The roaring twenties an era of economic prosperity the years when the sky was the limit. People started dancing on Jazz music, the fashion become more exciting and modern. People started enjoying life in a modern way, as we have today. The era that evolved motorsport to a new standard, professional and serious. Car manufacturers started in both the States, Australia and Europe investing serious money in motorsport. Via this platform, they were able to show the world what their cars could do. Grand Prix driving would never be the same again after World War I. The sport had more flair, more passion and became an elite sport. Time to see which unraced cars brought 1926 us.
As the 1926 Grand Prix season happened 99 years ago, the information about this era is hard to get. Going through newspapers, magazines and books from that era is the only way to uncover the unraced of the roaring 1920s. Therefore, not all information is complete. Some years are lacking all the attempts made to appear on the grid. As well, the lack of proper covering bares the question sometimes if some is unraced or not. Especially for 1926 there are some i did not put on the list as the cars did appear in different race series like the Alvis or simply it is not sure if it actually exists like the Dürkopp which was an existing car in 1904.
Becquet Spl. Hispano-Suiza
The car appeared for the first time on the starting list for the III Grand Premio de España. M. Becquet was the driver. Sadly, there isn’t much to tell. It seems he was to race during the II Grand Prix de Provence at Miramas held the 28th of March.
Colson Special
Nothing much is known about the Colson special. It appeared on the starting list of the VI Grand Prix du M.C.F. held the 26th of September 1926 at Montlhéry. It seems that the Colson special was not ready in time.
Dürkopp P8A
Reinhold Dürkopp is the creator of this car. There is not much known about the Dürkopp. Two cars appeared on the starting list for the I Großer Preis von Deutschland in class E. This race was held at the Avus ring the 11th of July 1926. Both Reinhard Dürkopp and Rittmeister von Mosch were the supposed drivers. However, the cars did not appear at the start of the Grand Prix. Neither did it appear at another Grand Prix.
Fiat 451
Perhaps is the Fiat 451 one of the most curious cars that never appeared on the grid. The development of the car already started in November 1925 due to newly introduced regulations for 1926. The biggest change was the engine capacity went from 2l towards 1,5l had a 6 cylinder (52×58.55mm) engine vertically mounted with two geared crankshafts and 12 vertically opposed pistons. The original engine had 152HP at 5200 rpm, though Fiat continued developing the engine, as I understood. Eventually it had 170HP at 6000 rpm. It seems that Tranquillo Zerbi was behind it.
In the summer of 1926, Pietro Bordino was asked to test the car. It seems that both the driver and team were happy with the results. However, the engineers discovered that the pistons near the exhaust became too hot. Therefore, the project was parked and the focus went onwards with eventually the Fiat 805.
Guyot Spéciale
For the IV Grand Prix d’Europe two interesting cars appeared on the starting list. It were the Guyot Speciale build by Albert Guyot. Albert appeared at the start of the Grand Prix. The second car was probably a spare car. However, it could be another driver was assigned to it. The car was A Rolland Pilain Chassis.
Jean Graf CIME
The Jean Graf is another entry, which is not certain it did not start at a Grand Prix in 1926. Jean Graf appeared at the circuit of San Sebastián. However, during the practice he crashed the car into a tree and broke the rear axle of the car. Therefore, he was unable to start the race. A second attempt was made during the III Gran Premio de España at Lasarte where he did not arrive.
K&M
Appeared at the Indy 500 weekend, though failed to qualify.
Shambaugh
Appeared at the Indy 500 weekend, though failed to qualify.
Sievers
Appeared at the Indy 500 weekend, though failed to qualify.
Sima-Violet
In reality the Sima-Violet did appear at the start of hill climbs. The Two stroke car was designed as a Grand Prix car though was 200 kilo underweight. Therefore, the car was added with extra ballast. On the starting list for the XXX Gran Prix de I’A.C.F. held the 27th of June at Miramas the car was to made it’s debut. However, the car was not ready. Neither would it appear at another Grand Prix start. It did appear, as already said, in some hill climb and other races without any success.
Sublet Speciale
There is nothing known about the Sublet Speciale. What is known is contradictory .Only that it is a Cyclecar from Sublet. It appeared on the starting list for the I Grand Prix du Moto Club de Marseille Cyclecars. Though, did not arrive. Other info states that he did not finish.
Thomas Special
The car was in base a Grand Prix car, however the car only appeared on the entry list for the British Grand Prix at Brooklands that year. Cliv Gallop and Scrap Thistletwaite were to drive the car. The cars were sadly not ready. Later that year the cars would appear during several British races. The car looked, for it’s time, really modern and aerodynamic.
The others
There are also the others, which seems to be hard to get confirmation they did not start or arrive during a Grand Prix. Therefore below are the drivers and or cars that were to race but did not. Lacking the proper information to recognize them.
Boris Ivanowsky: There is no information available which car he was to race with. He did not appear for the I Grand Prix d’Alsace and II Grand Prix de Comminges – 1100
Michel Dore: There is no information available which car he was to race with. He was did not appear for the I Grand Prix d’Alsace and VI Grand Prix de Boulogne.
De Sessevale: Is mentioned on the start list for the II Grand Prix de Comminges.
Alistair Miler: Appeared on the starting list for the VI Grand Prix de Boulogne at Boulogne.
