Cleaning out a friends shop.

[coljar]

I received a phone call recently from an old friend's daughter that wanted to know if I would like to clean out his shop. She just wanted me to clean out any items I wanted or might use and leave the junk for someone that was going to haul it away. Her father died in 1981 and the shop has been virtually sealed up since. The only things that are gone were sold off by her mother in the early 80's and that would be the larger items, Bridgeport mill, lathe, drill press, shaper, boring bar, and press. The other two items that were sold won't mean much to most of you, but does to me, a Porsche 356 and a D type Jaguar. Looking back, I'm sure she didn't get much out of any of it.

My friend was a tool & die maker by trade, but had to retire early(1974) with a bad heart. His interested were, for the most part, British, German, and Italian cars, but he done engine and transmission work on others as well. His skills were well known in this part of the state in certain circles, mainly racing.

His daughter called again the other night to ask if I was still interested and I told her I could come down that evening to look things over. I drove my wife's CR-V because I hadn't plan on getting anything that night, but I'll show you some of the things I bought home.

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This is my friend, William "Bill" Nutter in 1970.

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[coljar]

There is a large library of old factory service manuals for Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, Austin Healey's, Alfa's, etc...…...the kind of cars I like.

 

[RTM]

Nice pile o goodies to remember a friend by. Hard to tell which means more, the tools, or the stopwatch and SCCA books.

 

[Samuel D]

Quality! Judging by his tools and interests, the man had discerning taste in mechanical things.

 

[coljar]

This was all mostly in a couple of boxes that was easy to grab to put in the Honda. She has to work for the next few days(78 years old) and I'll probably get some more next week. She's in no hurry for me to get the rest. The day I got those items would have been Bill's 104th birthday.

 

[driftpin]

A 356 & a 'D'-Type? Sheesh!

Well he's gone a long time, and sorry to hear about that. The machinist's tools you're getting are some useful pieces, if you have the machinery on-which to use 'em. Any CURTA 'coffee-grinder?' Or a clipboard with multiple, ganged stopwatches?

Sounds like there are a lot of interesting pieces there, if you want to donate some of the literature try contacting these people: the public will have access to the content.
https://revsinstitute.org/the-collection/

https://revsinstitute.org/about-the-institute/history/

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2014/02/18/racing-heroes-miles-and-sam-collier

 

[JoeMcGov]

Dear googily moogily. What a "I'm not gonna bring anything home" brought home!!!!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'm sure Bill would be happy to know those items are going to you.

 

[coljar]

A 356 & a 'D'-Type? Sheesh!

Well he's gone a long time, and sorry to hear about that. The machinist's tools you're getting are some useful pieces, if you have the machinery on-which to use 'em. Any CURTA 'coffee-grinder?' Or a clipboard with multiple, ganged stopwatches?

Sounds like there are a lot of interesting pieces there, if you want to donate some of the literature try contacting these people: the public will have access to the content.
https://revsinstitute.org/the-collection/

https://revsinstitute.org/about-the-institute/history/

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2014/02/18/racing-heroes-miles-and-sam-collier

Thanks Driftpin. I do some light machining, but not on his scale. I've really only scratched the surface on what's in there.

I'm sure Bill would be happy to know those items are going to you.

Yes, I like to think so.

 

[Dave455]

While it’s always sad when someone passes, It’s nice that his things have been passed on to someone who will appreciate them. It’s the way that things should be.

A D Type? An original? The only consolation is that they were not worth quite such a huge fortune in the 80’s!

Your friend was obviously very discerning, and I suspect his things meant far more to him than the monetary value.

I know something of watches, and Omega always made nice stopwatches. It’s one of the things that marked them out as a “tool” watch manufacturer. Those stopwatches were called industry timers and are often seen with those holders. A nice thing to own.

Personally, I always hold on to every service manual I acquire. They’ve been quite invaluable over the years, even some of the ones for cars I never thought I’d see again!

 

[930dreamer]

I love the Omega stop watch.

 

[2oolhound]

After all the years that stuff has been sitting I'm sure your friend will be smiling to see you taking it.

I've received things from old friends and the more time that passes the more I think of and appreciate those friends, even more so than when I first received them. Their photos I have scattered around remind me of what a true friend is. Eventually we can brighten someone else's life with these gifts.



.

