1933 Dreyer Taper Tail

Sold for $60,000 at 2006 Bonhams & Butterfields at The Quail Lodge, Resort & Golf Club.
Floyd H. 'Pop' Dreyer was legendary in the racing scene during the first half of the 1900s. He was born on November 30, 1898, in Chillicothe, Ohio where he was raised on a farm. The work on the farm nurtured a necessity for mechanically inclined abilities. During his early teens, Floyd and his older brother purchased a motorcycle which fueled a desire for Flyod, and one that would turn out to be prosperous. During the 1910s through early 1920s, he built a winning reputation as a sidecar racer, winning many national racing championships sanctioned by the Motorcycle & Allied Trades Association (M&ATA).

Dreyer's early competitive years were not solely confined to motorcycles; he had much success in other racing ventures such as hillclimbs.

There were very few safety precautions during the early years of automobile and motorcycle racing. These were a treacherous and dangerous sport. It was not a question of 'if', but 'when'. Dreyer's time came on Labor Day in 1921, when he was involved in an accident with another sidecar. Dreyer's passenger, Jeff Mapes, was killed. Dreyer suffered a broken back which caused temporary paralysis and required a very long rehabilitation to recover. When he was healed, he returned to racing but was emotionally scared from his injuries and the ordeal. He retired from racing at the conclusion of the 1923 season. It was time for him to switch professions.

Dreyer's first complete racer was created near the close of 1927 for Jack Gallivan. By the early 1930s, he was creating racers for the 'junk formula' series which raced at the Indianapolis 500 race.

In 1953 he opened a BMW motorcycle dealership and in 1959, he added Honda motorcycles to his shop. He became the first Honda dealership east of the Mississippi.

Dreyer was one of the foremost mechanics and fabricators of his time. Racing and competition demanded ingenuity and forward-thinking techniques. The cars of this era were mostly homegrown and built from spare parts. If they were wrecked, they would be rebuilt or the parts would be used for another machine.

This 1933 Dreyer Taper Tail Roadster was built for Gilbert Pirrung. Mr. Pirrung was an engineering student at yale, who had a passion for racing. Mr. Pirrungs father had left a sizable fortune for his son, which gave Gilbert the means to pursue his hobbies. His mother later married Col. Gifford W. Gaylord, which, upon their deaths, only added to Gilbert's wealth.

The Dreyer Taper Tail Roadster featured a DOHC Ford Model B four-cylinder engine. Dreyer modified the engine to include a 15-gear drive tower to the camshafts which could have a camshaft timing adjustment up to 3 degrees. Horsepower was reported to be in the 100 range. The body and much of its components were built from lightweight materials, as Dreyer's motorcycle racing experience had taught him the benefits of an excellent power-to-weight ratio. The car's top speed was around 100 mph. The body of the car was built by Dreyer with assistance from Carl Knotts. Hanging from the side of the car was a spare tire. In the front was a hand-built radiator shell followed by a full windscreen. Cycle fenders helped protect the occupants from any road debris. The front fenders were designed to move with the front wheels. Ford drum brakes can be found on all four corners, with an external handbrake lever operating the rear.

The car remained in Pirrung's possession for only a short period of time, before it was sold to Lou Guiliano and Al Pari. Under their care, the fenders and headlights were removed and it was raced in the Northeast under the title 'White Birch Garage Special.' Ownership changed throughout the years. It was later treated to a restoration where it was fitted with a Miller-head Model B Ford engine. A new owner was found in 2001, who returned the original Floyd Dreyer DOHC Model B Ford block engine back into the engine bay. The engine is now capable of an estimated 200 hp and should be a strong competitor in historic racing competition.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2007