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San Francisco circa 1924. "Star touring car with four-wheel brakes." The same venue (and graffitists) as our previous Star sighting. And more evidence that smoking is hazardous to your health. 5x7 glass negative. View full size.
The shine is due to the use of nitrocellulose lacquer, still used on guitars and similar interments, but illegal in automotive paint for some time due to its high toxicity. Back in those days the shine did not last very long either.
I did a lot of research on this and found nothing about four wheel brakes in any Star catalog or service manual until 1928. The service manual covers them for the first time. The "Standard Catalog of American Cars" has 1927 as the starting date. After seeing what you came up with I found this article which explains it. Four wheel brakes were available in California for a extra cost. I'm sure the people of San Francisco were happy to have them along with grandpa Geiko.
After three years of running over the other volunteer smokers the Star comes out with four wheel brakes. This is a 1927 model made by Durant Motors, not GM.
[It's a 1924 model. Below, an ad from May 1924. - Dave]
My grandfather's first car was a Star touring car, I think the same year as this one. The Star was General Motors' response to the cheap car market opened up by the Model T.
I have never had a car this shiny. I will never have a car this shiny. I am beyond jealous. Truly, a shining Star.
I'm curious as to what's that between the sidewalk steps and the road. Thanks in advance.
[A less ambitious sidewalk. -Dave]
So we'll just carve our initials in stone.
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