 

[Indexmill]

Just remember, one day we will be that old guy/gal that dies with a shop full of stuff that the family will have to deal with... Plan now.

 

[RoninB4]

As a former tool and die maker with a similar appreciation for the cars and tooling he chose I probably would have enjoyed knowing him and hanging out at his garage/shop.

I will probably leave a similar cache behind in the not-too-distant-future. All things must pass.

 

[ng8264723]

Wait a real d type? Are you kidding?
………………………………………………………..

 

[bugnut]

Coljar, neat stuff. Did Bill perhaps work in central Ohio? Seems very familiar.

 

[coljar]

Wait a real d type? Are you kidding?
………………………………………………………..

Yes, the real deal, but at the time, I didn't know what that meant, and had little appreciation for it. I was into American muscle cars. Fast forward, been into nothing but British and German cars since the mid 90's.

Coljar, neat stuff. Did Bill perhaps work in central Ohio? Seems very familiar.

No, but his work was known far and wide and he knew a lot of people including many in central Ohio. He was a reserved quiet man until you got to know him.

 

[driftpin]

Some light reading: https://www.motor1.com/news/226244/1956-jaguar-d-type-auction/

https://uk.motor1.com/features/178786/everything-jaguar-dtype/

I think it was in Car and Driver I read a short story about a D-Type, very-funny, maybe by one of the editors there, who also wrote a column, Warren Weith. It goes something like this:

In the 1950's the factory sold a D-Type Jaguar to a USA racer, who immediately planned to campaign it on the road courses for-which it was so well-suited. He loaded it onto an open trailer, hooked it to his tow vehicle, and set-out for Road America. The driver he was going to use was accompanying him in the tow vehicle, a British racer who shall remain nameless.

Somewhere in the rural countryside, short of their goal, Elkhart Lake WI, the tow vehicle experienced a break-down. Sitting on the side of the road, the D-Type owner realized that they would miss the race registration, if they did not depart immediately to arrive at the track. There was no-way that the tow-rig and its load would be able to make it.

The D-Type owner said to his driver, "The D-Type has a full tank of gas, just drive it to the track and put-in the registration papers for the race!" The remaining distance to the track was well-within the range available from the gas tank capacity. The fact that a British race car without any-sort of licensing for use on the roadways of the USA was highly-illegal, didn't faze the British driver at-all. The car was unloaded from the open trailer, and off he went, a thundering cacophany of precision engineering clothed-in British Racing Green and a wrap-around windshield the likes of which had never been seen on the public thoroughfares of rural Wisconsin.

The British driver was making good time, he was loafing along at about 80 mph, almost halfway on the tachometer, when he became-aware of a warbling siren approaching from behind. A glance in the rear-view mirror showed a local sheriff's patrol car, properly-equipped with a 'gumball' emergency light on the center-front of the roof, lit and its message clearly-understood by the D-Type driver. He pulled to the side of the road, and he presented a dashing figure in his safety helmet, split-lens safety glasses, and driving gloves, the one-piece driving suit in white a stark-contrast to the car's British Racing Green.

The sheriff's deputy pulled his Ford Fairlane patrol car behind the Jaguar, and walked-up to the driver's side (this was built as a left-hand drive). "Do you have any-idea how-fast you were traveling? What kind of car is this, where's your license plate?"

The British racecar driver answered, "I'm sorry constable, this automobile is a purpose-built racing vehicle, a Jaguar. As a racing vehicle, it has no-use for a speedometer, I have a tachometer, oil and water gauges, and a petrol gauge. Therefore, I cannot report to you the speed which I was traveling-at, which is dependent upon the gearing in my differential."

"Just where were you headed in this anyway?" asked the sheriff's deputy.

The D-Type driver replied, "we were within driving distance of Elkhart Lake when the lorry transporting this vehicle came a-cropper, and I decided to complete my journey to Elkhart Lake upon my own, whilst the lorry operator waited upon assistance."

The sheriff's deputy looked the car up and down. He walked to the front and saw the sleek compound curves of the fenders, no bumpers, and the oval air intake, as the cooling sidepipes ticked-away.

"Well," the deputy said, "you're almost to Elkhart Lake, I suppose if you stay on the backroads, you can make it to the racetrack. If you come to a community, you have to slow-down. How are you going to know how-fast you're going?"

