1926 Miller Locomobile Junior 8 Special
- Engine
- 1.5L (91 cu in) supercharged twin-cam straight-eight, ~155 bhp initially, later over 250 bhp
Chassis number 8, one of just eight rear-wheel-drive Miller 91s ever constructed, was originally built in 1926 as one of two purpose-built Locomobile Junior 8 Specials commissioned by Cliff Durant to promote his newly acquired automobile marque. Driven at the 1926 Indianapolis 500 by Durant himself, the car went on to enjoy a racing career spanning nearly three decades under numerous owners and drivers. Following decades in sprint-car form and a long dormant period, it was exhaustively restored by Zakira's Garage using an original Miller 91 engine acquired from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, earning Best in Class at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$770,000
- —Auction saleSold US$650,000
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2008RestorationZakira's Garage
Comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration undertaken by marque specialists, encompassing acquisition of a correct original Miller 91 engine and select ancillary components sourced directly from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, recreation of the 1926 Indianapolis bodywork, correct satin-polished and chrome-plated finishes throughout, and retention of original frame, steering box, and spring hangers.
Commissioned by Sam and Emily Mann after purchasing the car as an incomplete project; original body was assessed as too fatigued for reuse and therefore recreated. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio. No onboard starter was fitted in order to maintain period correctness.
- —Modification
Car was converted from its original Indianapolis configuration into sprint car form, with sprint car bodywork fitted and a Riley engine installed in place of the original Miller 91 unit.
Associated with Floyd Roberts's tenure as the Roberts Special; exact date not recorded.
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