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Lot 116
A high-performance Ford Model T engine,four cylinder, with RAJO overhead valve cylinder head, Believed to be freshly rebuilt with high-performance internals. Fitted with gearbox and pedals, on wooden stand. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 226
A gas powered 'Curved Dash Oldsmobile' child's car, by Hallock Mfg Co of Strasburg PA, Model D serial number 0052,wood and metal construction fitted with Briggs & Stratton engine with drive to rear axle, tiller steering to front, padded vinyl covered seats, painted red and black with red spoked wheels fitted with Clipper puncture-proof solid tires, 54 inches long overall. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 501
1940 American Bantam Model 64 Super Roadster Chassis no. 64259 Engine no. 64190747cc L-Head Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle Updraft Carburetor15bhp (rated)3-Speed TransmissionSolid Axles with Front Transverse Semi-Elliptic Spring and Twin Quarter Elliptic Springs Rear4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes*Styled by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky*Fun pre-war sporting car modeled on British Austin Seven*Every collection should have one!THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDWhen the imported English Austin was restyled by Alex de Saknoffsky in 1935 to celebrate the launch of the new Bantam Corporation, it was cutting-edge American design. More than 20,000 of the American Austins were built under license to Austin of England, but even though the boxy style had been restyled in 1929 by de Saknoffsky, to look like a small Chevrolet, by 1935 it was looking dated.The market for very small cars was tough in the US anyway, because of the size of the country and only 6,200 of the stylish new roadsters, pickups and woody wagons found buyers between 1937 and 1941. But they were improved in significant ways.Nobody made much money on the redesign – de Saknoffsky was paid only $300, for example, but racing legend Harry Miller converted the 747cc, splash-lubrication engine to full-pressure lubrication and converted it to Babbitt-bearings. The result was much better durability and the price for the whole retooling was a bargain $7,000.By 1940 the Bantam was part of the American landscape, at least as a surburban commuter and local delivery truck. The appetite was waning though, with only 800 Bantams of all bodystyles sold in 1940, however those who did buy them received an improved model boasting 3-main bearing engines, bigger brakes, Monroe shocks and headlights in the fenders. The '40 Bantam here is an example of their Model 64 Super Roadster which is presented in a rarely chosen paint scheme of silver grey with red side panels, and offset by red wheels with whitewall tires. Acquired for the collection from California many years ago, the car is understood to have been run on occasions but not recently, and on inspection it was noted that the steering column mounting at the dash needs attention.An undeniably pretty, fun piece of Americana. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 502
1907 Ford Model R Runabout Car no. 195149ci L-Head Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle Updraft Carburetor18bhp2-Speed Planetary TransmissionFront Transverse Leaf Sprung and Rear Elliptically Sprung Solid Axles2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes*A wonderful example of one of Ford's early creations*Plenty of fine patina and character*Complete with topTHE FORD MODEL RAlthough ambitious with its estimation of selling 10,000 Model N cars each year, the N was a huge sales success with over 7,000 delivered in a production run bridging 1906-1908. After the first flurry of sales, it was clear that the 'knocked down' basic Model N had a concept that was possibly too spartan and the consumers desired something a little more than that. The solution was the Model R. At $750, it cost 50% more than its little brother, and while mechanically much was shared, its presence was enhanced by larger 30 inch wheels, a more imposing body with more commodious seats, and a rounded 'beetle back' tail, ideal for strapping a spare tire or two to. It also had scalloped front wings leading to running boards and in standard form alone oil lamps to side and rear, and a brass horn were provided. Color choices were limited to dark Brewster Green or Carmine red, which could be matched to Brewster Green running gear or offset with cream.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDIn a collection replete with Fords, this is the earliest example. Carlton O. Pate III's Early Ford Encyclopedia includes an extensive resource for owners and researchers of these early Ford's including synopsis of the known records of delivery. Sadly there is no specific entry for car number 195, but is safe to assume from the fact that cars 185 and 211 were ordered on April 27 and April 23 respectively that this car would have been ordered in this same window of time. Its history prior to the current ownership is uncharted, until it arrived in the collection of Gibb Moyer of Pennsylvania from whom it was acquired. The Ford has the appearance of an older restoration of a correct example of the model. It retains particularly charming features of original leather seats and period fabric top, while the paintwork seems to have been refurbished and the firewall replaced at some time. For reasons unknown, the engine number plate is unstamped, suggesting that it may be a replacement at some point. A nicely patinated example, no doubt chosen by these connoisseurs of the marque for these characteristics, it would make an excellent museum piece or tour car. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 503
1907/8 Buick Model F Touring (see text) Chassis no. 12498159ci Horizontally-Opposed 2-Cylinder EngineSingle Updraft Carburetor22bhp at 1,200rpm2-Speed TransmissionFully Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes*A popular brand within the Collection *Formerly owned in Arizona *Potentially usable tour car *Eligible for HCCA events THE BUICK MODEL FDavid Dunbar Buick's main claim to posterity will be his invention of a means to porcelain-coat cast iron bathtubs, but his name is perhaps better associated with the motor cars that bore his name. It was a fairly shaky start at the turn of the century when Buick focused his attentions on petrol engine manufacturing, and it was not until 1903 that the first Buick production model appeared. William Crapo Durant took the helm of Buick in 1904 and provided the necessary financial backing. Later when DeWaters joined the company in 1905, his influence greatly assisted the fledgling company which was later to grow into the world's biggest motor manufacturing concern, General Motors. Early models were powered by twin-cylinder, inline engines with two-speed and reverse planetary transmission with chain final drive. Production in 1904 was just 37 cars but by 1907 this had grown to a substantial 4,641 units, second only in production terms to Ford that year. The Model F was powered by a two-cylinder in line engine with bore and stroke of 4.5 x 5 inches, displacing 159cu.in. (2.6 liters.)THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDAs noted elsewhere in this catalogue, the Two Generations of collectors favored the Buick marque, gathering a number of them over their decades of sourcing. This example is the counter position to lot 534, being the Model F, which provided more commodious four passenger touring capacity than its sibling the Model G. We are advised by knowledgeable Buick aficionados that this example may well be an amalgamation, as its configuration is something of an anomaly. Its engine number, stamped clearly on the flywheel places that unit in the sequence of 1908 production running from 6310-15010, as does its straight-line coachwork, while aesthetically its front end matches the guise of the 1907 models.On its firewall is a sticker proclaiming that it was restored by Valley Forge Restorations of Apache Junction in Arizona. If this is the case, the extent of the work was certainly cosmetic and undertaken some considerable time ago for the condition of the running gear is very much aged, arguably never having been restored and will certainly require attention before use. Regardless of its condition, the car has wonderful potential as these dependable torquey twin cylinder models provide excellent tour cars and have a great following. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 504
1911 Ford Model T Torpedo Roadster Engine no. 44637177ci Flathead Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle CarburetorApprox. 22hp at 1,600 rpm2-Speed Planetary Manual Transmission Transverse Leaf Springs and Solid Axles Front and Rear Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes*One of the longest owned cars in the collection *Sensitive and high quality older restoration *Former AACA National First Prize Winner*A benchmark example of the sporting Model TTHE FORD MODEL TWithout a doubt, the most famous antique car is the Ford Model T. Its significance cannot be argued, and neither can its charisma. One of the key components of Henry Ford's enormous success must be chocked up to style. Ford employed teams of stylists to ensure that his products looked as good and appealing as possible; nowhere is this more apparent than in these early 'brass' Ts.Ford was able to balance the line between handsome and cute with these cars. A T, although not a big car, has great dignity and presence. Anyone would be proud to own one. While the competition's low-priced cars looked cheap and small, the Ford did not.Ford also realized he was selling cars to a market of new drivers transitioning to the motorcar, which meant the car needed to be simple and intuitive. To operate the car, one only needed to use their feet, while their hands could stay on the steering wheel where they belonged. The simple planetary transmission was easy to operate and is still great fun to drive today.For those who haven't experienced a great 'Brass T,' they are about as much fun as you can have on four wheels. Ford really got it right with the early Ford Ts, and when properly set up, they perform remarkably well. In fact, most brass car tourers have a story about a pesky Model T driver keeping up with the likes of a Silver Ghost or Pierce-Arrow.The Torpedo could be seen as Ford's first performance car. It was a standard T stripped down with a little racer-type body. The hood was lengthened two inches, and the steering column was lowered. The result was a nimble and quick T with a look like no other. Any brass T is great fun for touring but the Torpedo is the ultimate.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDOne of the longest cars to have resided in the collection, this very handsome Torpedo roadster has most probably lived its entire life in the NorthEast. On file are photos of the car being discovered in the 1950s in tired, but clearly complete order which must have made for a straightforward restoration project back in the day. That rebuild was undertaken between the years of 1952 to 1953 as attested to by a plaque on the dash of the Ford, the work being completed by both the selling elder generation and its predecessor themselves. Confirming the authenticity and quality of the rebuild, it proudly displays the well-earned AACA National First Prize Award on its firewall. The Ford presents extremely well despite the age of its restoration, all being testament to the diligence and knowledge of its owners. Its rich Royal Blue coachwork is perfectly pinstriped in white and contrasted with black fenders. The upholstery remains in extremely tidy order, while now being bedded in and slightly patinated. The car is fully equipped with all the necessary and correct brass accoutrements, such as Ford 666 headlamps made by E&J, Ford tail lamps and side lamps, and the dash is nicely furnished with Stewart Speedometer and clock, as well as a KW Ignition coil switch. Museum displayed rather than used in recent years a good check over its recommended and it is felt that the dashboard mounted coils may need to be replaced – a simple fix as any 'T' collector would confirm. Offered from nearly 70 years of continuous family ownership, this early Model T is a real jewel.Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 505
