For more listings, go to ChronAutos.com 1927 Case: Touring car from farm equipment maker
Farm equipment manufactured by the J.I. Case Co. of Racine, Wisconsin, was well-known in rural America as the 20th Century began. Case was not only a builder of threshing machines but also
steam traction engines, as well as agricultural tractors and other farm equipment.
As automobiles began to replace the horse and buggy, Case decided to cash in on the trend and offer a gasoline-powered car in 1910.
Case was already a trusted name and the network of dealers that sold Case farm equipment would also sell Case automobiles. That was the plan.
Initially, Case cars were powered by four-cylinder engines. After a few years a six-cylinder Continental engine replaced the smaller engine. The Case company proved to be more adept at selling farm equipment than cars, so Case automobile production ceased in the autumn of 1926 with only a few 1927 model cars manufactured.
One of those 1927 cars, a thoroughly restored Model “Y” seven-passenger touring car was advertised for sale in 2014 at an exclusively Case farm equipment auction in Maryland.
Scott Leaf’s stepson saw the ad and informed him of the equipment auction event. Leaf suggested the two of them should make the 75-mile trip that weekend to “see what they could see.”
The Case farm equipment at the auction held no interest for Leaf, but the fully restored 1927 touring car did. His bid was the highest and as of June 2014 he became the new owner of the 1927 touring car.
Graciously, the previous owner offered to show Leaf the intricacies of the workings of the Case. A week later the 3,975-pound car was delivered to Leaf’s home in Virginia. A close inspection revealed each wheel had 12 wooden spokes with two 7.00x20-inch spare tires on the rear of the car. All of the tires were on demountable rims. In the event of a flat tire, a power tire pump was mounted above the running board for a quick roadside repair.
The upscale Case had an electric starter for the convenience of the driver, and the 16-inch-by-2.5-inch four-wheel hydraulic brakes also provided even braking.
Under the long hood perforated by 31 louvers on each side is an L-head engine that develops 70 horsepower. At the rear of the car is the 18-gallon fuel tank with a gauge attached to register the level of gasoline in the tank.
The big touring car rides on a 132inch wheelbase. With a reference to the performance of the vehicle, Case advertised “At all speeds there is remarkable stability and safety.”
For economy, durability, depend- ability and extreme riding comfort Case recommended the Model “Y.” Case sales literature boasted: “The superiority of the Model “Y” can be appreciated to some extent by examination and comparison.”
By 1927 standards, the Case is well equipped with a glass rear window and a pair of metal saddles at the rear corners of the body to cradle the top whenever it is was lowered.
Additionally, near the rear of each rear fender were mounted a combination tail/brake light, each one shining STOP when the brakes were applied.
When Leaf climbs into his car through the 23-inch-wide door and settles into the driver’s seat behind the four-spoke wooden steering wheel with the spark advance and throttle levers sprouting from the hub, he finds a wooden dashboard above the front floorboard while the passengers in the rear are treated to a carpeted floor covering.
All of the upholstery is leather and concealed beneath the rear floor boards are the two pop-up jump seats. Flanking the chrome radiator shell at the front of the Case are the two non-glare “drum” headlights. At the top of the radiator is the time-honored Case eagle emblem modeled on “Old Abe,” the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Regiment from 1861 to 1881.
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