Beast Builder: The Lost History of America's First 8-Cylinder Race Car and V-8 Production Car

[@montananative2414]

Thank you for digging into automotive history and sharing the treasures.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for giving them a peep!

[@theragingdolphinsmaniac4696]

I absolutely love this stuff. Everything we think of as “modern inventions” all have roots in the late 1800s through 1920s. Fascinating.

[@lancerevell5979]

Even our "new" electric cars were developed back then, and had some popularity early on. 😊

[@motorpartsgururestorationc9116]

Thanks for bringing this little slice of automotive history to our attention !

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for checking it out and digging it!!

[@Tunnelramlife]

Every time you release one of your new videos, I drive my wife to the store. I sneak away to Little Caesars and sit in my car and eat a whole pizza while I watch your videos. Man life is good

[@brianlohnes3079]

Haha thank you!!!

[@formerfarmer1718]

Brian, these mini-docums you’re doing are super-Interesting. I’ve watched many, if not all and every one is a hit. I imagine you put serious time into researching these topics and I wanted you to know your efforts are being appreciated.

[@terrygarvin1392]

agreed.

[@patrickirby9825]

You are the best at what you do. Just smart, with no fluff. Your style of insight and writing and delivery is exactly what we appreciate. My dad raced at Lions in the 60s, when I was very young. It influenced my life in great measure. Now I have patents in the autmotive industry. So, its really nice to hear you always put it together like you do. The competitiveness, the culture, the industry, the history. Thanks, Brian.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Well, this is the best. Thank you, Patrick. Finished gluing this sucker together in my hotel room at this weekend’s Texas Fall Nationals at the Motorplex. From being a kid at Lions to holding your own patents. Now THAT is amazing. Thanks a ton!

[@popeyeman69]

This video is the perfect example of why we love this channel Brian.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Appreciate the kind words!!!

[@riverrat1284]

Thank you Brian!!! Please keep up the obscure automotive history, if you tell the stories they’ll no longer be lost history!! As a car nut, I love watching your videos

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks a million for watching them and being into gearhead history!

[@riverrat1284]

@@brianlohnes3079 wish there was more information on, how running moonshine was one of the ways hot roding came about. My grandfather was known to cut intakes and braze them back together to add more carburetors to help the performance of certain people’s family car

[@gr5535]

Finally, a back story to a photograph I saw as a child in a reference book at the local Library 😮 THANKS ! 👍

[@brianlohnes3079]

No way, really!?

[@LazloNQ]

Can you tell us more about what book this was?

[@gr5535]

@@LazloNQ can't remember the title, this was back in the mid 60's. It was a reference book about early Automobile Production, I was 9- 10 so I was mostly looking at the Photos 🙄

[@dennishodnett656]

Do you remember were the book was m

[@cornholio.2110]

Awesome

[@brianalbrecht4423]

thanks Brian..!..great channel...the inovation & talent this country had/developed in such a short time is AMAZING...!..it seames to have been stifled as of late...?...what a briliant man Buffum was...!..great job...thanks..!

[@Jimmysidecarr]

Another gem to add to the archive! Please continue what you are doing and how you are doing it. Absolutely love the history and the mechanical details!

[@bds598]

Brian, thank you for telling the stories of the unheralded heroes of America, whether or not what they built achieved their initial intended goals. The spirit of innovation, even if it results in failure, is truly what helped make our country exceptional. I pray that spirit sees a resurgence and people continue to get their hands dirty to make their own dreams a reality.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Amen to all this!

[@danweyant4909]

I have agree with them, you did a fine job with this one. That era of industrial development is fascinating, I think. The stuff that they were doing with "precision " calibration and machinery of the era - it's beyond impressive. And the lost engine, auto and motorcycle brands are many. My native Pennsylvania had quite a few.

[@carlzimmerman3845]

Brian, how in the hell do you keep finding all these great stories?

[@brianlohnes3079]

Oh, we’re just getting warmed up around here. Haha - rightly or wrongly I don’t have a ton of hobbies, so when I have free time, I am trying to learn the whole story on stuff I know a tiny bit about.

[@chucksgarage7165]

I am always amazed at the historical content you are able to come up with.

[@JeffP-z6y]

Love your very interesting informative videos!! Thank you

[@brianlohnes3079]

I’m thankful that you watch ‘em!

