1928 Gardner Model 85 Sport Roadster
The Gardner Motor Car Company was based in St. Louis, Missouri and manufactured cars from 1920 to 1931, including this 1928 Gardner Model 85 Sport Roadster.
The 1928 Gardner roadster model featured an inline 247 cubic inch Lycoming engine that produced 86 HP, and a high-speed rear end, a common practice of the time made possible by the light body weight.
Standard equipment for the Gardner Sport Roadster included wood wheels, but wire wheels and dual side mounts were available on the 85 model.
Other notable features included hydraulic brakes, a unique automatic lubrication system where oil is supplied to the front and rear shackles based on the up and down motion of the front end, tubular bumpers, and its Griffin radiator mascot.
Gardner’s attention to detail is evident in the art-deco design on the door sills and dashboard, as well as offering a choice of more than 50 color combinations and 25 trim choices. Pretty unusual for a company that produced less than 4,000 cars in 1928.
You can follow the painstaking process of resurrecting this 1928 Model 85 Sport Roadster in this Hemmings magazine article.
If you’re interested in more great classic cars of the 1920’s, be sure to visit this page.
