Cliff Durant commissioned Harry A. Miller to build the “Baby Chevrolet” in the spring of 1919. The original 1920 Miller Durant Special Race Car, was first powered by a disappointing iron 4-cylinder Miller engine. Under Tommy Milton’s guardship, an 8-cylinder Duesenburg engine was installed in early fall of 1920. This combination also proved unsuccessful. On October 2, 1920, Milton ordered a new Miller engine, the design executed by Leo Gosseen. Milton raced the newly engined chassis with great success.
The original car was destroyed in a racing accident on September 17, 1922, in Kansas City, MO. Only the engine was salvageable. This car was built (2005-2010) by Bill Castle (from age 85-90) as an intellectual engineering fabrication challenge to duplicate the original car. It gave new life to the original 183 cubic-inch, double overhead cam 8-cylinder engine.
Overview
- Model: Miller Durant Special
- Year: 1920
- Designer: Harry Miller
Historical Significance
- Pioneering Engineering: Harry Miller was a legendary American race car designer and builder whose innovations had a profound impact on motorsport. The Miller Durant Special embodies his approach to combining advanced engineering with high performance.
- Racing Pedigree: The car was built for and named after William Crapo Durant, the founder of General Motors. Durant was a significant figure in the automotive industry and a major supporter of motorsports.
Design and Specifications
- Engine: The Miller Durant Special was powered by a Miller-designed inline-four engine. Miller's engines were known for their precision and advanced engineering, featuring overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, which were innovative at the time.
- Transmission: Manual transmission, typical of race cars from that era.
- Chassis and Body: The car featured a lightweight, streamlined body designed for high-speed performance. Miller's designs often included innovative features such as supercharging, although specific details about the Durant Special's use of such technology are less documented.
- Suspension and Brakes: The car used a simple yet effective suspension system suitable for the rough, unpaved race tracks of the time. Drum brakes provided stopping power, which was standard for the period.
Design Features
- Exterior: The Miller Durant Special had a sleek, aerodynamic design that was ahead of its time. The bodywork was likely crafted from aluminum or similar lightweight materials to reduce weight and improve speed.
- Interior: The interior was purely functional, designed for racing with minimal comfort features. It included basic instrumentation, a steering wheel, and seating designed to keep the driver secure during high-speed maneuvers.
Achievements and Legacy
- Racing Success: Miller race cars were highly successful in American motorsport, particularly in the Indianapolis 500 and other major races of the era. While specific race results for the Miller Durant Special may not be extensively documented, Miller's cars dominated the racing scene throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
- Influence: Harry Miller's designs influenced the development of race cars for decades. His focus on lightweight construction, advanced engine design, and aerodynamics set new standards in the industry.
Legacy
- Innovative Design: The Miller Durant Special exemplifies the pioneering spirit of early 20th-century American motorsport, showcasing Harry Miller's innovative approach to race car design.
- Historical Importance: This car, along with other Miller creations, played a crucial role in advancing race car technology and performance, influencing future generations of race car engineers and designers.
- Collector's Item: Today, cars built by Harry Miller, including the Durant Special, are highly prized by collectors and automotive historians. They represent a significant era in the history of racing and automotive innovation.
Taken at the Amelia Concourse.
You may purchase a print of the 1920 Miller Durant Special Race Car in our dElegance 2013 online gallery.