[@masongiles8443]

Thank you for your diligence to keep this alive

[@tkreitler]

Incredibly well done Brian. I thought I knew a fair amount about automotive history, but I didn't know this.

[@edminas3159]

What a great video! Thanks for sharing this. Your research is amazing and most appreciated

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you and I sincerely appreciate you giving it a look-see!

[@mikecurtis2585]

These are always fun to hear! Love these stories keep them coming! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

[@vehdynam]

Very , very interesting. The man was a genius no doubt. Many thanks as always.

[@brianlohnes3079]

A next level brain!

[@jonvanwilgen3103]

Love these stories, keep it up there great

[@zman914]

I recently found a 1946 Floyd Clymer's Historical Motor Scrapbook Automobiles issue #3 at an estate sale. Ive had a hard time putting it down with how much information is packed into it. A lot of fascinating cars, facts about the early years of the automobile, and how it impacted horse-drawn carriages as well as innovations similar to what you covered in this video. Thank you for these kinds of videos. It keeps the younger guy interested in learning more and getting involved in restorations.

[@johnedward-yk6rt]

Would you be kind enough to take photos of it and post it?

[@vintagetractorsaustralia]

Love your passion for all things automotive. Can’t wait till you tell some stories about tractors.

[@davebarron5939]

Great stuff, very enjoyable story of an amazing era in American History, Thanks.

[@greglee1846]

always something interesting, and you and tony are the best that have ever called the NHRA

[@2coolwheels139]

Fascinating! Thanks for your research and presentation!

[@wapartist]

That image at 4:24 had some off road treads! Never seen those that early on a car and as rubber

[@osagejon8972]

I am so happy to have you show up in my suggested viewing! Well done sir. Articulate, pleasing inflection, timing, and most of all fascinating history lesson. I just love the early 20th century autos where one looks as if a horse should be in front and another is more than not the image of a modern automobile. I recently squashed a bucket list item in the purchase of a brass era car a 1905 Srevens Duryea model R. Subscribed as well!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Amazing to buy a Duryea! More Massachusetts fellows at work there. Thanks for watching and enjoying my meager editing skills. Ha!

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Mr Buffum was ahead of his time.....Thanks again Brian and i just Sub'ed to your amazing channel...... Old F-4 pilot Shoe🇺🇸

[@peteb2]

Wow! I just stumbled upon your video about Buffin. How incredible & what an era. I recently retired & looking back what i did i achieved next to nothing in comparison to Buffin as a electronics engineer for TV Broadcasting... (the TV advertising industry model is over now so why i was let go). But what an incredible man Mr Buffin must have been & what life was like in the USA back then. Thanks for making this video.

[@NewRiverRoots]

Great as always!

[@babyruuth]

Amazing research work! Keep them coming, and love ya drowning out all that noise (Freiburger) on Drag Week!!

[@ramblerdave1339]

Freiburger/noise. My sentiments exactly for the guy who ruined my favorite magazines. 😂

[@larrytucker2938]

Very, very cool. Thanks.

[@Biokemist-o3k]

Awesome video!! Thank you for finding all this great information!!

[@geneard639]

I've seen a Buffum Fire Sprinkler Head! Still in use nearly a 100 years later!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Get outta here! Really!?

[@mikeskidmore6754]

H.H. Buffum was a Genius Inventor for sure.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Heck of a neat guy!

[@mikelefevers8168]

Very Good Brian, Thanks

[@obbyjep7597]

Very interesting, nice job on this

[@turbo1438]

Interesting as always. Thanks Brian!

[@larslarsman]

Great history video. Thanks. Good argument for don't quit your day job, with the shoe machines making a lot of money for him.

[@dylansutton1631]

Great video! You should also consider doing a video about Jomar, a small sportscar manufacturer that built cars in Manchester NH - the current vovlo dealership on merrimack st is the former factory location, and the owners of thr dealership had 2 complete jomars when i was there a few years ago.

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

As an old Hot Rodder from the 60's I have never heard of this car or the man and enjoyed the video very much so I liked and subscribed so maybe I can learn some more about early car manufacturing~!!! Thanks for the great job on this show.

[@onespeedworld6979]

Awesome video, as always. Great information and pictures! Thanks for sharing and the work that you do!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Cannot thank you enough for being interested in this stuff and taking the time to check it out!

