Two Incredible Miller Racecars are Being Sold This Spring

If you’re a true racing history fan or an American automotive history buff, chances are you know about Miller Automobiles. On the off chance you’re not familiar, on March 5th and 6th you will have the rare opportunity to see two of these remarkable cars in-person at the upcoming Amelia Island Auctions. If luck is on your side, you might even be able to bring one home. 

The Miller Car Company was established in Detroit in 1911 and is most famous for pioneering the four-wheel-drive car. Led by creative genius Henry Miller, the company built autos that won the Indy 500 nine times. Like most antique race cars, Millers are rare and difficult to come by. So it’s pretty amazing to see two of them at the same auction. If you want to learn more about these amazing relics of automotive history, you can check out their descriptions in the online catalogue, and if you’re really, really jazzed, you can even register to bid. 

Let’s start with the 1924 Miller “183 Convertible” Speed Record Car (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,400,000). Born not for the racetrack but for the record books, the 183 Convertible was purpose-built to pursue speed records rather than compete in regular championship events. The aerodynamics of the car were remarkable, with a heavy 122 CID DOHC inline 8-cylinder engine offset by a lack of wheel brakes to remove drag from their airstream. With slim wheels and a narrow chassis, form signified the car’s function: to go fast. 

And fast it went: two-time Indy 500 Winner Tommy Milton achieved 151.26 mph at a Muroc Dry Lake speed attempt – just 5 mph behind the American Land Speed record he himself held. This chassis was formerly part of the renowned Tiny Gould and David Uihlein collections, during which time the car was extensively profiled in Mark Dees’s expert report, The Miller Dynasty. 

Miller continued to iterate on their racing and speed-record success throughout the 1920s. However, with the Great Depression looming, Miller’s dominance in American racing was threatened by some money troubles. So, Henry Miller turned to innovation, collaborating with the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company to sponsor its entry at the 1932 Indy 500. The resulting design was the legendary 1932 Miller FWD Special, Chassis No. 2 (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $3,000,000). This car is the only remaining example of the groundbreaking four-wheel-drive racer and is one of the most important cars in history, period. 

In terms of tech specs, the FWD Special took what was already working for Miller and ran with it. With a 255 CID DOHC inline 4-cylinder engine and estimated 250 BHP at 5,000 RPM, chassis 02 was assigned to board-track star Bob McDonough for the return to Indy 500. Unfortunately, the car didn’t have success at Indy due to mechanical problems, and was subsequently sent back to FWD to be repaired. By 1934, the FWD was back on track at Indy, where it finally showed its speed by qualifying fourth fastest, and in 1936, it finished the race in fourth. Following these successful outings, the legendary car continued racing and was subsequently owned by noted collectors enamored with its prestige and historical significance. The car’s superb story also inspired a book, The Last Great Miller.

It’s pretty amazing that some of the most precise legendary cars surfaced at the same time, which will make Gooding Christie’s Amelia Island Auctions a sight to behold– be sure to check out their website if you want to tune in to the auction or register to bid if you want to take one of these unmatched Millers out for a spin.