Marr Auto Car @ BCA Concord,NC
The date is approaching fast and we’re making preparations. Don’t miss out! The car willl be on display for the annual Buick Club Of America Event.
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We hope to see you in Dearborn at Old Car Festival!
se are headed to Dearborn next if our entry is accepted. September 6th and 7th
Rev Your Engines: Take a Look at Walter Lorenzo Marr’s Car, “The Marr Auto Car” 1902/1903
Walter Lorenzo Marr’s “Marr Auto Car’
Marr Auto Car
GENEVA CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE
1903 MARR AUTO CAR
W. Barton Close- Caretaker
Written by: Paul Durant Marr
1903 MARR AUTO CAR
This is the only known surviving production Auto Car designed by Walter L. Marr, founder of the Marr Auto Car Company. Finished in its original color, it will run at 35 MPH. Oddly enough, this car was never owned by Mr. Marr. He never kept a copy of the car that bore his name. He likely worked for David Buick from 1899 until 1901 as Chief Engineer. At that time Buick built engines for boats, sawmills, and other manufacturing uses. During this period, Marr built a motorized wagon in a barn behind the shop. After a disagreement between Buick and Marr, Walter purchased and used it as a prototype for the Marr Auto Car. He made significant changes to the vehicle after leaving the Buick’s employ. Perhaps most remarkable was the addition of an over-head cam to operate the valves. This car is believed to have first OHV-OHC high compression single cylinder engine produced in the United States.
The car was one of the most advanced of the time. It has a patented tilt steering wheel, a revolutionary carburetor, single lever forward, reverse and brake lever, changeable gears in a planetary transmission and spark ignition box.
Fauber Manufacturing Co. in Elgin, Illinois was engaged to produce the Marr Auto Car. Marr left Fauber in 1903 over a dispute about not building the cars to his standard. Shortly thereafter, the factory burnt to the ground destroying most of the cars. In August of 1903 Marr went back with David Buick and engines until 1918. He remained a Buick consulting engineer and continued designing cars largest corporation in the world, General Motors Corporation with the foundation of what would become the little car has quite a history.
For Fifty Years it was kept in the basement of the Henry Ford Museum, mislabeled as a Haynes Automobile!
It was discovered to be a Marr and sold at auction in the 1985. Mr. Bill Close bought the car in the late 1990’s. The Marr family finally had a Marr Auto Car. (Mr. Close married Walter L. Marr’s granddaughter, Sarah Jane Mathes, a restoration on the car, returning it to its original red color. After Bill’s death, his son Barton took over as care giver and has completed an impressive list of awards.
Mr. Marr’s “Cycle Car Design For Buick” 1914
The Buick Cycle Car
Cycle Car 1914
1914 Buick Cyclecar
Overview
Walter L. Marr, Chief Engineer of Buick Motor Co., set out to design and build a cyclecar. As an example of that period, Marr’s cyclecar was one of the best and perhaps the most substantial ever built.
Specifications
• Engine: Four-cylinder, side valve, water-cooled engine
• Wheelbase: 100 inches
• Chassis: Channel frame, I-beam axle, shaft-driven rear wheels
• Braking: Parking brake
• Features:
• Adjustable steer wheel
• Fuel gauge
• Oil circulating gauge
• Clock
• Electric head and tail lights powered by a Delco generator
• Weight: 600 pounds
Development and Production
Buick was pleased with Marr’s effort, but cost analysis proved that his cyclecar would have been almost as expensive to manufacture as a small production Buick. Only this prototype was built. Buick embarked upon no further development of the cyclecar type of vehicle simply because by the end of 1914 the cyclecar idea was virtually dead.
Historical Context
This car was built ironically under the supervision of the great Walter P. Chrysler, who was Mr. Marr’s works manager at Buick at the time. The cyclecar was presented to Mr. Marr, and it remained in the family, being passed down to son Walter D. Marr, who restored the car in 1946, and then to grandson Richard Marr and now to great grandchildren Peter, Richard, and Debbie
Mr. Marr’s Twin 6 Design For Buick 1915/1916
Twin Six Running
The Buick Twin Six by Paul Durant Marr
1915 Buick D55 Twin Six Experimental Seven Passenger Touring
On Display is the One and Only Buick V12 Ever Built. Nut and bolt restoration completed in 2004-2014. Approximately 75% of the restoration work was completed by Paul Durant Marr.
Walter L. Marr, my great grandfather, was Buick’s first chief engineer. He designed this car. Stamped into the bell housing is “Marr”. No serial numbers were used in this experimental department, justjob numbers. Mr. Marr was a perfectionist and thus let them know “you better get this one right”.
The inspiration for this design was driven by the Packard Twin Six that was set to debut in 1916.
I believe this is the first “V” style OVERHEAD VALVE engine built by a GM division.
The best part of Marr’s engine was the “VALVE IN HEAD” design. With twenty-four dazzling exposed push rods activated arms ticking away like a fine clock!
Mr. Marr asked for some help at the drafting table and Mr. Chrysler sent him a young man named Leo Goossen! He lived with the Marr’s as Mr. Marr’s protégé and helped lay out the Twin Six and many other projects before heading west to work for Harry Miller (“the greatest creative figure in the history of the American racing car”. Cars built by Miller won the Indianapolis 500 nine times.)
Two Twin Six engines were to be built and installed in modified D55s. One would go to Mr. Marr and the other to then President Walter P. Chrysler. It is not known what happened to the Chrysler Twin Six car. Marr enjoyed his car as his personal pride and joy at his home in Signal Mt. Tennessee until passing it on to his son Walter D. Marr II, and subsequently to Walter L. Marr III and on the current caretaker Paul Durant Marr.
By: Paul Durant Marr
Watch Marr Designs Run!
Watch the only remaking Marr Auto Car go.
This will give you a brief history of Walter Lorenzo Marr and a ride in the Marr Auto Car.
Wayne Carini Awards Marr Auto Car & Marr Cycle Car
We were thrilled to win Co-Grand Marshal’s Choice. This was one of Dick Marr’s last shows in the Cycle Car he inherited from his father Walter D. Marr, son of Walter Lorenzo Marr.
Marr Auto Car, Marr Cycle Car and Marr Twin 6 Driven
this was the first time since 1903 that all three of Walter Marr’s designs were in the same place. We had a great show at St. John’s.
Buick Twin Six
This is a short drive in the one of a kind Buick prototype twin 6 cylinder designed by Walter Lorenzo Marr. This car is the only survivor as Walter Chrysler turned his back in to
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