[@davidhinds7634]

Love the content Brian

[@paulmartin8212]

I hope these little stories inspire young people today. A new idea could make you rich and famous if you could sell one to everyone. thanks for putting in the work to research all these stories.

[@rollerdragon]

Brian, your channel is CRIMINALLY under subbed... love these!! if you can, push a bit on air about this channel.. couldn't hurt...

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hey roller, I’m happy with people who are watching this stuff, not really losing any sleep over the subscription count. If the stuff is good and people like it, they’ll get on board. Thank YOU for doing just that!

[@gchampi2]

Having worked in an old-school shoe factory and a cobblers shop in my youth, I can see how a manufacturer of shoemaking machinery could very easily become an auto manufacturer. TBH, in hindsight, I'm a little surprised it wasn't a more common thing, but Ford's revolution of the production line probably would've killed off any/all of the companies that tried. Great video, Brian! It's nice to learn these stories from the early, wildly experimental days of automotive history. Keep up the good work! Cheers... G

[@gafrers]

So interesting, amazing research as always. Thank You

[@greenthing99100]

Superb! I am so glad that I found this channel. The flat 8 may have been a failure, but what an idea! and the V8 is just beautiful, tidy, compact - Buffam learned fast. It would be interesting to see if enough documentary evidence exists to be able to build some kind of replica of either, or even better, both!

[@WilsonEywlkyutbe-s3b]

Well done. I approve of your high-quality production.

[@raykaufman7156]

"Party Barges a Specialty" Oh, that's awesome...😂😂

[@baconsarny-geddon8298]

It's like a steampunk, 1905 drag rail. That pic is amazing

[@coldpond]

Great story! 👍

[@Sleeperdude]

Very cool

[@baizeoglory8214]

Such a cool story!! Speaking of folks driving by the building and not realizing the story behind it, my son and I visited Art Arfons old shop last summer. I wonder how many folks drive by that place and don’t realize the significance or just don’t appreciate it? His nhra banned Allison dragster is on top of a sea container and can be seen from pickle road! 🤯😎 So cool.

[@brianlohnes3079]

I have been there myself and it’s so so cool to be in the space and see the stuff, especially the melted wheel bearing

[@stevemayo1175]

WOW Thanks Brian So COOL

[@jonathangehman4005]

Another homerun! Keep 'em coming

[@brucegordon4992]

Thanks - very interesting video!

[@ScottH-kx1dm]

Most excellent. Subscribed.

[@GrandPrixJ]

Every time I go into Spence’s pizza, I always look up at those old sky lights and wonder how it looked back in the day building cars while eating the taco pizza!

[@thesquirrelchroniclesakare7808]

Wow… I’m always impressed with your work digging up these facts ! 👍🏻

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for being interested in them. It’s really fun to start with a kernel of info and chip away at a story like this.

[@thesquirrelchroniclesakare7808]

@@brianlohnes3079 I agree. Especially about motorsports

[@Ray-ye1rj]

I would definitely love to see that old factory

[@user-ellievator]

I lived in Brockton, MA born in 1982, lived there until 2002. It is a really, really scuzzy place now. I remember some of the old shoe factory buildings. I also remember crackheads everywhere. Never knew about this car. Pretty neat.

[@ralphgregory7616]

Good stuff Maynard 👈😎👍👍👍

[@nlo114]

Well, I learn something new everyday!

[@ronbuckner8179]

Well done!

[@frankalbergo8120]

Freaking EPIC! Thanks.

[@tyreni]

The dangerously high center of gravity on the earliest cars is so unnerving!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Oh it’s totally wild!

[@martymorse2]

Great shout out to Abington, Ma. Can't imagine one of those first 8 cylinder cars screaming down Rte 139 today.

[@ScottFoster482002]

I love your videos. They're informative and entertaining. Thanks for the great work. Now, back to the program 💙

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you for watching them!!

[@DanielMiceli-x5z]

Have the feeling your going to be history some day

[@jubu3136]

How badass is that photo

[@brianlohnes3079]

The thing is such a gnarly looking creation!

[@dukecraig2402]

The pizza shop? If you like pizzas as much as I do yep, pretty bad ass.

