Team Blog

As of 1/1/07 the car’s restoration is moving along on schedule. The radiator is restored and ready to be installed. The frame is in primer, up on wheels and detail parts are being added. The engine is balanced with new babbit and awaiting assembly. Plans are to assemble it now in January and be ready to start it this spring. The body was just finished by Ray Wells in El Cajon, CA. who installed new wood in the new metal body built by Larry Sitauer of Snohomish, WA. Work is progressing on rebuilding the steering. The hubcaps are at Rick Britten’s in Michigan being polished. The Magneto is sitting on the work bench of Vern Campbell - all finished and reportedly kicking out lots of power.

We are still looking for some missing parts. We desperately need an exhaust manifold. If we don’t find an original, we will have to fabricate one, but hopes are there is an original out there somewhere we can put on Alice’s engine. We need a pair of Maxwell headlites. They need to be Maxwell script and likely have a number on them. We also need a #4 Maxwell tail light.

We also need the pulley that keeps the brake chain equalized. Considering started with nothing three years ago, this is quite a short list.

January’s E-Bay was good to us. We were able to buy a top for the car that needs new wood and repaint, but looks like it will work out well. We also got a robe rail for the back of the front seat. Pieces like this tend to trickle in so bit by bit we will have a whole car.

We are very grateful to the many people who have supported this effort to date. There are so many I hesitate to mention names for fear of leaving someone out. We do need to acknowledge Tom Thoburn who long dreamed of being able to do this centennial drive, but sadly did not live long enough. This drive will be in memory of Tom and all he did to preserve the memory of the Maxwell automobile. His daughter Terry has been a great help and support, supplying the engine and transmission for Alice’s car. Obviously a metaphor for the work her father did for Maxwell in the hobby.

Also, without the help and assistance of Sterling Walsh we would never be able to get on the road. He had the frame for Alice’s car that kick started this whole project. He also has the only other 1909 DA Maxwell, so the photographs and templates taken from his car have given us the road map we needed to complete this automobile. Thank you all for your help and support. We could never do this without everyone lending a hand.

In July we did the final fitting for the sheet metal on the body. The body has been fitted, fenders and hood aligned and splash aprons adjusted. It really looks like a car with all its parts intact. After a few pictures, we disassembled everything and transported the body to the paint shop for final painting. We are promised to have it back and ready for upholstery before thanksgiving.

In August we put the finished engine into the chassis. Since then final assembly of all the drive parts, attaching manifolds, brake lines, etc. is moving along. We had to have an exhaust manifold made for the car as the engine did not have one when it was donated by Ed & Terry Huston. I took the exhaust manifold off of the 1908 Model K Maxwell roadster and sent it to Art Bergstrom for a pattern. By early October he had sent the pattern to the foundry, so a new manifold should arrive soon.

Our hope is to fire up the engine sometime in December. Once we get it running and work out a few mechanical kinks…..all of the running gear comes apart and will go to the paint shop for final paint. Going to Hershey in October and getting a bit distracted when I found original engine parts for the 1909 Pierce Arrow delayed work progress on the Maxwell for a few weeks, but we are back at it now and moving ahead.

The Horseless Carriage Club of America voted to support the drive and encourage regional groups to participate along the way. We are pleased to be able to promote the club to the people we meet across the country and to have other vintage cars join us on the drive for a few miles or the entire trip. Alice had others join her during different phases of her drive, and we welcome the same from others who want to participate.