Since first spotting the above photo submitted by twin6 to the H.A.M.B.’s incomparable Photos Taken Before WWII thread, I’ve been meaning to investigate Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen‘s front-wheel drive, negative-cambered contraption, but the caption scrawled onto the photo – “Rose’s Auto- Rose City, Mich.-Colbath Artist” – doesn’t lead to any known automotive tinkerer. The only Rose City that I’ve so far uncovered in American automotive history is the 1912 Rose City Automotive Company out of Newcastle, Indiana, and that appears to have absolutely nothing to do with the above vehicle. The more I’ve studied the photo, the more perplexed I’ve become: What sort of engine is that? How does it transfer power to that giant flywheel? And how, in any way, was this contraption more useful than hitching some old nag to your wagon?
While we’re mining images from the Photos Taken Before WWII thread, here’s one submitted by T-Head just prior to the above photo, showing a homebuilt four-wheel drive car constructed with parts from a circa-1912 Buick and one MAMMOTH steering wheel. Again, I’ve searched to the best of my abilities for some relevant information, but came up with zilch. Anybody care to enlighten us on either of the two above photos? If not, any crazy guesses?