1904 Oldsmobile Model 6C Curved Dash Runabout Engine no. 20559117.5ci Horizontally Mounted Single-Cylinder EngineSingle Downdraft CarburetorApprox. 7bhp at 600rpm2-Speed Planetary TransmissionLongitudinal Leaf Spring SuspensionClutch Band on Drive Sprocket Brake*Present ownership since the 1950s*Stalwart of many tours and events *Former AACA Prize Winner*Completed the Centenary London to Brighton in 1996*Icon of its era THE CURVED DASH OLDSMOBILE Known as the 'Curved Dash' for obvious reasons, Ransom Eli Olds's gasoline-powered runabout was first offered for sale in 1901, following a fire at the factory that had destroyed every other prototype. Over 11,000 of the three Curved Dash models ('R', '6C' and 'B') were constructed before production ceased in 1907, making it the first volume produced American automobile. The Model 'R' runabout was powered by a single-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine of 114x152mm bore/stroke, mounted horizontally at the rear and producing 4½ horsepower at 600rpm. Later '6C' and 'B' models benefited from a more-powerful (7hp) 1.9-liter engine, and all featured two-speed transmission and chain final drive.Several improvements to the design were made during the course of production, but the engine's basic layout remained unchanged. Two mechanically operated overhead valves were set side-by-side at 90 degrees to the cylinder axis, and the rocker arms had roller ends. An ignition contact-breaker was mounted on the end of the camshaft, and sparks provided by a trembler coil. By 1902, the mixer-type carburetor had been replaced by a float-less design, while a manually adjustable valve in the exhaust system vented exhaust gases via the silencer box or more or less straight to the atmosphere, the two settings presumably being intended for town and country use respectively. Cooling water was contained in a reservoir above the engine and circulated by a crankshaft-driven pump, mounted on the side of the chassis. The radiator's copper piping wound its way back and forth beneath the floor.Despite appearances to the contrary, the suspension's leaf-springs which linked the front and rear axles were not true half-elliptics like those fitted to the later model 'B' cars. On the 'R' and '6C' models, only the bottom leaf ran from front to rear, so it would be more accurate to describe these as four quarter-elliptics. Steering was by means of a tiller, a common enough method in the early 1900s, while there was a choice of brakes: one acting on the transmission, the other on the differential. The wheels were un-braked.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDIt can be argued that this Olds was the foundation of the collection that you see before you today, it was certainly one of the first cars to be purchased and its acquisition inspired its owners to campaign the car extensively around the country and even the world. In turn, their ownership and support of other owners and their cars encouraged and developed the appreciation for these excellent runabouts, alongside their friends George Green and others. If one wanted evidence of the perennial usability of the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, one need look no further than this car which is covered in plaques for campaigning and completing events around the country and as far as the UK and Canada. They include the Glidden Tours of every year from 1951 through to 1959, display at the Hershey Fall Meet in 1954 and '55 and no doubt many occasions since, presence at the Times Square Carnival of Cars in Manhattan in 1955, use on the Long Island Old Car Club Races of 1954 and 1955, Canada National Exhibition in 1955 and more recently the Bermuda Tour in 1995 and London to Brighton in 1996 – the famed Centenary Run. All of this activity was carried out in this ownership, making it all the more remarkable, and it continued to be shown at events such as Hershey even in recent years. As will be known the current custodians were extremely knowledgeable about this model specifically and it is safe to assume that it was chosen for its reliability and authenticity, it also benefitted from years of refinement and a few George Green tweaks to make it run better the best it could, and likely better than new. Today, the car remains in extremely tidy order and although not run for a few years should respond well to some fettling and return to its active career of use. As the cataloguer can endorse having driven one on the inaugural Audrain Veteran Car Tour last year, it would be a perfect car to use on that event also in future years, or indeed to repeat any similar Horseless Carriage Club rally. Although not officially Veteran Car Club dated, its engine number sits comfortably in the sequence of other accepted entries and subject to its acceptance would then be eligible for the London to Brighton Run.In addition to its plethora of rally plaques, the 'CDO' carries high quality brass accessories, including a Meteor headlamp, side brass lamps and to assist its use a bulb horn and period Hamilton pocket watch are attached to the tiller. An exemplary Curved Dash Olds, deserving of similarly appreciative future ownership to mirror the care with which it was enjoyed by these Two Generations of collectors. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 507
1904 Cadillac Model B Rear Entrance Tonneau Engine no. 292898.2 cu ins Horizontal Single-Cylinder EngineSingle Carburetor8bhp2-Speed Planetary TransmissionSolid Front Axle with Transverse Leaf Spring – Live Rear Axle2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes*119-year-old quality Veteran car*Formerly in the ownership of Conrad Fletcher*Dependable Four Seater Veteran Car*Potentially eligible for the London to BrightonTHE EARLY CADILLACFounded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company, of Detroit, Michigan completed its first car in October 1902, the firm's superior manufacturing technology - precision gear cutting was Leland and Faulconer's first speciality - soon establishing it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the USA. In 1901, Olds Motor Works contracted for the supply of Leland-built engines and, when unforeseen circumstances frustrated the plan, Leland and Faulconer formed their own company using funds supplied by two of Henry Ford's ex-backers. The company took its name from the great French 17th century explorer who had founded Detriot in 1701.The first Cadillac automobile was completed and test driven in October 1902, and the following January made a triumphal debut at the New York Automobile Show where sales manager William E Metzger took orders for no fewer than 2,286 cars, famously declaring mid-week that the Cadillac was 'sold out'. An exemplary performer by the standards of the day, the Cadillac's 98ci (1.6-liter) 10hp single-cylinder engine - known as 'Little Hercules' - was mounted horizontally on the left beneath the front seat and drove via a conventional two-speeds-plus-reverse planetary transmission, with center chain drive to the rear axle. Keenly priced at only $750, the Model A was available with either two- or four-seat coachwork and had a maximum speed of around 30-35mph.That first 1903 curved-dash Cadillac was re-designated as the Model A after the Model B's introduction for 1904, the 'B' being a more expensive version with box-shaped 'bonnet', pressed-steel frame, 'I'-beam front axle and single transverse front spring. At first Leland & Faulconer supplied only engines, transmissions and steering mechanisms for the Cadillac before taking responsibility for its entire construction in 1905.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe Cadillac was acquired by the Two Generations from noted collector Conrad Fletcher of Colorado, and presents as a clean example of the model with an older restoration. Decorating the car is a set of immaculate brass accessories, out front stands an exquisite self-generating Phare Solar lamp which is matched by a Solar taillamp, while the dash is adorned with Neverout sidelamps. Improving both its physical presence and protection from the elements is a full 'surrey' top, while the sensible provision of wicker side baskets provide accommodation for tools, umbrellas, or indeed a good picnic!It had always been the intention that the car should be shipped to the UK to complete the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, but ultimately this was not accomplished. The car appears to conform to the standard specifications of the model, and its engine number sits comfortably in the sequence for those cars that are categorized by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain to be eligible for the London to Brighton, although this process was never undertaken and would today need to be carried out to enable that possibility. 120 years on, Cadillac remains a high quality automobile, it was the reliable quality of Leland and Faulconer's product from day one that set that tone and this is excellent evidence of why. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 508
