The Resurrection of a Speed Demon: The 1908 Christy Returns

In the annals of American automotive history, few names evoke the raw, untamed spirit of early racing quite like the Christie. Built in 1908, these specialty race cars were engineering marvels of the pre-Indianapolis 500 era, designed to push the boundaries of speed at a time when the world was just beginning to understand the true potential of the internal combustion engine. Perhaps most famously, the Christie was piloted by the era’s most flamboyant showman, Barney Oldfield. With his signature cigar clamped between his teeth and nerves of steel, Oldfield famously pushed the car to its limits, though the vehicle’s early career was punctuated by dramatic speed demonstrations and a near-catastrophic crash that nearly relegated the machine to the scrap heap of history.

For a century, the legend of the Christie lingered in faded photographs and dusty archives. That changed when Jim Bartell, a dedicated vintage race car restorer, embarked on a ten-year labor of love to resurrect this mechanical ghost. Bartell’s quest was not merely to repair a car, but to breathe life back into a piece of racing heritage. After a decade of meticulous research, fabrication, and painstaking assembly in a shop in Shelby Twp, Michigan, the project reached its climax in late May of this year. With the goal of presenting the finished masterpiece at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, the team needed a venue that could provide a backdrop as rich in automotive history as the car itself.

They turned to the Packard Proving Grounds (PPG). As a steward of automotive history, the PPG was the perfect setting for the vehicle’s world debut photography session.
The day of the shoot began with a touch of atmospheric tension, as morning rain dampened the grounds. However, as if scripted for the occasion, the clouds parted, and the sun illuminated the site just as the team began their work. Utilizing the iconic architecture of the site—including the historic timing tower, the lodge, and the parkway—the team captured images that were nothing short of breathtaking. The contrast of the gleaming, restored 1908 masterpiece against the timeless masonry of the PPG created a visual bridge between the dawn of the automotive age and the present day.

These photographs are now set to anchor the worldwide media coverage of the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, ensuring that the Christie’s return to glory is witnessed by enthusiasts across the globe. For the Packard Proving Grounds, supporting this restoration was more than just a logistical task; it was an honor. We are profoundly proud to have served as the stage for the debut of such a historically significant machine, helping to ensure that the roaring spirit of the 1908 Christie continues to inspire future generations of engineers and racers alike.