1927 Whippet 98A Six Speedster - Unique Stutz Bearcat Tribute Built Long Ago

1927 Whippet Six Speedster
Just Out of a Long Term Collection of Antique and Classic Automobiles
Documented to have been Constructed in this Configuration Just After World War II
Possibly in the Melvin Hershey Collection at one time - Great Stutz Bearcat Looks
Runs and Drives Very, Very Well - Just Had It Out For A Spin Yesterday!
This time at a LOW starting bid and NO Higher Reserve - Bid to Own!

Please Wait for all Pictures to Load - It's Worth It!

Discovered at last fall's Hershey swap meet in less than ideal condition and with very little information as to its origins, this six-cylinder 1927 Overland Whippet 98A is definitely an unusual one-off creation constructed from a donor ca. 1927 Whippet 98A plus readily available spare and salvage parts in the late 1940s. This Stutz Bearcat lookalike might have been constructed by Central Pennsylvania 'bricoleur' and cousin to the chocolate king Milton Hershey and that further improvements came later in the car's life.

Whatever the case, what we do know is that this car recently came out of a large collection amassed from a number of area estates and collectors over many years and that while not as seen in these photos cosmetically or mechanically when we acquired it, it was tantalizing enough to buy it and stash it up the hill in my friend Ron Light's garage last October prior to getting it down to our Savannah shop for some evaluation and repair.

Fortunately for us, someone recently fitted four new high-dollar Good Year reproduction tires and tubes that are appropriate to the period Whippet oak artillery wheels and the stance of this racy Speedster. The dual spares on the rear are older but would get one home in a pinch and certainly look the part.

Speaking of the artilleries, when we found the car, they along with the chassis were all a flaky yellow similar to the bodywork and had not aged well. We stripped everything below the top of the frame and refinished said pieces - the wheels are a work of art with multiple coats of marine spar varnish, while blacking out the chassis really gave the car an entirely new personality.

It is incredible how the original 1920s wheels match the beautiful oak employed in the seats and bodywork here. None of these pieces are from some sort of modern speedster kit body but appear to have been hand-crafted by someone with real woodworking skills.

We believe that the majority of the woodwork is newer than the WW2 era but probably no later than the 1970s. The leatherette covering on the seats and rear trunk seems to date to that period - it is high-quality and hard wearing stuff.

Needless to say, the fenders and bodywork are straight and solid throughout with the look of a brass-era Vanderbilt Cup racer.

The performance of the Whippet 178.3 cubic-inch 6-cylinder is sprightly - Whippets were known for being quite quick as A.J. "Cannonball" Baker found out when he set a new cross-country average speed record in 1927 of over 50 miles per hour - impressive given the roads (and lack thereof) in 1927!

We left the engine compartment pure - apart from a fluids service, a replacement carburetor (a practically brand-new Carter BB1 replaced the original Tillotson that was not savable) and a generator overhaul with a new electronic cut-out, it's about as we found it.

This was a fantastic conversion that made our Whippet a stellar performer.

This wonderfully simple car starts, runs and drives so easily. As most Overland/Willys/Whippet owners attest, these are very reliable classics.

The Overland-script lenses are fantastic period pieces in early vintage barrel-style lamps with a central spot lamp on the bar.

Above the cowl, a terrific period spotlamp also lights the way.

This Howe Searchlight is likely a rare accessory from the prior generation and is older than the original car!

The monocle windscreen is also not a readily available reproduction item but a real period accessory piece.

The dashboard is simple with nice brass trimmings and simple instrumentation - an amperes gauge that shows charge and discharge correctly and an oil pressure gauge that reads nice and high!

The Stewart Warner speedometer does not currently work and we have not determined why.

The master switch is very simple, ignition and lights on and off. The two pull knobs to the left are spark advance and choke.

The battery lives in the box on this side, while the other side is presently empty.

Brass and nickel go well together on this Speedster!

The fuel tank holds plenty for an afternoon jaunt.

We discovered quite a number of interesting documents including a xeroxed parts list and some WOKR issues and other paperwork in the trunk.

Four wheel brakes are nice to have on this Whippet, as it's quite quick and can be made to stop just as quickly.

Nice and dry under the little Six. You'll find no rust or excessive grime down here. We have had the wheels and drums off when we did the chassis detailing.

The transmission is a lot less drippy since it came in as now it has the right grade and weight of oil in it.

The exhaust is tight and solid from front to back.

The rear axle and suspension are also nice and dry.

My partner Joe Frazar took the Whippet to a Porsche meet a few weeks ago and got more attention than any 911!
Photo Credits Jim Goodlett, Rob Wilson

payment/shipping

This car is being sold by a licensed and bonded dealer of fine used automobiles located in Savannah and Augusta (where this car is now), Georgia. Please understand that this is an unusual 89 year old vintage car hand-built by men and not gods - and is thus sold as-is, where-is with no implied or stated warranty or guarantee; please be realistic about your expectations (i.e., if you expect it to run, start and drive like a late model used car, buy one of those instead). As stated above in the listing, we have made a significant effort over the last few months to correct issues that we found with the car - and with said effort now believe it to be in extremely good health based on many years of experience with other sports, classic and unusual cars of all types over many years.

Full payment is due within seven days of auction close unless discussed with us in advance of your bid. Your winning bid is a contract to buy, not just to look or for first right of refusal; the only reason your contract would be null and void is if it was found that we willingly misrepresented the car in the above description. If you feel you need to inspect the car prior to purchase, please arrange and have this inspection done prior to placing a successful bid, we welcome your visit. Accepted forms of payment include a cleared certified cheque or wire transfer in the dealership's bank account, or cash in person on pickup (no cash via the mail, eBay!). We require that paperwork be completed prior to or at the time of pickup (should you do this in person) or filed back with us if done remotely. We do not charge any tax to out of state buyers as this is something you handle at the DMV or, naturally, other dealers in all 50 states.

Shipping or pickup must occur within fourteen days of auction close unless discussed with us in advance of your bid. We are happy to refer you to one of the high-quality open or enclosed collector car shipping companies that we use frequently in the normal course of business - and we cannot stress enough the importance of using such a carrier and not a random transport broker or carrier you might find online, particularly as this is a unique vintage car in phenomenal condition. For international buyers, we can carry the car to the port of Savannah at no charge or to other ports for a nominal fee, though shipping beyond the U.S. border must be entirely arranged for and paid by you. Please contact us if you need any assistance with logistics and we'll be happy to help.

We reserve the right to cancel all bids and end the auction early at any time during the course of the sale should a sale occur outside of eBay as the car has been offered quietly through other channels over the past couple of weeks. We typically do not do this at all and only when full payment has been received from such a buyer will the auction be pulled.

Any legal action associated with this sale from either the buyer or the seller is to take place in the State of Georgia in the Chatham County Courthouse. The bidder/buyer further agrees that any legal action will be heard in Chatham County in the State of Georgia. All legal actions associated with this auction/sale will be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia and buyer agrees to be responsible for all legal costs including, but not limited to, court costs, expenses, attorney fees, cost of process service, and all other costs associated with the normal course of business.QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?

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