1909 Ford Model T Touring Engine no. 7318177ci Flathead Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle CarburetorApprox. 22hp at 1,600rpm2-Speed Planetary Manual Transmission Transverse Leaf Springs and Solid Axles Front and Rear Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes*Desirable early Ford Model T Touring *Formerly owned in California *A nearly completed sympathetic restoration*Lots of potential for an enthusiast to finish offTHE EARLY MODEL THenry Ford was thrown out of the Henry Ford Company for pursuing an idea which his investors thought was silly: building an inexpensive, reliable, four-passenger automobile. The directors – men of substance, prosperity and achievement – knew that the automobile was accessible only to them and their counterparts. Henry was a dreamer, and after backing his early ideas they cut their losses, sending Mr. Ford packing with a $900 gratuity and a roll of blueprints for a simple, cheap car that had – in their experienced judgment – no chance of success.Surprisingly, Henry found a new backer in Alexander Malcolmson, a Detroit coal merchant, and the canny Henry managed to keep Malcolmson on board until Ford's vision was ready to be realized. It was called the Model T (T is the 20th letter of the alphabet and Henry had rendered many of the preceding nineteen letters in metal which alone is sufficient to substantiate the abundance of his ideas.) The early Model Ts were beautiful automobiles. They had acres of brightwork, were finished in brilliant colors and had elaborately-shaped bodies that owed little to production economies and much to the styles and public expectations of the day. Their 177 cubic inch four-cylinder engines had removable cylinder heads (revolutionary in the day but which made it practical for owners to clean their valves and piston crowns of the carbon buildup which the poor breathing, slow combustion and crummy fuels of the day made a regular chore of automobile ownership.)In the early years Ford's production was challenged by other marques. Buick, for example, outsold Ford even though it was more expensive. But soon Ford's single-minded focus on reducing costs and combining great value with low price achieved the results that economists (had there been any in 1910) would have predicted.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe '09 T here displays all those subtleties of the early cars, even the top mountings are built on an ornate bar that stretches back around the whole rear of the body. It is little details like this that quickly were lost in the quest for uniformity and profit. Acquired from Peter Eastwood in Pasadena, California in the early 2000s, the car presents as a near complete restoration of a highly original example. Detail features such as original front floorboards and car builder patent plaque are still present and it is evident that the bodywork is built in wood rather than metal for most of the structure. Viewed carefully there remain details that need finishing, there are no manifolds and while painted, the condition of the engine is not clear. The dash is missing a coil box, coils and wiring also, most of these cars would have had a windshield too. But one of the benefits of the remarkable survival rates of the T is that there are a host of other minds to consult with on making sure that the right pieces are sourced and further many different supporting entities and suppliers of parts who can assist. The Ford is finished in bright red with black fenders, chassis and undercarriage and has black wood spoke wheels, the basic bodywork is accented with brass Edmunds & Jones headlights, brass radiator shell and sidelights. A much more exclusive, distinctive and attractive automobile than later Model Ts would be, when completed, it will provide its new owner that a very rare commodity indeed which carries rarified status among their community. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 509
1909 Oakland Model 40 Touring Chassis no. 1576 Engine no. 331318.1 cu in, BiBloc Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle CarburetorApprox. 40hp 3-Speed Manual Transmission Front, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Fully Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes* Early Pontiac, Michigan built automobile* One of only 4 of the early Oakland cars to survive* Potentially a usable and affordable touring carTHE OAKLAND MODEL 40 For more information on the history of the Oakland Motor Car Company please see lot 521 in this auction. As elaborated there, the model that really got the company off and running was this, the 'Forty'. A proud advertising campaign played strongly on its virtues and the value that it offered, its text succinctly sums up the details, under the heading 'The Oakland is the answer to the man who says 'Show Me'. The pitch reads 'It is a good, old-fashioned American habit, whether buying a cigar or a ten thousand dollar house to look into things a little before spending your money and see that you are paying not one cent more than is necessary. You select an automobile for what it is and for what it will do.' It asked 'Why should you pay from 50 to 100 per cent more for a car that will do no more than the Oakland 'Forty'?' This continues 'It has a forty horsepower motor with cylinders cars in pairs, 112-inch wheel base, seats five people without touching elbows, and in every little appointment is luxurious and easy-riding.' 'Light weight, 2,000 lbs., means low cost of maintenance. Big 34-inch wheels, 4-inch tires, steel I-beam axles – nothing cheap about the Oakland – simplicity of construction and scientific manufacturing system alone can account for the phenomenally low price.' 'This is a car you want to buy, and if you are an agent, it is a car you want to sell' The Oakland Motor Car Co. was absorbed into William Durant's General Motors conglomerate in 1909, providing for the company the financial resources it needed to develop its range of cars. The four-cylinder cars were marketed as 'The Car with a Conscience' and the radiators carried the distinctive oak leaf and acorn emblem.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe Two Generations collection houses two key products from the incubatory period of Oakland, their original two-cylinder car and its successor the four-cylinder Model 40 which was key the foundation of the brand. Of the four surviving Oaklands in the HCCA roster two live in this collection, another prominent exponent of these cars was Robert Roughton of Virginia Beach, from whom this car was acquired in 2017. There was always a penchant for red cars in this collection, as can be seen on these catalogue pages, so this larger Oakland would have appealed strongly to these owners and matches the schemes of the Palmer-Singer, Pierce-Arrow and others in the stable. In this case, the red coachwork is contrasted with black painted beads to the fenders and its black button back leather upholstery. A cursory viewing of the car shows it to be well appointed with a period head and sidelamp set and nice detail features such as its 'Automatic Folding Windshield', which claims to be operational single handedly, another clever piece of design is for the Clutch and Brake to be cast into their respective pedals, surely in those days there were still a few people getting the hang of these arrangements. Clearly an older restoration, and likely needing some recommissioning, this Oakland Forty is nonetheless an honest and relatively affordable Brass Era touring car, much as it was when they sold new. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 510
1906 Thomas Flyer 50HP Seven Passenger Touring Car Chassis no. C 17522.7 cu in, T-Head Individually Cast Inline 4-Cylinder Engine (5½ inch bore by 5½ inch stroke)Single Carburetor50hp4-Speed Manual Transmission with final drive by dual chainsSemi-Elliptic Leaf Suspension2-Wheel Brakes* One of the highest performance American cars of 1906 * Formerly in the Harrah Collection* Two owners since 1960s, in the collection since 1986* Remarkable original example of famed marque* National Automobile Museum binder on fileTHE THOMAS COMPANY One of the most recognizable automobiles of this era and arguably the most important of all the pioneering brands, the Thomas was the car that conquered the globe and put the American industry on the map. Like so many of his pioneering contemporaries, Erwin Ross (E. R.) Thomas was in the bicycle business prior to manufacturing automobiles. During the 1890s, E. R. was the managing director for H. A. Lozier & Co. who produced the famous Cleveland bicycle. However, he recognized the huge potential in the newly evolving automobile business and left Lozier to take over the Buffalo Automobile and Auto-Bi company, which was known for its production of bicycles and motorcycle engines. In 1900 E. R. changed the company name to Thomas Auto-Bi, and by 1901 Thomas claimed to build more air-cooled motors than anyone else.E. R. had bigger things in mind however, and the first Thomas automobiles were introduced in 1903; small runabouts described in the catalog as the happy medium between the cheaper and more expensive cars. All of that changed in 1904 when a huge leap forward was made from the French fronted voiturettes that Thomas had made to date with the introduction of the Model 22. One of its most distinctive features was that the lightweight tubed chassis of its predecessors was succeeded with a more substantial frame that was constructed with an outside plate riveted to angle iron above and below it, visually this is immediately apparent with the series of rivets along each side. To the frame Thomas mounted a three-cylinder engine, an unusual configuration which has rarely been commonplace, it was mounted to what we now consider to be a 'proper' gearbox, a separate casing with three forward speeds. 'Beauty and Power' proclaimed the 1904 brochure for the model and summarized the use of the three-cylinder power plant thus 'In a word, the triple-cylinder motor gives us high speed, high efficiency, the greatest amount of power for a given size of cylinder, or for a minimum of weight, a maximum of speed and power'. Owing to its spritely performance, Thomas noted that their Chicago agent C.A. Coey had christened the new car a 'Flyer' – it was a name that stuck and a genius marketing name which has come to symbolize the marque as a swashbuckling high-performance motor car. The three-cylinder was a snapshot of what was to come, the following year an extra cylinder was added and the car grew a little more. The 1905 range offered four different Flyers, a four cylinder 40hp, two four cylinder 50hp cars and their first six cylinder, 60hp model, on 106, 110, 114 and 124 inch wheelbases respectively. This variety was quickly refined for the 1906 season, when all Thomas's were built on 118 inch wheelbases powered by four cylinder 50hp engines. Their engines were massive by comparison with their American contemporaries, with a 5½ inch bore and stroke giving 522 cubes of power and relayed to the road through huge front driving sprockets. As such it was probably the most high-performance American car available that year. Thomas Flyers soon gained notoriety among the faster and more flamboyant Touring cars of their day. E. R. had an eye for flair and his huge powerful cars showed it – they were often finished in bright colors and loaded with many ornate brass accessories. The 1907 sales catalogue boasted 'You can't go by a Thomas Flyer, so go buy one!' The Thomas name endures and is most readily remembered for its most astounding victory in one the greatest