Historic 1,860hp Gar Wood Hydroplane Heads to Auction

A 1931 Garwood Miss America VIII powered by twin supercharged Miller V16 engines producing 1,860 horsepower will cross the auction block at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale on 17 January 2026.

The hydroplane won the Harmsworth Trophy twice, in 1929 and 1931, piloted by American racing legend Garfield “Gar” Wood. The boat reached 104 mph during testing on the Harlem River in October 1931, though the unlimited water speed record eluded Wood’s grasp throughout his racing career.

Engineering Marvel from the Golden Age

Built in 1929 by Wood and designer Napoleon Lisee, Miss America VIII was specifically designed for the Harmsworth Trophy, the world’s most prestigious international motorboat competition. The boat evolved from a narrow 28-foot craft into a wider, longer platform following its 1929 victory.

Wood commissioned legendary Indianapolis 500 engine builder Harry Miller to create special powerplants after meeting at the 1931 Indianapolis 500. The twin 1,113-cubic-inch V16 engines weighed considerably less than the Packard V12s that powered the boat to its championship victories, whilst producing an estimated 930 horsepower each.

The Miller engines represented revolutionary design for the era, capable of reaching 6,000 rpm when contemporary racing engines typically peaked at 2,500 rpm. Each engine featured dual overhead camshafts and Schwitzer-Cummins roots-type superchargers.

Chaotic 1931 Harmsworth Victory

The 1931 Harmsworth Trophy race on the Detroit River drew 600,000 spectators, recorded at the time as the largest attended sporting event in world history. Wood faced formidable competition from Kaye Don’s Miss England II, powered by twin Rolls-Royce R engines developed for the Schneider Trophy seaplane races.

Weather delays forced race organisers to postpone the event by two days. Wood’s crew reinstalled the proven Packard V12 engines for the race after experiencing mechanical difficulties with the experimental Millers during testing.

Both Wood in Miss America IX and Don in Miss England II jumped the start of the second heat by more than five seconds and were disqualified, though both drivers continued racing unaware of the penalties. Miss England II capsized in the wake of Miss America IX on the second turn.

Wood’s brother George piloted Miss America VIII to victory at 85.86 mph with the Packard engines, securing the trophy for the United States. The Miller engines were reinstalled following the race for the Harlem River speed record attempts.

Harmsworth Trophy Dominance

Gar Wood’s success with Miss America VIII represented the peak of American dominance in international powerboat racing. Wood held the Harmsworth Trophy continuously from 1920 to 1933, winning the competition nine times across his Miss America series.

The British International Harmsworth Trophy, established in 1903 by newspaper magnate Alfred Harmsworth, became the world’s premier powerboat racing prize during the early 20th century. Wood’s sustained success through the 1920s and early 1930s established American supremacy in unlimited powerboat racing.

Reunited After Seven Decades

Miss America VIII is one of only three surviving boats from the 10 Miss America racers Wood built between 1920 and 1932. The hull retains over 75 per cent of its original wood construction.

The boat and its Miller V16 engines were separated for more than 70 years before being reunited for auction. Zakira’s Garage in Ohio completed a comprehensive restoration of both engines, running them on a dynamometer with strengthened connecting rods and replaceable crank bearings.

The sale includes original Schwitzer-Cummins superchargers and over 1,000 items from Orlin Johnson’s private collection. Johnson served as chief mechanic for Gar Wood during the Harmsworth years, documenting powerboat racing from 1905 to 1975.

Wood described Miss America VIII as “the best boat we ever had,” whilst designer Lisee called it his masterpiece. The restoration remains incomplete, with the buyer required to finish work on the hull and systems beyond the restored engines.

Mecum has described Miss America VIII as the most valuable wooden boat the auction house has offered. The Kissimmee auction runs from 6-18 January 2026 at Osceola Heritage Park in Florida, with daily tickets priced at $30.

Harmsworth Trophy Winners