Allen Guiberson
Samuel Allen Guiberson III was an active Live Steamer from Dallas, Texas. He was one of the founders, and the first president, of the Southwestern Live Steamers. Allen had a track around his home at 3711 Beverly Drive in Dallas.
Inventor
Allen designed the first radial diesel engine, which is now on display in the Smithsonian.
Racing
Allen was heavily involved in automobile racing. He drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1930.
- If you look at page 3 of the 1948 program, you will see that the race was presented by a group called Racing International of Texas. The president, Allen Guiberson, was a well noted Dallas/Chicago business man that developed lots of oil field tooling. He also designed and sold diesel radial engines for Army tanks. In the very early 40's, Guiberson had one of his 1020 radials installed on a Stinson Reliant, and my Grandfather was the pilot for the program. The diesel program was suspended during WWII, and dropped when it became apparent that jet engines were the future. Guiberson was also a sports car enthusiast who entered a few races in the World Sportscar Championships with various drivers that included Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Ernie Triplett and Richie Ginther. He also had an interest in Indianapolis racing. My Grandfather's Association with Guiberson set the stone for my families involvement to this day.
- The 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider, chassis 0510 M, boasts an American racing provenance having been successfully campaigned in period by Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby and Jim Hall. Sold new to Allen Guiberson of Dallas, Texas, who owned and campaigned multiple early Ferraris, 0510 M was finished in the distinctive color combination of white with a dark blue triangle stretching from the car’s nose to its windshield. The car retained this color scheme for the 1955 season, where it achieved success at the hands of some of motor racing’s great drivers. Among highlights were a 2nd overall at its debut event, the 12 Hours of Sebring, with Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby behind the wheel, closely followed by a 1st place finish for the Del Monte Trophy at the Pebble Beach road races in April 1955. At the end of the 1955 season, 0510 M was sold to brothers Richard “Dick” Hall and Jim Hall, who continued to campaign the car to strong finishes through 1956, including 1st overall at Pebble Beach with Carroll Shelby at the helm.
Southwestern Live Steamers
Allen was instrumental in the formation of the Southwestern Live Steamers, and served as its first president.
Guiberson-Harpur Locomotive
On May 16, 1966, Allen formed Guiberson-Harpur Locomotive Enterprises Inc, housed at 212 Meadows Bldg, Dallas, TX. Allen served as the Texas agent for Harpur Locomotive Works. The company produced Astroworld No. 1 "Caroline", a 25-ton, 36 inch gauge 4-4-0, for Astroworld in Houston, Texas. As of 2019 the locomotive is housed at Pacific Coast Railroad.