automotive competition events of the time, the 1908 Le Matin sponsored 'The Great Race'. The route went from New York (in the dead of winter) across the U.S. to San Francisco, then by ship to Alaska, and across the Bering Strait, either by ship or by ice to Siberia. To be certain that the Yukon and the Bering Strait would be covered in ice, the race purposely began in the winter. Many of the dirt-covered trails had never been traveled by a motorcar.E. R. Thomas made a last minute decision to enter a car and three days prior to the start, a stock 1907 model was selected from the factory lot. 13,341 miles and 171 days later, the victorious Thomas rolled into Paris and forever cemented its place in history. They also campaigned the French Grand Prix in 1908, Lewis Strang fielding a four cylinder Thomas, being the only American company to challenge Europeans on their turf in this period. THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe highlight of the Two Generations collection, the 1906 Thomas Flyer can pride itself with some 60 years in its last two ownerships, and while its current tenure has been more low-key, the previous is one of the best-known collections ever amassed, that of William Fisk Harrah of Reno, Nevada. On file is both a recently prepared National Automobile Museum binder of information relating to the model and this car specifically, with additional history having been researched by the current custodians. From these sources and photos of the car in the 1950s, it is highly likely that the Thomas Flyer was originally delivered to California, for it still wore a painted 'CAL 22' script on the rear of the bodywork by the time it first surfaced in the 1950s. In the 1950s it was owned by a John Krittenbrink of Oklahoma. Thomas was undoubtedly the marques favored by Harrah, and he began to correspond with him in the summer of 1958 to see if the car could be acquired for the growing collection. Naturally this was rebuffed by Krittenbrink to begin with, but as for many resistance was futile and eventually he succumbed to the Harrah checkbook. Although one of the first to be acquired by him, it would at one time shared those hallowed halls in Reno with many more of its brethren. It is believed that the car was purchased by Harrah in the very early 1960s, the first inhouse correspondence dating from 1962. It seems that there was some debate among the researchers and experts on the Harrah team as whether this was born as a Touring car, or as a Demi-Limousine, for clarity, the latter was a period fashionable term which simply related to a car having a fixed roof and closed panel that stretched along the back of the car, providing a little extra weather protection than the standard touring car. However, viewed today this summary seems somewhat inaccurate and unlikely for there is no evidence of where the rear section of the Demi-Limousine would have affixed, and furthermore there are top mounting brackets to the front and rear seats. Interestingly, Thomas coachwork was built in house and pioneered a design that catered for the basic dusty roads of the day, with three high sided scalloped panels designed to deflect dust from the passengers. Although refurbishment was contemplated by the Harrah team, it seems that this extended to no more than a 'lick' of paint in the uniform burgundy color that we see her today. Whatever the reason, in a chapter of the hobby which might have seen much of the car's intrinsic originality obliterated to create a show car, it was left alone, and between that and the sensitivity of the current owners also, it allows today's collectors to observe a 117 year old Thomas most probably with many of the finishes and details with which it left the Buffalo works, not least its floorboards, cabi... For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 511
1906 Darracq Model 40/60 Runabout Chassis no. 11013NA Engine no. 9312422 ci, Side-Valve Bi-Bloc 4-Cylinder Engine c.50hp 3-Speed Manual TransmissionSemi-Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension2-Wheel Rear Drum and Transmission Brake*Well-known large horsepower French speedster*Formerly in the collections of George Waterman and William G. Lassiter*In the present ownership since 1999*Potential for fast Brass tour carsDARRACQOne of the most enigmatic of posters of this era is for a brazen Darracq screaming horizontally across the page, with a tranquil Victor Hemery at its wheel, it would boldly proclaim the success of 1905, 198 Kilometers in the hour, a World Record, 1st in the Vanderbilt Cup and 1st at the Circuit des Ardennes, that same year. In fact, the successes of 1905 had been developed out of a much more humble entrée into the world of automobiles. Born in Bordeaux in 1885, Alexandre Darracq made a fortune in the bicycle industry's boom years of the late 19th Century, and like many of his contemporaries subsequently turned his attention to powered transport. Darracq's new venture was financed by the sale of his Gladiator bicycle business to Dunlop, though he continued to make bicycle components in his new factory at Suresnes, Seine. Darracq was a businessman rather than an engineer and had recruited designer Paul Ribeyrolles to be responsible for its production.One of the first steps in a more substantial and sporting automobile was the arrival of the 'Flying Fifteen' which was powered by a 3.0-liter sidevalve four rated at 15hp and would go on to become Darracq's most successful model to date. Of exceptional quality, the Flying Fifteen remained essentially unchanged for the next three years, its success helping the company capture a 10% share of the French market. Here in the United States, the Darracq importer accomplished the remarkable feat of covering 2,350 miles in 14 days at the wheel of a 15hp Darracq without stopping its engine!The behemoth that accomplished the 1905 records was a 22-liter V8-engined monster also designed by Ribeyrolles, they would repeat the Vanderbilt Cup victory in 1906. Against this backdrop, it was logical that the marque would have success in America, but it seems that only the larger Darracq models were ever imported as new to the USA. Their original agent was F.A. La Roche & Co. of 652 Hudson Street in New York City. That firm's proprietor tested and proved a Flying Fifteen with a fortnight of continuous running and some 2,350 miles covered. The 40/60 as offered today, was a 7-liter T-head powered car which in France was catalogued as a 40hp, but for the US market was listed with this nomenclature. While chains might be seen as an iconic characteristic today, they were becoming considered as passé and were quickly being replaced by transferal by shaft drive which was accepted as being more refined, the 40/60 also had the refined 'belt and braces' technology of both magneto and coil ignition. THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDDarracq were on top of the world when this large horsepower speedster was originally built, and it would have been images such as this that no doubt inspired its acquisition. That purchase was at the Christie's auction in West Palm Beach in March 1999 when William G. Lassiter sold his collection.As catalogued then, the car could chart provenance back to the incubation of the hobby, with known ownership commencing with one the most famous pioneers of the car collecting movement George Waterman who was based here in Rhode Island. Together with his collecting partner Kirk Gibson, the very first car museum of its kind could have been here in Newport at Belcourt House on Bellevue Avenue a step away from The Audrain today. Termed by Gibson and Waterman as a Musee des Invalides, it had already outgrown its Boston premises and Newport would have been ideal, afterall motorsport had begun here in 1899. But the idea of the such an institution for greasy old jalopies, horrified the neighbors and it was not to be... Well at least Newport can count on the Audrain today!Regardless, the Darracq was part of that famed grouping in the 1950s. From Waterman-Gibson it passed to the Burton Upjohn Collection in Michigan. At this point, it was restored by John Caperton to the guise in which we see it today, that of an archetypal speedster, with bucket seats and barrel gas tank. From Burton Upjohn its next ownership came in 1965 when it was purchased by Donald Gilmore of Kalamazoo, in that same state. It would reside in the Gilmore Museum for many years, until acquired by Lassiter.Surprisingly, although secured at that prominent auction, it is understood that the Darracq was rarely, if ever used by these two generations of collectors, probably owing to all the other cars that cried out for attention. It stands today as a larger horsepower motorcar from an high quality brand which was at a peak in this period, and when returned to the road it will no doubt prove to be an exhilarating and run road racer. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 512
1905 Franklin Model A 12HP Four-Cylinder Runabout Engine no. 1524107.8 cu in, Pushrod Overhead Valve Inline 4-Cylinder Air-cooled EngineApprox. 12hp2-Speed Planetary TransmissionFully Elliptic Leaf Suspension2-Wheel Rear Drum and Transmission Brake*Formerly in the Indianapolis Museum of Speed Collection*Rare early four-cylinder car*Unusual transverse engine format *Eligible for HCCA, Audrain Veteran Car Tour and other eventsEARLY FRANKLIN CARSH.H. Franklin was a successful industrialist in Syracuse, New York with a good business making metal die castings, itself something of an emerging technology. In 1902 he was introduced to John Wilkinson, a recent Cornell University engineering graduate who had designed an air-cooled automobile for a client who hadn't paid him. Franklin took a ride, was impressed and undertook to acquire the deadbeats' interests and manufacture Wilkinson's cars. At a time when even quality automobiles were powered with single cylinder engines with atmospheric intake valves, ignition advance engine speed control and tiller steering Franklin's little runabouts featured inline four-cylinder engines, throttle control, overhead valves and wheel steering.Cornell engineering graduate John Wilkinson designed his first prototype air-cooled cars for the New York Automobile Co. but, unsurprisingly fell out with them when he failed to be properly recompensed. Finding financial backing from Alexander T Brown, combined with support from Herbert H Franklin, Wilkinson's prototype designs went into production with the H. H. Franklin Co., the first car leaving the production lines in June 1902. From the outset, air-cooled engines were the norm for Franklin with four-cylinder engine units featuring overhead valves and being transversely mounted at the front in European, rather than typically American style. The Franklin was mounted on a wooden frame and proved robust on the primitive American dust roads. In 1904 L. L. Whitman challenged the records set by Winton and Packard for the trans-America drive from New York City to San Francisco and set a new record of just 33 days. Franklin remained in motor car manufacture until 1934 and throughout the name Franklin was synonymous with air-cooled engines.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDA counter position to its successor the Model G (see lot 528), this example displays the origins of the Franklin motorcar. According to information on file, the car was acquired privately through Charles Bronson. It is understood to have been part of a package of cars that emerged from the Indianapolis Speedway Museum in the early 2010s and therefore was previously part of the Tony Hulman Early Wheels Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana. Cars in that collection were generally acquired in adolescence of the hobby and so it is likely that even by then it has spent some 40-50 years housed at Indy. The car appears to have received a much older restoration, and probably only seen limited use since then. Based on its lightweight construction, limited coachwork and relatively substantial engine for its day, one would imagine that these cars have quite a turn of speed. By merit of its age it would certainly be a usable car for any Horseless Carriage Club Tour here in the USA, or even this weekend on the Audrain Veteran Car Tour. Further afield it would no doubt be welcomed in Veteran Car Club circles, or staying marque specific within the H.H. Franklin Club. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 513
