1923 Haynes Model 55 Sport Sedan

This 1923 Haynes Model 55 Sport sedan is the only known surviving example of its type. How this came to be was documented twice in the pages of “Special Interest Autos,” in January/February 1992 and June 2002. In 1926, a nineteen-year-old machinist named Alvin Bodenschatz bought the car in San Jose, California. He drove it sparingly racking up only 49,000 miles by 1932.

One day that year, while working at the American Can Company, he suffered a severe epileptic seizure. This cost him has job and eventually caused him to be institutionalized. The Haynes was put upon blocks. By the late 1960s, the state hospitals were closing and Mr. Bodenschatz was sent to live with his family. During this time, he would often go out to the garage and sit in his beloved Haynes, dreaming of someday driving it again. Sadly, this would never be.

In his 80s, he moved into a nursing home where he eventually died. To offset the cost, the Haynes was sold. The tires had rotted on their rims and the paint had dulled, but the interior was in remarkably good condition. The 1923 Haynes was restored as needed, with new paint being applied to the straight original sheet metal and new leather upholstery for the front seat.

It returned to Kokomo from the West Coast in 2008 under the care of Jeff Griffin. Mr. Griffin took the car to the Old Car Festival at the Henry Ford Museum, the Festival of Machines at Conner Prairie. In December 2014, the Kokomo Automotive Museum acquired the car as part of its permanent collection.

Captions

1. The 1923 Haynes Model 55 Sport Sedan won many awards with previous member Jeff Griffin.
2. and 3. Despite its name, the Model 55 Sport Sedan, has as formal a profile as a larger car.
4. Like most cars of its era, getting behind the wheel of this 99 year-old sedan takes a bit of work. Once in place, legroom is quite adequate and the view would be the envy of many modern SUV drivers. Also, note the cast aluminum plate that holds the driver’s heel in place.
5. The backseat is as spacious and welcoming as one would expect. This car is fitted with a heater, which draws hot air from around the exhaust. It enters the car through a grate in the floor. Also unseen in this shot is a roof vent, that allows fresh air into the cabin.