1911 Stafford Racer

The Stafford Motor Car Company was founded by Terry Stafford in Topeka, KS, and later moved to Kansas City. The company began manufacturing automobiles in 1910, and ceased production in 1915, building between 300 and 400 chassis. Designed by Terry Stafford, this car has a 30-horsepower, OHC, water-cooled, four-cylinder engine with roller tappets and hemispheric combustion chambers. The car rides on a 112-inch wheelbase. This 1911 chassis, number 207, was discovered derelict in Texas by collector Gilbert Stafford (no relation to Terry Stafford) in the early 1950s. Research indicates that this chassis was used by the company as a racer to promote the marque, and was driven by W.C. Henning, brother of Cotton Henning, the famous Indianapolis race car mechanic. Further research revealed that President Harry S. Truman purchased a used Stafford in 1913 prior to his marriage to Bess Wallace. Taking 10 years to acquire and restore, this rare, sole-surviving Stafford has been returned to its pre-World War prominence.