c.1903 Thomas Model 18 Single Cylinder 8HP Rear Entrance Tonneau Engine no. see text106ci, F-Head Single Cylinder EngineSingle Carburetor8hp3-Speed Manual Transmission with Chain Final DriveSemi-Elliptic Leaf Suspension2-Wheel Brakes* Handsome early pioneering Thomas car* Exquisitely restored* Eligible for Horseless Carriage Club Events and more* Formerly in the long term ownership of Harold CokerTHE THOMAS COMPANYAs recorded elsewhere in this catalogue, the first Thomas automobiles were introduced in 1903; small runabouts described in the catalog as the happy medium between the cheaper and more expensive cars produced after E.R. Thomas consolidated his manufacturing into one division. E.R Thomas continued following the French pattern of design that had served him well with his previous motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles. The resulting new car looked quite similar to a Renault or De Dion Bouton and shared a similar mechanical design. Since the French had led the motor industry for over a decade, this was certainly a safe and reliable model to copy.The Thomas Model 18 proved a good car and a fairly successful product. Thomas would quickly begin to move towards a more American/German type design with his next motorcars. The limitations of the light French design would prove a bit frail for difficult American conditions.Today, on our properly paved roads, the Model 18 is a delight and a fine American alternative to the ubiquitous French voiturettes. The Thomas Model 18 is well engineered and has the build quality that helped establish the company's excellent reputation. The strong 8hp single drives the car through an efficient 3-speed sliding gear transmission. The 3-speed is a big help in efficiently climbing rolling hills without having to resort to low gear. Equipped with a roomy and comfortable tonneau, the Thomas is an appealing four-up transport.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThomas Motor Cars were always of appeal to this collection, the Flyer joining in the 1980s from the Harrah Collection, and when Bonhams offered this example in 2020 it immediately resonated. Joining the stable just days before the pandemic and with the owners both passing during that time, the car would sadly never get to be used properly for events as they had intended. As purchased in 2020, the car was then offered for sale from the estate of another noted Thomas collector, Harold Coker. Mr. Coker was truly passionate about the Thomas products and at one time had amassed examples of almost all the early cars they built. Here is Coker's single cylinder car, which carries with it a somewhat remarkable story which deserves telling. While, the story is not wholly substantiated, and is almost too fanciful to have dreamt up, it does represent the form in which the car was purchased from William S. Abbott in Godfrey, Illinois in the 1990s, by Harold Coker.It is said that in the early days this car was driven from New York to St. Louis for the 1904 World's Fair where it was used as part of a Fair and was known 'The Red Devil'. Within a short period of time, the subsequent first owner who lived in Union, Missouri determined that the Thomas single cylinder motor wasn't sufficient to climb the hill to his home. He complained and returned the car to the E.R. Thomas Company, who it is said no longer had a suitable powerplant and elected to install a more powerful twin cylinder Buick unit of a similar era. Abbott is noted to have bought the car from a John Vauls, who himself had acquired it from a John Davis. Some of the tale was covered in a feature on prewarcar.com in 2016, when a very old photo surfaced of a car, with a boy scout holding a gun and accompanying a dog was published. The car in the photo is clearly a real automobile rather than a prop as it has its license plates inscribed on the sidelights and its body and many details are identical to a Thomas of this era. It is suggested that this may well be the Coker car, in that the tale it had always carried ties into this visual by location. Coker wanted to restore the car to as original a specification as possible, so he removed the Buick engine, made patterns and recast a new single cylinder unit from an original '03 Thomas from fellow enthusiast and friend, Henry Jansen. The former two-cylinder motor was sold in part to fund this and other projects. The remainder of the car was restored to very high standard as can still be evidenced today and has from time to time been displayed at concours events by the Coker family, most recently at the Atlanta Concours d'Elegance in 2018.Finished in the bright red colorway that is so often considered as the norm for the brand and was exactly as depicted in contemporary Thomas marketing materials this is a fine representation of the model. The car has never been submitted for dating with the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain, so its potential eligibility for the London to Brighton has never been explored. It stands today as a very rare survivor of this early chapter of the legendary American around the world company, offering a usable HCCA car. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 514
1911 Palmer-Singer Model 4-50 Seven Passenger Touring Chassis no. 504499 ci, T-Head, 4-Cylinder Engine (5.5' bore x 5.25' stroke)Single Updraft Carburetor50 horsepower ALAM rated 4-Speed Transmission with Direct Final Drive Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring SuspensionRear Drum Brakes*Single family ownership since 1956, 3 owners from new*Legendary New York built high performance Brass era automobile*Remarkable personal restoration which still shows well*More than 30,000 tour miles covered including Glidden ToursTHE PALMER-SINGERFor every Brass Era manufacturer such as Thomas, Mercer, and Simplex that entered immortality through magnificent engineering and superb quality, there were a multitude of others that remain less well-known. Among them the enthusiast finds Palmer-Singer, the joint venture of Henry Palmer, a wealthy barrel manufacturer, and Charles Singer, of the sewing machine family that counted many automobilists in its monied ranks. Palmer and Singer initially collaborated in 1907 on a New York City dealership for Simplex, Matheson, and Isotta-Fraschini automobiles, and, essentially, learned from the magnificent beasts that they sold. Having absorbed what they could from studying their elite stock, in 1908 they launched the Palmer & Singer Manufacturing Company to build their own world-beating motorcar, initially referred to as the P&S and then, within a year, by the founders' proud full names.Crafted in a new Long Island factory, the Palmer-Singer was a Great Car, the term popularized by the automotive writer Ralph Stein to indicate a motorcar with excellent craftsmanship, advanced mechanicals, and the ability to thrill its driver. Palmer-Singer's four- and six-cylinder engines, each of its own devising, were all at once meticulously crafted, large, and potent. It was one of the first American luxury cars to employ a four-speed selective transmission with multiple-disc clutch and modern shaft drive, at a time when even the finest vehicles often transmitted their power via chain drive. Each I-beam front axle was hand-forged. Dual brakes worked on each rear wheel. As the firm's promotional materials noted, many manufacturers boasted one or two of these features, but Palmer-Singer offered them all. Like its East Coast compatriot the T-head Mercer, it was an automobile that was wholly engineered for excellence in its field, with no component of its design an afterthought left to chance.The success of this philosophy was ably demonstrated by a Palmer-Singer's victory in the Long Island Motor Derby of 1911, hurtling along 182 miles in 179 minutes, and a further impressive performance in a 24-hour speed trial at Brighton, New York. The locales were no accident; Palmer-Singer was demonstrating its power before its own wealthy neighbors. Advertising that year referred to the Palmer-Singer as the 'Strongest Built Car in the World,' a series that 'consists of four luxurious, high-class models, all correct in design and successful in practice...commodious, comfortable, and graceful, most attractively designed and finished, differing only in size and power.' The company stood by that claim, guaranteeing each of its automobiles for one full year.The firm had everything going for it but time and humility. Whereas its contemporaries recognized the peak of their engineering and stopped, Palmer-Singer, not content, experimented with a slide-valve engine, the Magic Six. Its very name sounded like a bunch of hokum, and it was; the engine was both costly to build and unreliable, which proved fatal to its manufacturer virtually upon its introduction in 1914. In-between were six years of outstanding large luxury cars that deserve to be remembered. Yet today, a mere four Palmer-Singers survive to tell the tale, each a work of magnificence. 'The Best in Motor Cars,' the ads called it...and it was.