Admiral Byrd cars

There's nothing on Google about Admiral Byrd's personal cars but there was a great, related story in Special Interest Autos, 1986. Byrd commanded an Antarctic expedition in the late '30s, for which a fascinating exploration vehicle was constructed.

SIA Flashback – Byrd’s Big Bertha: the Ultimate Snowmobile | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

The 31 Caddy V-12 sedan is still in Maine. I remember the sale but not the details, I know someone who was there, Do you have a sertain car in mind or just a general interest. If memory serves me there was a 34 Lincoln also. Ed

I have seen and stayed with Grey and the sedan. I purchased an 1934 V16 from Denmark, and just bought two more cars owned by Byrd. I am told they sold at the estate auction. Cad registry showed he purchased the cars, just looking for more information. Thanks Brian

There aren't many 34 V16s around. I have one and would be interested to hear about yours. Dave Mitchell packard12s@hotmail.com

I have two 1934 V 16s. A 5899, and an 6275. The 6275 I purchased from Denmark, this is the car I am searching for more history. This is what I have so far; The first owner is believed to have been Texan, John Nance Garner, Vice President of the USA in the Roosevelt administration (1933-1941). A subsequent owner (or the very next one?) Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, US naval officer and famed Antarctic (South Pole) explorer. In the 60s, it was owned by the Admiral's son, by R.E. Byrd (Jr.?) of Boston, MA. He sold it [in the late sixties?] to Count J.O. Raben, of Nysted, Denmark. Somewhere along the way, this car was considerably modified [by whom?]. I got the engine number from Mr. Raben's secretary in 1977. The Museum catalog tells this story: The Admiral's son [R.E. Byrd] wrote to the Museum [no date indicated] asking whether the car might be of interest to it. He admitted it was in poor condition as it had lain out in the open for fifteen years, so the price was reasonable. Unfortunately, although the initial cost to acquire he car was low, restoration proved to be very expensive. The engine, however, was in good condition. All that was needed was to clean out the fuel lines; the car started up after only a few engine revolutions. Matt Larson, CLC archivist par excellence, confirmed in 7/2001 that this car started out as a flat-windshield 1934 V-16, Fleetwood style #6275 [as now listed here - previously I had it listed as a custom job]; Note, however, that unlike Fleetwood style #6275, the converted car has a "V" windshield; I doubt that anyone would want to attempt to convert a flat-windshield 1934 V-16 to a "V"-windshield type. Are we to assume, therefore, that a "V"-windshield limousine body was later put onto the original engine and chassis ( #5100030), from the cowl back, leaving ijn place the original body tag (#107) from the original flat-windshield car (style #6275)? Perhaps one of our Danish CLC members might volunteer to help us clear up this mystery by examining the car's body tag at the museum [hmmm?!?!]. Matt confirmed also that the first owner was not [as I had been told earlier] South Pole explorer, Admiral Byrd. The car was ordered by Capital Cadillac Co., Washington, D.C., and is listed as "Charge to Mrs. John N. Garner at Factory". Neither Matt nor I know who the Garners were, but cars charged to factory accounts in those days are rather unusual; that notation is found, for example, on build sheets for cars ordered by the various Fisher brothers, by Alfred P. Sloan, by Harley Earl, etc.]. as well as fully enclosed rear quarters. Stan Squires [car #5100050] a long-time acquaintance and V-16 enthusiast pointed out many years ago the following anomalies on the Raben car: (1) the car has no rear bumper, (2) three vertical "stiffeners" have been added between the bi-plane front bumper bars, (3) there are painted grille areas that should be chrome, (4) sealed-beam headlights have been added, (5) car has the wrong wheel covers. Late Extra [8/2002]: Long time CLC member, Currell Pattie, has solved the mystery of the first owner; he writes: If the John N. Garner is John Nance Garner, he just happened to be Vice President of the United States under Roosevelt! Currell adds: By the way, I grew up in Alexandria, VA, right across the river from DC. We were treated to a lot of interesting Cadillacs, due to the Federal Govt's presence. When the old car movement got started in the '50s, there were a lot of classic and neoclassic Cadillacs indigenous to the area. My own research revealed that this car was owned [in the late fifties or early sixties?] by a Mr. G.F. Wood of Boston, MA. In the Self Starter issue for Nov.-Dec., 1963, p.13, it is attributed to a Mr. R.E. Byrd of Boston, MA, whom it was later determined was the son of Admiral Byrd, the South Pole explorer. Thanks Brian