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Topic starter
04/07/2024 12:56 pm
Mike Wolf from the TV show American Pickers is known for saying, "The time to buy something is when you see it." What he's referencing is that when he's out on a pick, if you see something unusual, different, or rare, you shouldn't hesitate because you never know when (or if) you'll ever see it again.
Such is the case with a recent eBay bid. A dealer clearly was cleaning out a collection of eclectic and rare 1:43 models when he listed a 1932 Stapp Jupiter from Mach One Models. I'd heard of the brand but didn't have anything from them in my collection - until now. This model, which I never knew existed, came in kit form and someone expertly assembled it. The only blemish at all is the somewhat yellowing of the glue spots, which really only become visible in the close up photos below.
I don't know anything about the Stapp Jupiter, although I assumed it was a land speed record car (correct assumption, it turns out, based on this article I found online). And this model is filled with great little details. As John K might say, this is a miniature and not just a scale model.
04/07/2024 1:07 pm
I've not heard of it before now either. In other colors, it could go for the Oscar Mayer wiener mobile.
What a cool and unique little treasure you happened upon - hearty congratulations.
04/07/2024 2:47 pm
I also had not heard of it. It looks like a nice model with interesting history. Congratulations on your purchase.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
04/07/2024 5:14 pm
I'll join the group, I've never heard of it either, but way cool. That is an incredible find, congratulations!
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
04/07/2024 6:37 pm
Excellent snag, Randy! Congrats. I love all that detail, even brake rotors!
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
Tony Perrone and Randy Rusk reacted
05/07/2024 11:21 am
This one had me running (I mean, walking) to my library to pull out "Land Speed Record" by Cyril Posthumus and David Tremayne. Chapter 23 is titled 'The Untried and Paper Projects'. The Stapp-Jupiter was an amusing read and there is an old photo of the 1:1. Rene Stapp of Chatou, near Paris, took three 800-hp Stapp radial aircraft engines and plunked them into a Voisin chassis, then made the strange bodywork to go around it all. The original Voisin engine was retained for "starting purposes" and the Jupiters converted into "internal combustion turbines". (Here I'm starting to think scam). Note all the tubes sticking out the back. The inventor claimed all 4 wheels were driven by "electric transmission". Hmm....
Anyway, there was both a driver and a mechanic, who stood in the contraption much like locomotive engineers would. No windscreen, just a hatch to look out of. They did a demonstration run in Paris (it's speculated this was only via use of the Voisin engne) - hence the registration plates. It was taken to a beach in Brittany for further tests. There it burst into flames, with just enough time for the two men to escape. And that was that.
05/07/2024 12:45 pm
Anyway, there was both a driver and a mechanic, who stood in the contraption much like locomotive engineers would. No windscreen, just a hatch to look out of. They did a demonstration run in Paris (it's speculated this was only via use of the Voisin engne) - hence the registration plates. It was taken to a beach in Brittany for further tests. There it burst into flames, with just enough time for the two men to escape. And that was that.
Illustrated:
05/07/2024 6:35 pm
IMO, a "Jay Leno" special. He seems to gravitate to machines such as this.
Tony Perrone and Karl Schnelle reacted