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDA cornerstone of this collection, the majestic Palmer-Singer is offered here today for the first time in 67 years. It was none other than Henry Austin Clark who alerted the father to this car, he had seen it advertised for sale in the 'Antique Automobile Guide' in May 1954 as follows: 'Palmer-Singer 1909, 7 passenger touring, red upholstery, the body is aluminum. This is an exceptional car, and should make an excellent one for the Glidden tour. Motor a T head and rated 50hp. Car was purchased from the original owner. – $2,900'If it seems unlikely that 'Austie', the famed patriarch of the Long Island Automotive Museum and founder of the Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society would have passed over such a car, it seems that it was not without regret, for shortly after its sale he wrote to the new owner stating that his research, clearly accurate, showed it to be a 1911 model and that if this news proved disappointing, he would gladly acquire it himself matching the purchase price and any costs to date!The sale was consummated on October 12, 1956, passing from Pat Boyle of Ridgewood, NJ into this collection. Already the quality of personal restoration work carried out by the family was known, Clark stating that he knew they would make a beautiful job of the car. Notes on file charting their ownership state – 'Immediately the next day, before dismantling the car, we checked the ignition system, installed a hot-shot battery, pressurized the gas tank, cranked it a few times and she started after not being run since 1935. This convinced us that the motor was in fairly good condition and we immediately dismantled the entire car'A most thorough restoration was undertaken and for the most part it is still the fruits of this labor that remain on display today. Every mechanical aspect was taken down, cleaned and rebuilt, interestingly both the clutch and back axle were found to be in 'perfect' order. The running gear was returned to the chassis frame now freshly repainted in a specially mixed Dulux cream hue. Midway through the process, the rolling chassis was equipped with a box seat and the car test driven successfully before work continued on the coachwork. The body was in fair condition for its age, and so its refurbishment was straightforward. Localised repair or replacement of the wood frame was carried out where necessary, and likewise the aluminum skins were attended to where required. The paint color was matched exactly to the remaining evidence of the original and the same was true of the leather, seven hides being acquired from Blanchard Bros & Lane to the correct color and grain pattern of the original. Even a button making machine was acquired, the leather skived by hand and the buttons made!A combination of the condition of the hood and fenders and a wish for perfection meant that these were renewed by hand, including their raises beads. The completed car was painted in 'eight double coats of Duco maroon lacquer' and coach-lined to match the frame. All told the work took most of the next 4 years, however when it debuted at AACA events in 1960 it instantly won a Junior First Award and Best Restored Car of the Year, but it was not only about show, the Palmer-Singer, having not turned a wheel since 1935 completed its first Glidden Tour. That event was the first of 5 decades of touring around the country, during which more than 30,000 miles were covered on more than 100 tours, over half a dozen Glidden Tours and more. In the truly fastidious fashion of its owners its file records all of the restoration work of the 1950s, extensive research into the model and numerous clippings from magazine articles about the hallowed marque as well as a number of period sales brochures which attest to the bold and substantiated claims by its maker. While the cosmetics have not required further attention, simply being carefully looked after to the now lightly aged order they present today, the sheer scal... For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 515
1912 Ford Model T Torpedo Roadster Project Engine no. 99889177ci Flathead Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle CarburetorApprox. 22hp at 1,600 rpm2-Speed Planetary Manual Transmission Transverse Leaf Springs and Solid Axles Front and Rear Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes*A starter Model T *Much work already completed*Desirable sporting bodystyleTHE MOTORCAR OFFEREDFor those who haven't experienced a great 'Brass T', they are about as much fun as you can have on four wheels. Ford really got it right with the early Ford Ts and, when properly set up, they perform remarkably well. In fact, most brass car tourers have a story about a pesky Model T driver keeping up with the likes of a Silver Ghost or Pierce-Arrow.The Torpedo could be seen as Ford's first performance car, the standard T stripped down and with a little racer-type body. The hood was lengthened two inches, and the steering column was lowered. The result was a nimble and quick T with a look like no other. Any brass T is great fun for touring but the Torpedo is the ultimate.The 'T' here provides that opportunity for any prospective collector or indeed an existing collector wanting to swerve into the world of the Model T Ford. Should you need inspiration of how this car could be completed, you need look no further than lots 504 or 535 in today's auction, which display two potential directions for this project, stock factory or performance special. Sold as viewed, inspection of the car suggests that a lot of work has already been completed, much of the paintwork, the engine bay appears detailed and at first glance suggests that it may have been restored, certainly on the cosmetic side it presents very nicely. The radiator and most of the brass fittings are highly polished also. Winter is coming... well sort of, this is the North East afterall! With the wide availability of parts and support for these cars this is a great entrée to Model T ownership.Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 516
c.1901 Locomobile Style 2 5.5HP Dos-a-dos Steam Runabout Car no. 3596 Engine no. 46842-Cylinder Double-Acting Steam EngineApproximately 5.5bhpSprocket Rear Axle with Chain Drive4-Wheel Leaf Spring SuspensionRear Band-Type Brakes*The only steam car in the collection*Former ownership in the Tony Hulman/Indianapolis Museum of Speed Collection*Very rare survivor of this coachwork styleTHE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe Locomobile owes its genesis in large part to the Stanley brothers, of steamer fame. One of Locomobile's co-founders, John Brisben Walker, persuaded the Stanleys to sell him their steam car business. Walker then sold a half-interest in the new company to an asphalt millionaire, A.L. Barber. Locomobile took over Stanley's production line at Watertown, Massachusetts, renaming the little steamers 'Locomobile'. The two partners had a falling out within weeks and severed their business ties. Barber retained the Locomobile name and Watertown plant, and eventually acquired other factory locations. From 1900 production was transferred to Bridgeport, Connecticut and by 1902, more than 4,000 units had been manufactured.Many observers consider the Runabout the first mass-produced steam car, while noting that it was really a Stanley in all but name. It used a very simple motor that was directly attached to the axle sprocket. The chassis itself was basic as well; a wood frame and body with buggy-type suspension, spidery wire wheels and tiller steering.This Locomobile appears to date from later on in 1901 to judge from published material on their car numbers which cites cars for 1901 as running between 2401 and 4660. Its engine number dates from 1902.It would seem to be one of the more substantially bodied 'dos-a-dos' or back-to-back seating variants, which had more bodywork and distinctive looped handrails to the outside of the coachwork. Published advertising cites these as debuting in late 1901 for the following year, and to judge from surviving examples they are very few and far between, being seldom offered for sale. The Locomobile was acquired privately through dealer Charles Bronson and is understood to have been part of a package of cars that emerged from the Indianapolis Speedway Museum in the early 2010s. It was therefore almost certainly previously part of the Tony Hulman Early Wheels Collection in Terre Haute, Indianapolis, prior to their merging at the Speedway. Cars in that collection were generally acquired in adolescence of the hobby and so it is likely that even by then it has spent some 40-50 years housed at Indy. To judge from the way in which its paintwork is decorated it seems likely that it was used by Indy, or a former owner for promotional purposes, being copiously labelled for Richfield gasoline or 'ethyl'. From the aesthetics of its mechanics, it would appear not to have been run for a very long time. Steam cars are by their nature something that needs to be properly restored and exercised in order for their inherent power to be safe, so a comprehensive review of this car's running gear would be recommended prior to any use. The Locomobile has never been submitted to the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain for confirmation of its manufacture date, however its format is one that was not in production beyond 1902, and owing to its originality generally would comfortably place it within the coveted pre-1905 window required to participate in the famed London to Brighton Run in the UK. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 517
1909 EMF Model 30 Touring Chassis no. 2163 Engine no. 2443226cu in, Side-Valve Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle Carburetor30hp3-Speed Manual Gearbox Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension2-Wheel Drum Brakes*One of two examples in the collection*A usable light car, ideal for touring *Potential for HCCA events*Handsome and well-appointed carEMFEstablished in 1908, EMF took its name from its founders' initials - 'E' being Detroit coachbuilder Barney Everitt, 'M' being William Metzger, lately sales manager of Cadillac, and 'F' being Walter Flanders, at one time Henry Ford's production manager. The Northern and Wayne companies were acquired together with their plants and equipment, and EMF production commenced in the second half of 1908 with Wayne designer William E Kelly as chief engineer. EMF chose not to contest the low-price market with Henry Ford, opting instead for a well-finished medium-priced car. The latter was a 30hp four with three-speed sliding-gear rear transaxle built on a sturdy pressed-steel chassis frame. Splits in the partnership and litigation with wagon builder turned automobile manufacturer Studebaker, which had concluded a distribution agreement with EMF, eventually led to a Studebaker take-over in 1910. This resulted in the formation of the Studebaker Corporation, and from then onwards all EMFs were badged as Studebakers.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe earlier of two of examples of EMF cars in this collection, this also dates from the same year, 1909, but appears to have been produced towards the start of the year, being some 4000 cars ahead of the other example. Within that production sequence there is clearly some evolution, by way of explanation, the radiator has the motif of E.M.F. 30 embossed into it, something that would no doubt have been expensive to do. The car is one of the more recent acquisitions by the Two Generations Collection, joining in 2015 having previously been owned by Gil Fitzhugh of Lidditz, Pennsylvania. To judge from its condition it appears to have been the subject of a high quality restoration probably 25-35 years ago. That refurbishment has aged lightly, but not to its detriment and the car has a very inviting appearance all around. This EMF is painted in a rich creamy white scheme, which is offset by a rich butterscotch leather interior and light tan top, it carries a nice set of brightwork which is highly polished and includes EJ Mfg headlamps, scuttle mounted sides and a taillamp. A lesser seen marque and model, this is certainly proof of how appealing these cars are.Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 518
