only one known to exist today.