1913 National Semi-Racing Roadster

448 CI T-Head 4-Cylinder, Retained by the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry for Nearly 60 Years · Lot R463 · Kissimmee 2027 - The National Model 40 Semi-Racing Roadster was built as a direct competitor to the Mercer Raceabout and Stutz Bearcat - The founder and president of National Motor Vehicle Company, Arthur C. Newby, was one of the four founding fathers of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - National was based in Indianapolis and Newby served as vice president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so after the speedway was built, it was only natural for National to compete - Joe Dawson drove a stripped-down National Model 40 to victory at the 1912 Indy 500 - This was the first and only time a stock-based car ever won the Indy 500, granting National the claim of “Fastest Stock Car in the World" - National automobiles were victorious at the Elgin National Trophy Race, the Santa Monica Leon Shettler Cup Race and the Cactus Derby from Los Angeles to Phoenix in 1911 - This example has factory-drilled cross members similar to the original racing models - Discovered by pioneer car collector D. Cameron Peck in the 1930s - Donated to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry in 1949 - Retained by the museum for nearly 60 years