1907 Pope-Hartford Model L 25-30HP Raceabout Engine no. 3033298ci OHV Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle Pope Hartford Carburetorc.25hp3-Speed TransmissionSemi-Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes* In the present ownership since 2011* Great looking sporting Pope* Eligible for HCCA and Audrain Veteran Car Tour* Well setup for brass car events THE POPE-HARTFORDCol. Albert Pope was one of the celebrated industrialists of the post-civil war era, having created a highly successful bicycle empire that benefitted from the enormous bike craze of the late 1800s. By the end of the decade, Pope had consolidated over 40 bicycle manufacturers into his American Bicycle Company. The skill set and manufacturing capability of these companies gave Pope a strong basis to enter automobile manufacturing. Having seen that the bicycle craze would be supplanted by Automobiles, Pope began in the 1890s with the Columbia automobile. Primarily an electric car, it gave Pope a toehold in the new market. The Pope automobile empire would eventually include numerous brands including Pope-Tribune, Pope-Toledo, Pope-Robinson, Pope-Waverley and the most enduring, Pope-Hartford. The Pope-Hartford would be the only Pope brand built in the city of the company's headquarters in Hartford, Ct. Begun in 1904 with a single cylinder car, the brand built its first four in 1906 and the fours would be the engine that ultimately built the brands reputation.Pope-Hartford gained a reputation for being a reliable, well made and soundly engineered automobile. With the exception of the unusual-for-the-time overhead valve engine the cars were conservatively designed and that was no doubt a key to their reputation for durability. Pope-Hartford did participate in racing and most famously won the San Francisco 'free for all' in 1909 with a 40hp model. The event celebrated the 300th anniversary of Don Gaspar de Portola's discovery of the bay. The success at this event gave name to the body style Pope is most famous for the 'Portola Roadster'.Today few brass car brands enjoy the status Pope-Hartford does, coveted by brass car enthusiasts for their wonderful touring abilities. They are reliable, powerful, good –looking, and not too big. The late cars have the benefit of a four-speed transmissions and electric starting. Pope-Hartford is one of the only brass era marques that enjoys its own exclusive tour – the Pope Tour.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThis sporting Pope was bought a dozen years ago for the collection, having previously resided with Neil Larosa in San Diego, California. In the current ownership it was regularly exercised an enjoyed, more often than not with the top discarded and stripped down to be more of a raceabout than a runabout. Such events are known to have included the Millers at Milwaukee gathering in 2012, where it was certainly a sight to behold. The Runabout is well equipped with a whole host of brass accessories, large Solar headlamps shine out front, sidelamps are mounted to the dash and an acetylene generator sits on the running board, as well as a large brass horn. Tucked away at the rear of the car are modern traffic signals also to aid touring. All of these serve to accent the car's rakish sporting bodywork which is finished in an attractive deep maroon coloring. Contrasting the coachwork are caramel colored leather bucket seats and third seat (with multiple handles to hold onto for that lucky passenger), and a light tan top. The Horseless Carriage Club Roster of 2006/7 lists this as the only Model L known to that club, they are certainly rare and have always been coveted motorcars, this is a great way to enter that fray. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 519
1910 Cadillac Model 30 Tourer Chassis no. 21280 Engine no. 43969226ci Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle Updraft Carburetor30bhp at 2,300rpm3-Speed Sliding-Gear Transmission2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes*The quintessential brass-era automobile*Believed to have formerly been part of the Indianapolis Museum of Speed Collection*A nicely patinated example *Potential to make a usable tour car THE CADILLAC MODEL 30The Model 30 was not the first four-cylinder Cadillac, but it was arguably the perfected four-cylinder Cadillac, setting a standard for quality, luxury, performance and price which positioned Cadillac for the century of leadership that followed.As any contemporary observer will quickly recognize, the re-invention of Cadillac which the Model 30 represented was not the last time Cadillac would endure that wrenching metamorphosis. In 1909, Cadillac was only in its sixth year. It was still under the guidance of its founder, Henry Martyn Leland, and his son Wilfred, and had only five years before merged with Leland & Faulconer. It was in only its second year as part of William Crapo Durant's General Motors.Cadillac introduced its first four-cylinder automobile in 1905, the Model D. Its arrangement of four individual cylinders with copper water jackets and unusual variable valve lift throttle system mimicked aspects of the successful Cadillac singles' design and construction. Its configuration was refined over subsequent years until 1909 when Cadillac realized the singles which had gotten it started were now a distraction from the rapidly evolving market which had come to expect greater refinement, size, reliability and power.In 1908, there had been five different models in Cadillac's catalog. Three of them were single-cylinder powered cars, while two of them were four-cylinder powered. A year later, there was only one, the four-cylinder powered Thirty. Rationalizing the catalog and streamlining production allowed Cadillac to improve quality and at the same time lower prices by a whopping 30%!That the Thirty met the expectations of the market is clear in its longevity. It remained the sole model in Cadillac's catalog for the next six years although the model designation changed and in 1913 an increase in stroke of 1 1/4' substantially increased displacement and brake horsepower even though the calculated rating stayed the same. Annual production went from 5,903 in 1909 to 15,018 in 1913 and 14,003 in 1914.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDIn the early 2010s a small number of cars emerged from the vaults of the Indianapolis Museum of Speed, being sold privately then and dispersed privately also through dealer Charles Bronson. According to information on file, the Cadillac presented here was one of those cars, joining this collection alongside the Locomobile and Oakland. On the basis of its origins, the Cadillac was therefore almost certainly previously part of the Tony Hulman Early Wheels Collection in Terre Haute, Indianapolis, prior to their merging at the Speedway. Cars in that collection were generally acquired in adolescence of the hobby and so it is likely that even by then it has spent some 40-50 years housed at Indy. Fitting that narrative, the Cadillac sports a road registration sticker from 1967 for Pennsylvania, and it is quite possible that this was the last time that the car saw road use. On close inspection, the car was either restored in that period, or is an extremely well preserved original car, it is a hard call to make when viewing the interior as to which option it might be. The Model 30 Cadillac has an excellent following by enthusiasts today, providing a wonderful resource for owners in terms of knowledge and repair. They are known to be good touring cars. This charming car offers the potential to be part of that select club and to own a brand that has stood for quality from its outset. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 520
1905 Maxwell Model H 16HP Touring Engine no. 10146196.5 ci, 2-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Side Valve Engine16hp3-Speed Manual TransmissionSemi-Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension 2-Wheel Drum Brakes*Highly original example*Top of the line, larger horsepower model by Maxwell*HCCA Tour eligible*The earliest surviving 1905 Model HMAXWELL AUTOMOBILESFinanced by Detroit sheet metal manufacturer Benjamin Briscoe and East Coast plutocrat J P Morgan, ex-Oldsmobile and Northern engineer Jonathan D Maxwell built his first car - an advanced twin-cylinder design with water cooling, mechanical inlet valves, two-speed planetary transmission, shaft drive and right-hand steering wheel - in 1904. The twin proved an enormous success; a four-cylinder model joined the line-up for 1906 and Maxwell expanded from its Tarrytown, New York base, opening factories in Auburn, Indiana and Rhode Island. Sound engineering was complemented by a series of headline-grabbing publicity stunts that helped boost sales, none more successful than a transcontinental trip from New York to San Francisco undertaken by a team of four lady drivers in 1909. The following year the firm sold over 20,000 cars, a total exceeded only by Ford and Buick. From this high point Maxwell went into decline. Briscoe's ambitious expansion plans proved disastrous; most of the factories were sold off and Jonathan Maxwell moved production to Detroit. Hit hard by the post-WWI depression, Maxwell merged - unsuccessfully - with Chalmers and acquired a new president in the person of Walter Percy Chrysler, whose new marque would rise from the Maxwell-Chalmers ashes.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDOne of the handful of completely unrestored cars in the collection, according to information on file, this early as found, discovery example of the Maxwell was acquired by the current ownership from noted collector Gibb Moyer of Pennsylvania, alongside one of the pioneer Cadillacs in this same collection. The car is listed in the registry of these cars as the earliest surviving example of the Model H, as supplied to the owners by historian Vern Campbell and a limited file of information accompanies the car, including an original sales brochure for the model. Features of the model included the right-hand drive five-passenger tourer body with side-entrance doors for the rear passengers, an innovative design in its day that allowed passengers to alight direct onto the sidewalks rather than onto the road, as would be the case with a rear-entrance tonneaus it succeeded. This Maxwell is a very interesting example of why all that the movement for preserving automobiles is important to the hobby and in the grander scheme to the history of the industry, for it almost certainly represents a virtual 'time capsule' of how Maxwell built their automobiles more than a century ago. In being so unspoiled it demonstrates just how fine the leather and workmanship of the car's leather upholstery was, and that is matched by the car's high-quality paintwork which has survived nearly a dozen decades. The car appears to retain almost all of its original upholstery as well as period accessories including 'Climax' headlamps, by Silby & Pitman of New York, Atwood sidelamps, and an New Jersey 'Autocoil' to its dash. While the aesthetics are for the most part original and aged, the mechanical component was worked on in house here, and has been rebuilt, further a starter motor set up has been added. This is a car that deserves and rewards close inspection. It is certain to be appreciated in Preservation Classes or indeed to be carefully enjoyed on Horseless Carriage Club events. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 521
