Ford's "999" and the Peerless "Green Dragon" the honor 

 of writing the first chapters in the romance of automobile 

 racing here, a story still being lived on the concrete of 

 Sebring and the bricks of Indianapolis. 



Less spectacular, but no less important, are the examples 

 of the first models of such well-known American automo- 

 biles as the Oldsmobile, Franklin, Cadillac, and Autocar. 

 These were among the very first cars offered to the buying 

 public by their makers, and on their acceptance the industry 

 was destined to rise or fall. 



Ask any collector to choose which car in the Smithsonian 

 collection he would like to own, and he would name the 

 Simplex. With the Mercer Raceabout and the Stutz 

 Bearcat, the chain-drive Simplex Speed Car is the most 

 sought after of early automobiles. It represents all that is 

 grand in the cars of the brassbound era — a truly mighty 

 engine and beautiful, clean lines. Only a few of these cars 

 remain today, and this is one of the best. 



All collectors look forward to the day when this mag- 

 nificent collection will be housed in the Smithsonian's new 

 Museum of History and Technology. Then, it is to be 

 hoped, there will be an opportunity for other important 

 vehicles to be added to the group, as their owners seek the 

 best eventual disposition for them. It would be satisfying 

 to know that, regardless of the tides of human fortune, the 

 really worthwhile early machines are being preserved. So 

 many important relics from the dawn of the industry have 

 already disappeared that now, more than ever, must those 

 remaining be saved, to be marveled at by future generations. 



Henry Austin Clark, Jr. 



Long Island Automotive Museum 

 Southampton, New York 

 July 1, 1956 



JUr i 9 1957 