[@jubu3136]

@@dukecraig2402 haha coincidentally I was eating a pizza while watching this

[@californiadreaming9216]

Fascinating story. Thanks for sharing. I was under the impression that the first company to "mass" produce V-8 cars (although they only produced about 800) was Delage, of France. OK.

[@jeremyhanna3852]

As you started to talk the car up at the beginning i thought for sure you were talking about the locomobile

[@brianlohnes3079]

Plot twist, right!?

[@truckladders4104]

Brian great video, I have a suggestion for you . There was a Bonneville car built in the 1930 s? That had ties to Gilmore Petroleum of California and I believe Marmon It was sizable as most cars of the era were and Orange and blue which was Gilmore collars. The most famous Bonneville performance wasn't speed as much as endurance. I think Jay Leno featured it at one time. I wondered if you would be interested in doing a feature on it? When you did the article on the Marmon screw drive off road vehicle I tried to find mention of it with no luck I know its an interesting story about a unique car

[@brianlohnes3079]

Ab Jenkins is on my list!

[@davidcantwell2489]

Thank you for that.

[@congerthomas1812]

Another Great mechanical mind.

[@henrycarlson7514]

Interesting , Thank you . A fine example Amazing Engenering , To Start from almost Nothing

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

That was AWESOME. I never knew 😮😮😮

[@truckladders4104]

Brian Thanks for getting back to me about the car I was in question about. As soon as I saw Ab Jenkins name I knew we had the right vehicle As a side note I wonder if there is any family concection between Ab Jenkins and Bill Jenkins! Thanks for all your hard work, its great content

[@breakawaymotorsports]

Very cool!!

[@lanternsown3525]

Buffum sounds like he was a gear head in more ways then one.

[@skipper6567]

I live in the next town to Abington Ma. Never heard of this car or building location. Most all history books locally is about shipbuilding on North river.

[@adrianaaraujo8634]

Great memory :O)

[@mattskustomkreations]

Hey Brian, check out the 1911 Reeves Octo-Auto and Sexto-Auto. 8 and 6 wheel cars respectively.

[@brianlohnes3079]

They are interesting freaks for sure.

[@mattskustomkreations]

@@brianlohnes3079 Apparently there’s a guy who found parts of the OctoAuto and was restoring / recreating it. This was years ago in the local paper - hometown paper where Reeves Pulley started.

[@RC-Flight]

How refreshing a real voice and not an AI computer voice!

[@davidjernigan8161]

Even in 1900 a 20hp gasoline engine and the other innovations were pretty significant.

[@brianlohnes3079]

100%!

[@parrotraiser6541]

That looks like the ultimate rail job.

[@nhragold1922]

The thumbnail is what normal people think when I say I drive a dragster 😂😂😂

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hahahahah

[@immrnoidall]

4:22 A short wheel base and mud tires, that looks like it would go anywhere. All that needed was a roll cage and 4 wheel drive.

[@terraplane49]

Buffum's CVT is remarkably similar to that used on the Neracar motorcycle.

[@brianlohnes3079]

That is wild!!

[@danpatterson8009]

So- stuffing a big V8 into an unassuming runabout- sounds like the first muscle car.

[@brianlohnes3079]

100% agree!!!

[@Bajahaha70]

The first hot rod damn where do you find all the neat stuff😊

[@brianlohnes3079]

It’s a fun pursuit to dig this stuff up

[@Bajahaha70]

@@brianlohnes3079 I hope you never quit! Absolutely love all the old stuff especially when it is something I didn’t know about like this one

[@Bajahaha70]

@ I’m so glad you are the historian you are I really appreciate what you’re doing please keep finding these off the beaten path things that you are digging up I can’t think of anything as interesting as what you are doing thank you

[@nitroracer-rollingthunderm9033]

Bravo ...

[@foxholewilly]

I love that name - BUFFUM.

[@mattheide2775]

No matter what century we are born in, we are born with the need. I feel the need, the need for speed🙏 😊

[@erinnmccrankypants5192]

I'm curious if he's any relation to John buffum from vermont. who was an American rally champ and still works in the rally scene

[@brianlohnes3079]

As he died decades before John was born in Oregon, I do not think so, that said, stranger things have happened!

[@jimwuytack4738]

How about a story of the Yellow Fang Dragster?

[@stevenhagebusch9561]

ah....if that building could talk.....the stories it could tell