The Miller Golden Submarine: The 1917 Race Car That Changed Motorsport Forever
Golden Revolution - At the dawn of the twentieth century, when racing was a daring spectacle of speed and survival, one car emerged that didn’t just challenge conventions—it redefined them. It wasn’t merely a machine of metal and motion; it was a bold statement about innovation, safety, and the human desire to push beyond limits. That car was the Miller Golden Submarine, a vehicle that looked like it had arrived from the future, even though it was built in 1917.
The 1917 Miller Golden Submarine was an early twentieth century streamlined race car designed and built in 1917 by Fred Offenhauser and Harry A. Miller for Barney Oldfield. (Picture from: WeirdWheels in Reddit)
Its story began not on a racetrack, but in tragedy. Barney Oldfield, one of America’s earliest racing legends, had witnessed his close friend and fierce competitor Bob Burman lose his life during a high-speed accident in Corona, California. The crash was brutal, and the open-cockpit design of Burman’s car offered no real protection. For Oldfield, the loss sparked a realization that speed needed a partner—safety. To achieve this, he turned to one of the brightest mechanical minds of the era, Harry A. Miller, an engineer already gaining a reputation for crafting precision carburetors in Los Angeles. Together with Fred Offenhauser, Miller set out to build something entirely new: a racing car that could go fast but also keep its driver alive.
The 1917 Miller Golden Submarine earned its name from its smooth, bullet-like shape and gleaming metallic finish. Built from lightweight aluminum, its fully enclosed cockpit wrapped the driver in a protective shell. (Picture from: Wall.AlphaCoders)
What emerged from their workshop looked nothing like the exposed, skeletal racers of its day. The Golden Submarineearned its name from its smooth, bullet-like shape and gleaming metallic finish. Built from lightweight aluminum, its fully enclosed cockpit wrapped the driver in a protective shell—a revolutionary concept at a time when most race cars left drivers completely exposed. Small cutouts in the body allowed visibility, and inside, an internal roll cage provided structural strength in case of a crash. Its golden hue wasn’t just paint—it came from a unique blend of bronze dust mixed with lacquer, giving it a shimmering, almost ethereal glow under the sunlight.
The 1917 Miller Golden Submarine measured a 104-inch wheelbase, weighed around 1,600 pounds, and had been tested for aerodynamic efficiency long before wind tunnels became standard in motorsport development. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Beyond its groundbreaking design, the Submarine was a masterpiece of engineering. Beneath its aerodynamic body sat a four-cylinder aluminum alloy engine with a displacement of 289 cubic inches, producing an impressive 136 horsepower at 2,950 rpm. The engine featured a single overhead cam, desmodromic valves, dual intake ports, dual spark plugs, and magnetos—technical innovations that placed it far ahead of its contemporaries. It was both lightweight and robust, built to translate power into speed without sacrificing stability. The car measured a 104-inch wheelbase, weighed around 1,600 pounds, and had been tested for aerodynamic efficiency long before wind tunnels became standard in motorsport development.
The 1917 Miller Golden Submarine ran on a 289-cubic-inch four-cylinder aluminum engine producing 136 horsepower at 2,950 rpm, featuring a single overhead cam, desmodromic valves, dual intake ports, dual spark plugs, and magnetos.(Picture from: AmcarGuide)
Its first test on June 16, 1917, at the Chicago Board Speedway showed both its potential and its teething problems. After just ten miles, the engine failed—but not before it reached an average of 104 mph, an astonishing figure for the time. The following week, the kinks were fixed, and Oldfield drove the Submarine to victory over his rival Ralph DePalma, winning three consecutive races on Milwaukee’s dirt track. Over the next few years, the Golden Submarinecompeted in 54 races, securing 20 wins, 2 second places, and 2 third places. It even qualified for the 1919 Indianapolis 500, though mechanical failure forced it to retire early.
The 1917 Miller Golden Submarine had small body cutouts for visibility, an internal roll cage for protection, and a shimmering gold finish created by blending bronze dust with lacquer.(Picture from: Cars4Starters)
Today, the Miller Golden Submarine is remembered not just as a racing car, but as a symbol of progress—a physical embodiment of how innovation often emerges from loss. It marked the moment racing evolved from sheer recklessness to calculated engineering, blending artistry with science. The Submarine’s influence rippled through decades of motorsport design, inspiring safer, more aerodynamic vehicles that shaped the future of racing. | clBAodJiw7w |
More than a century later, its legacy continues to shine. These reinterpretations don’t just celebrate a machine; they keep alive a story of courage, creativity, and vision. The Golden Submarine was never just a car—it was a promise that speed could coexist with safety, that form could serve function, and that the pursuit of progress never truly goes out of style. ✨Happy Holiday...⛄ *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AMCARGUIDE | WIKIPEDIA | CARS4STARTERS | STEAMPUNK TENDECIES IN FACEBOOK | WEIRDWHEELS IN REDDIT | METAHEADKUSTOMS VIDEO IN FACEBOOK | HARRY A MILLER CLUB VIDEO IN FACEBOOK ]
