As American thoroughbreds go, most people immediately think of Mercer, Stutz or Simplex. Not too many people think of the Midland, from Moline, Illinois, which lived for just five years under the leadership of Charles Pope and the Deere family. The 50-plus-year-old restoration on this 1911 Midland Raceabout seems to have held up well, and it looks ready to challenge any Mercer, Stutz or Simplex on a race track or at a concours. From the seller’s description:
Restored by Wilkinson & Sharp in 1958, this exciting raceabout entered a 50 year long sleep from which it emerged in 2010. Tens of thous spent to go through the entire car including the pressure assisted pump oiling system. Gearbox and the Midland designed and Timken built full-floating rear. Engine by Midland is a 40 hp T-head with caged valves over 2″ diameter. Engine clutch & trans are bellhousing unitized and rear has a tapered torque tube drive with a spere contained universal, identical to what Royce produced in 1913. Goodyear 27″ rims have new universal straightside tires. This is certainly one of the best looking cars we have ever owned and looks identical to a 38 hp Simplex speed car or like a J-Mercer on steroids. With a pedal activated cutout adjacent to the accelerator and very quick steering, the car tours with a rearl snarl, with tall gearing, the car goes faster than a brave man would drive it.
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