The British racecar driver thought for a moment, and said, "constable, could you assist me in determining the speeds at-which I'm traveling? I would be beholden to you if you would accelerate to 60 MPH, and then honk your horn. I shall make-note of my tachometer's reading. Then accelerate to 80 MPH, and honk your horn again, and I'll read the tachometer. What do you believe is the terminal speed of your pursuit vehicle?"

"Why, this here is a Ford Interceptor Police Package, it can do 120 MPH, you're never going to be able to match that-in this funny little car!" said the deputy.

"Could you please do-me one last favor? Once we do the 80 MPH tachometer speed-check, would you please accelerate to your top-speed, so I can determine how-much faster you are?" asked the D-Type driver. The deputy agreed. They were on empty rural roads, crossing land with farms full with summer's crops.

The deputy returned to his Ford, and got underway, he smartly accelerated to 60 MPH, and beeped his horn. He saw a wave of a gloved hand, from the D-Type driver, in his rear-view mirror. The deputy accelerated to 80 MPH. Another horn beep, another wave of the gloved hand from the D-Type.

The deputy floored the automobile, and after a bit, he looked-down at his speedometer, saw that he was approaching 120 MPH, and was quite-busy, struggling to keep the car centered on the rural road. He looked-in his rear-view mirror, and as he suspected, the dark-green car was nowhere in-sight.

Suddenly, he realized why the green car wasn't in his rear-view mirror, because the car was beside him! The deputy saw the other driver mouth the words "thank-you!" to him, he then touched two fingers of his left hand to the helmet he was wearing, and accelerated-away, leaving the Ford far-behind, the deputy slowed to about 60 MPH, and didn't-bother to attempt pursuit.

 

[coljar]

Thanks Driftpin, that was good. Something I might add. Bill was a man of modest means. Back before the price of exotic race cars went crazy, they could be had for cheap when they were no longer considered competitive. The D type was setting under a tarp next to his shop when I saw it and wasn't a running car. It was a project that he was going to get around to and I'm sure if he had lived, he was only 65, he would have done it. I can identify with that......now in my 60's. The 356 was a nice car and he drove it on sunny days.

 

[driftpin]

Thanks Driftpin, that was good. Something I might add. Bill was a man of modest means. Back before the price of exotic race cars went crazy, they could be had for cheap when they were no longer considered competitive. The D type was setting under a tarp next to his shop when I saw it and wasn't a running car. It was a project that he was going to get around to and I'm sure if he had lived, he was only 65, he would have done it. I can identify with that......now in my 60's. The 356 was a nice car and he drove it on sunny days.

That's true. Still, they could be expensive. Not as-expensive as today, seven-or-eight figures, of-course. I recently read a story about a Sebring race car sitting on the side of the road with a 'for sale' sign on it, in Miami, the early 1970's, and the asking-price was several thousand dollars. As you mentioned, 'no-longer competitive,' so it was just a used-up race car, waiting for someone with the disposable income to come-along to purchase it. The back-story was that it had run at Sebring, and it may or may-not have-been cpapble of running, as it sat on the side of US-1, the main Miami thoroughfare on the east side of town, which went south towards the Florida Keys, and Key West, where it became A1A.

The used-up racing car was a SWB Ferrari 250 GT, check-out the prices for them today.

About the Jaguar D-Type, here's something from a post on GJ under another thread I recently-posted. It's very interesting, and the youtube clip, while not great in resolution tells a fascinating story of USA vs. Great Britain and Europe automotive competition in the 1950's. My friend's father owned a car which competed in the first of two annual races, it was a Kurtis-Kraft Offenhauser-powered open-wheeled car he campaigned in USAC. Here's the post:

One of my best friends in high school, he father was an Indy car team owner, there were years where he would have two cars in the race. He never-won, but he won other races on the schedule. He ran cars on Indy cars, sprint cars and midgets for nearly 30 years.

If you like the history of Indy cars, they were capable of some impressive feats. Look on youtube for videos of the "Race of Two Worlds," two annual races where there was heads-up racing between the USA and European teams at Monza Italy, the speeds they were turning are impressive, especially for the times, much-faster than winning average speeds at Indy. Jimmy Bryan averaged 160+ MPH for 500 miles (winning average speed at Indianapolis was 136.6 MPH that year, my friend's father's team finished in fifth-place, with Andy Linden driving; a second entry by him finished in 29th, Ed Elisian driving; next year his team had one of their cars on the Indy 500 pole, **** Rathmann driving, but was put out of the race in an early accident); at Monza Italy the Americans came-in 1-2-3, while a team of three Jaguar D-Types all finished in-arrears, still, a display of lasting-power. For the USA, Offenhauser and Novi were the powerplants showing the European manufacturers like Ferrari and Maserati who was fastest, and durable.

