Harry A. Miller was an American race car designer and builder who’s contributions to automotive engineering and American racing were unparalleled. In the mid-1920s, Miller’s mantra for manufacturing required the parts be simple, lightweight, and sculptural in design. This required a great deal of extra care and time as the metal was shaped completely by hand, perfecting the design and craftsmanship of the masterful race cars.

In 2005, Banker Wire was approached by Jerry Weeks of Metalsmith Inc. to assist in the restoration of a 1923 Miller 122 Supercharged Race Car. Weeks had been commissioned to restore the car to its correct specifications, and looked to Banker Wire for help with the race car’s grille. Only about fifteen of these cars were ever produced, and this particular car was almost completely intact and in its original condition with only a few minor changes made throughout the years.

In the world of concours restorations, judges are known to count the number of openings on the automotive grille to ensure accuracy when compared to known information, such as a photograph. Working closely with Weeks, Banker Wire was able to exactly reproduce the race car’s grille from the material used down to the correct opening count. Such a process requires a painstaking amount of time reviewing original, period photographs to accurately produce a reproduction of the grille.

This 1925 Miller 122 Supercharged race car was entered into the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event and won first place in Class V, Open Wheel Race Cars.

This project used: Wire Mesh Pattern: IPZ-63 The Banker Wire IPZ-63 pattern is a 3/8″ Mesh x 2 Mesh .080 woven wire mesh specification. This Fine Rectangular weave can be woven in a variety of alloys including: Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Plain Steel, Pre-Galvanized, and Stainless Steel.

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