1923 Overland 92 Series Red Bird
The Willys-Overland story starts with the foundation of Overland in 1902. The name for the car was decided over a coffee break one day during the fall of 1902 by Charles Minshall, president of the Standard Wheel Company of Terre Haute, and Claude E Cox, who had just graduated from the Ross Polytechnic Institute in town. Their experience in the automobile field was limited to Cox’s senior thesis project for a four-wheeler derived from a motorized tricycle. Despite this inexperience, the first Overland was a quite advanced little car for its day.
For consignment, a barn find right out of 1923. This car was being built post the time of World War 1, and the company experienced many hardships during this time, but managed to produce fairly large numbers. Our example needs TLC in the form of a full on restoration.
Exterior
Red paint shows plenty of patina, and some surface rust. It is a 4 door convertible sedan with a sleek body that includes a cowled hood, tilting windshield, gas lamp side firewall lamps that are now electrified, curved fenders that meet in the center with a running board, and a rear spare tire mounted on. The rear fender shows the beginnings of invasive rust. Black spring-like front bumper and same rear bumper frame the bottom of the car. Surface rusted headlamp casing hangs off of either side of the front radiator cowl and the open fenders surround artillery wheels with solid rubber tires.
Interior
Black leather in dry rotted condition covers the door panels and a storage bag is attached in the centers. The front and rear benches are also covered in black leather, very aged but are overstuffed and have wide tuck and roll pleats in them. Dirty rubber flooring is all about the cabin, and in front of a primer painted steel dash, are several round gauges, and a few pulls that have rusted bezels and knobs, plenty of patina and dulling, is a large wood steering wheel. Under the back bench is stored a few extra parts, and a fire extinguisher. The canvas top is in poor condition.
Drivetrain
Under the cowled hood, is a partially built engine in the form of a 153.9ci L-head 4 cylinder engine. It produces 19.5hp when running, and is fed by a 1 barrel carburetor. On the back is a 3 speed manual transmission coupled with a 4.50 rear axle. All is in need of plenty of work.
Undercarriage
Cantilever suspension is on with mechanical drum brakes on the rear axle. Some surface rust, (a bit heavy in places), is seen on an otherwise black painted steel frame and floor pan. Running boards and hangers are in no rust condition, and it does not appear that the underbelly of the transmission leaks.
A project car in need of TLC.. It is not often seen, and is somewhat rare right out of 1923. Grab your wrenches and torch, and belly up to this Overland 92 Series Red Bird, and after the work you can take flight.
Price: $9,000
More info: Listing has ended. Click to search on eBay for similar 1923 Overland (Affiliate link)
Seller's other items: classicautomall
Location: Morgantown, Pennsylvania, United States