My friend's father took his Kurtis KK500G car and driver Andy Linden to Monza Italy for the 1957 Race of Two Worlds, qualifying third, but was retired (cracked frame) and credited with the most laps by a retiring car.

Because of concerns about the ability of the tires of the time to last the distance, the race was run in three sections, totalling 500 miles. Fortunately, there were no tire failures, Firestone had done testing and monitoring of the tires they supplied, and their research paid-off.

The film quality isn't great, but it gets better.

 

[coljar]

Thanks again Driftpin. I could watch those older racing films all day long. Modern ones not so much. I wish I knew the Commission# from the D type so we would know what became of it.

 

[bugnut]

thanks Coljar

 

[joey1320]

Weird question but does the daughter drive a convertible MINI Cooper?

Asking because we are both in Ohio and I remember having some really good conversations with a lady who's MINI I worked on, she always asked for me , and during our talks she mentioned how her father used to race old Jaguars and had worked on some great cars during his time. She said he had past and left a garage full of stuff. I always wanted to visit the garage and just walk around rummaging through stuff.

I haven't seen her in about 2 years and can't recall her name

 

[GTO]

I love the Omega stop watch.

 

[Lassen Forge]

...The other two items that were sold won't mean much to most of you, but does to me, a Porsche 356 and a D type Jaguar...

My granddaddy was a British and European car mechanic in the golden era of the 50's and 60's... Add to that, a former roommate had a pair of Bathtub Porsches. Not just 1... 2. And the D type????

 

[RTM]

This has been a greatly entertaining thread to read all the side stories about the D type, old videos. Great how the OP can bring his friend back to life in so many minds.

 

[coljar]

Weird question but does the daughter drive a convertible MINI Cooper?

Asking because we are both in Ohio and I remember having some really good conversations with a lady who's MINI I worked on, she always asked for me , and during our talks she mentioned how her father used to race old Jaguars and had worked on some great cars during his time. She said he had past and left a garage full of stuff. I always wanted to visit the garage and just walk around rummaging through stuff.

I haven't seen her in about 2 years and can't recall her name

I don't think she has ever had a Mini. Bill never done any racing himself that I know of, just pitted for others.

 

[coljar]

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This is another shot of the 356 first pictured at the top with Bill cleaning the windscreen. It belonged to Steve Wooley, a prototype engineer for Borg Warner and a local SCCA racer. Bill built the engine and helped Steve with other aspects of the car and also pitted for him. Steve was killed in this car at the Nelson Ledges Race Course near Warren, Ohio on June 27, 1971 at the age of 32. It was a two car collision during a Formula V event according to the information on Motorsports Memorial. This happened many years before I knew Bill and he didn't talk about it. Maybe one of you could help me with finding out more. Steve Wooley is a big name in the AMA(Academy of Model Aeronautics) and some of his planes are in their museum.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Mmmm...D Type....

 

[shoeless]

Is he related to the Nutter Center?
I am in Dayton for the next 3-4 months and have seen signs for it.

 

[Samuel D]

The great motoring journalist Denis Jenkinson had a lot to say about the 356. He told the following tale in his book, A Passion For Porsches, about an incident in France in 1957. Some of you might enjoy it:


“The return trip was from Cherbourg and since Jesse and I were heading for a race at Rouen at the time of departure, we arranged to travel in convoy and show them the way. Condescendingly Jesse and I agreed that we were not in a hurry, so we did not mind the Oldsmobile and trailer keeping station behind us.

“My first inkling of embarrassment was after breakfast when Ak went out to start up the Oldsmobile and warm it up, for I had not even looked at it at this point. It had the smoothest and sweetest running V8 engine I had ever heard. I had become used to American V8 engines in things like Allards and Cunninghams, but this was something else and Ak was very proud of it, for it was a typical Miller-prepared overhead-valve V8. That journey to Rouen was a terrible embarrassment to Jesse and me, for on the long straights across France that great bulbous Oldsmobile coupé with the trailer and racing car on the back sat behind us no matter what we did. We both rowed our little Porsches along as hard as we could, cruising continuously at 85 mph, and the Miller entourage just sat there in our mirrors. What was worse, Ak, Doug and Pete were sitting abreast on the bench seat smoking cigars, while Ak drove with one hand on the wheel and his elbow on the window ledge in typical USA style. Meantime, both Jesse and I were driving our Porsches as if we were competing in a race. When we stopped, Ak removed his cigar and asked, ‘Your little cars going OK?’ That Oldsmobile coupé had been timed at Bonneville at something like 141 mph using one of ‘uncle Ak’s’ special V8 engines, but I don't think Pete’s mother knew about that.

“Two years later Peter Coltrin returned to Europe to live in Modena, where he married an Italian girl. He bought a 356B Porsche and joined the family, and over the years I did a great deal of Porsche motoring with him. Ak and Doug never returned to Europe, for Ak was a true-blue Californian hot-rodder and Doug went off to Mexico, but the ‘Lootenant’ had been bitten by the European racing bug and the Italian way of life, which he enjoyed to the full until he died quite suddenly early in 1982.”

 

[coljar]

Is he related to the Nutter Center?
I am in Dayton for the next 3-4 months and have seen signs for it.

No, not that I know of. His daughter is going to prepare me a small bio. of his working life when she finds time.

The great motoring journalist Denis Jenkinson had a lot to say about the 356. He told the following tale in his book, A Passion For Porsches, about an incident in France in 1957. Some of you might enjoy it:


“The return trip was from Cherbourg and since Jesse and I were heading for a race at Rouen at the time of departure, we arranged to travel in convoy and show them the way. Condescendingly Jesse and I agreed that we were not in a hurry, so we did not mind the Oldsmobile and trailer keeping station behind us.

“My first inkling of embarrassment was after breakfast when Ak went out to start up the Oldsmobile and warm it up, for I had not even looked at it at this point. It had the smoothest and sweetest running V8 engine I had ever heard. I had become used to American V8 engines in things like Allards and Cunninghams, but this was something else and Ak was very proud of it, for it was a typical Miller-prepared overhead-valve V8. That journey to Rouen was a terrible embarrassment to Jesse and me, for on the long straights across France that great bulbous Oldsmobile coupé with the trailer and racing car on the back sat behind us no matter what we did. We both rowed our little Porsches along as hard as we could, cruising continuously at 85 mph, and the Miller entourage just sat there in our mirrors. What was worse, Ak, Doug and Pete were sitting abreast on the bench seat smoking cigars, while Ak drove with one hand on the wheel and his elbow on the window ledge in typical USA style. Meantime, both Jesse and I were driving our Porsches as if we were competing in a race. When we stopped, Ak removed his cigar and asked, ‘Your little cars going OK?’ That Oldsmobile coupé had been timed at Bonneville at something like 141 mph using one of ‘uncle Ak’s’ special V8 engines, but I don't think Pete’s mother knew about that.

“Two years later Peter Coltrin returned to Europe to live in Modena, where he married an Italian girl. He bought a 356B Porsche and joined the family, and over the years I did a great deal of Porsche motoring with him. Ak and Doug never returned to Europe, for Ak was a true-blue Californian hot-rodder and Doug went off to Mexico, but the ‘Lootenant’ had been bitten by the European racing bug and the Italian way of life, which he enjoyed to the full until he died quite suddenly early in 1982.”

That was great Samuel, thanks.

 

[joey1320]

I don't think she has ever had a Mini. Bill never done any racing himself that I know of, just pitted for others.

Thank you for the response. Great stories and pictures.

 

[Matt The Hammer]

This is a nice thread. I have many tools of family and friends that are gone. Little things to remember them by every time you use or just look at them.

 

[Don1357]

Jesus, a convertible 356 and a D type. I'm the hobo version of your friend, I have an E type with an American engine and a '55 volkswagen beetle.

The funny thing is that picking the E type was probably not one of my best decisions, I have way too much on my plate and haven't been able to get around to it. But then I see it just standing on my garage and feel that alone is worth it

 

[coljar]

Thanks to our fellow member RTM who uncovered some additional info on Steve Wooley, I was able to make some changes to post #28.