1909 Oakland Model 20 2 Cylinder Touring Chassis no. 1627 Engine no. 397152 cu in, Side-Valve 2-Cylinder EngineSingle CarburetorApprox. 20hp 2-Speed Planetary Transmission Front, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Fully-Elliptic Leaf Spring SuspensionRear-Wheel Drum Brakes* A.P. Brush's original Oakland design* One of only 4 of the early Oakland cars to survive* Believed to have formerly been owned by Tony Hulman/Indianapolis Museum of Speed* HCCA EligibleOAKLAND MOTOR CAR COMPANY The brands of General Motors are inevitably intertwined within a collection of early American automobiles, the legacy of Buick, Cadillac and others is folklore but along the journey are other names such as Oakland for which the chapter is more brief. Founded in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1907, Edward Murphy's Oakland Motor Car Co. commenced production with a very fragile, twin-cylinder car with planetary transmission, designed by A P Brush. In fact, from then the story of its creator is very brief, Murphy started to build Oakland cars in 1908, sold to Durant in 1909 and passed away 5 months later, suddenly. But his creation lasted as a brand for two dozen years just into the 1930s. Priced at $1,250 the Oakland Twenty with its engine penned by Brush was notable for a number of individual characteristics, for a start it ran counter-clockwise, which was certainly unusual, it was also one of a number of power units that pioneered both cylinders firing at the same time. Neither of these proved to be selling points, and it was no long before a revised more standard design with increased horsepower came along. THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDOne of only four surviving Oakland cars of the Model 20 and 40 Series, this twin cylinder was purchased by the collectors privately through dealer Charles Bronson and is understood to have been part of a package of cars that emerged from the Indianapolis Speedway Museum in the early 2010s. It was therefore almost certainly previously part of the Tony Hulman Early Wheels Collection in Terre Haute, Indianapolis, prior to their merging at the Speedway. Cars in that collection were generally acquired in adolescence of the hobby and so it is likely that even by then it has spent some 40-50 years housed at Indy. Although it is said that these early Oaklands were not appreciated in their day for their technical characteristics, viewing this car today makes one question that judgement. The Oakland Twin has an appealing presentation throughout, to begin with its touring coachwork is a very fine rendition, being both sporting but highly detailed with good shape and moldings. In this case, the body is painted in a rich burgundy hue, which is heightened with crimson pinstriping throughout, which matches the running gear of the car, these being offset by black fenders and button back leather upholstery which appears to have been replaced in relatively recent times. As well as its handsome coachwork, the Oakland can boast detail features of its brand from the rubber mat in its drivers compartment, to branded headlamps (one of which is damaged, but nevertheless likely a period piece). One of the emerging touring classes for historic events of this era of car has been the for single and twin cylinder cars, on paper this would fit that category and would provide its user with a good looking car with physical presence. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 522
1906 REO 16HP Model A Five Passenger Car Chassis no. 2911 Engine no. 2911213ci, Side Valve 2-Cylinder EngineSingle CarburetorApprox. 16hp2-Speed Planetary GearboxFront, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Three-Quarter Elliptic Leaf Spring SuspensionExternal-Contracting Rear Wheel Drum Brakes*Handsome example of the Olds' second chapter *Long term ownership within the collection*Usable tour car*Eligible for the Audrain Veteran Car Tour and HCCA eventsREO CARSThe echoes of Ransom E. Olds footsteps as he walked away from Oldsmobile in 1904 had hardly faded before the pioneering vehicle manufacturer set about re-entering the auto business. Banned from using his surname on a new vehicle, Olds derived REO, the name for his new venture, from his initials. After having tested a prototype chassis for 2,000 miles, Olds revealed the REO Model A at the 1905 New York Auto Show. The medium-sized car was powered by a two-cylinder engine and had a two-speed planetary transmission with chain-drive to the rear axle.Interestingly enough in an entirely different era, it seems that REO felt the need to justify the performance of its cars in advertising. Under the heading 'REO – Honest Power Honest Price', their 1906 adverts proclaimed - Any one can speed up a motor on the factory, with a heavy fly-wheel so that for a period of ten seconds it will show a high brake horse-power; but that is a mere trick. It is no test. REO rating is not 'faked' in that way. It is obtained by an actual ten-hour dynamo test. It is accurate; it is honest and above all it is thoroughly proven by unquestioned performance. Fake news is clearly nothing new!THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDIn a collection steeped in the heritage of the Oldsmobile, it is little surprise a pair of successors to Ransom E. Olds' original venture should rub shoulders with their genus. This the earlier of the two dates from the 1906 production run and has all the hallmarks of these new Olds cars. A particularly interesting detail is the fact that as was quite common among American cars of this day, their coachwork was built with the idea of being configured either as a four seater side entrance touring car, or for the rear of the bodywork to be removed and to leave a more sporting and lighter weight two seater body style. Again for the purposes of collector car touring, this is an eminently practical style of coachwork. The car we present here has been in the collection for many years and is understood to have been restored prior to its acquisition. The bodywork is in a bright red scheme atop a 'straw' colored frame, a period guise which enabled better visibility of the running gear so that it could be worked upon. The bodywork is copiously accessorized with brass, at the front are torpedo tapered headlamps, the scuttle has Dietz sidelamps and the dash is equipped with a large acetylene generator, Jones Speedometer and coil box. A full length top is in place to provide some weather protection. In general terms the shows very nicely, with good paintwork and new or unworn upholstery. It is understood that this was displayed in the museum rather than being used, with the inevitable result that it should be checked over properly before road or tour use. Once ready, it has plenty of potential, with lightweight bodywork and the renowned torquey REO motor to propel the automobile, it would make an ideal tour car for events such as the Audrain Veteran Car Tour, perhaps even this weekend as well as other such events run by the Horseless Carriage Club.Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 523
1905/6 Cadillac Model F Touring Engine no. 5033 (see text)98.18ci Horizontal Single-Cylinder EngineSingle Carburetor, 9hp2-Speed Planetary TransmissionSolid Front Axle with Transverse Leaf Spring – Live Rear Axle2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes* Eligible for the Audrain Veteran Car Tour* A quality early automobile that you would associate with the brand* Practical side entry bodywork THE EARLY CADILLACFounded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company, of Detroit completed its first car in October 1902, the firm's superior manufacturing technology - precision gear cutting was Leland and Faulconer's first speciality - soon establishing it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the USA. In 1901, Olds Motor Works contracted for the supply of Leland-built engines and, when unforeseen circumstances frustrated the plan, Leland and Faulconer formed their own company using funds supplied by two of Henry Ford's ex-backers. An exemplary performer by the standards of the day, the Cadillac's single-cylinder engine - known as 'Little Hercules' - was mounted horizontally on the left beneath the front seat and drove via a conventional two-speeds-plus-reverse planetary transmission and center chain drive to the rear axle. That first 1903 curved-dash Cadillac was re-designated as the Model A after the Model B's introduction for 1904, the B being a more expensive version with box-shaped 'bonnet', pressed-steel frame, I-beam front axle and single transverse front spring. At first Leland & Faulconer supplied only engines, transmissions and steering mechanisms for the Cadillac, before taking responsibility for its entire construction in 1905.Coachwork design was quickly evolving, and the rear entrance tonneau was soon out dated as Cadillac and others sought to make the rear passenger access more accommodating. For this reason 1905 cars no longer had the provision of the detachable rear part of the bodywork as this wasn't practical with a door on either side of the body. Priced at $950, the Model F generally matched the specifications of the other single cylinder Cadillac offerings, but on a slightly longer (extra 2 inches) wheelbase. As well as a touring car format, the F could be bought as a delivery vehicle. THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDFrom notes on file, we know that until 2009, the car was in the ownership of Joseph Alckness of Royersford, Pennsylvania, from whom the current owners acquired the car. One of three Cadillacs in the collection, this post-Veteran example appears to date from the period of 1905 or 1906, having attributes specific to both years of production. Its frontal aspect is the more rounded mock 'hood' of the 1906 cars. On the rear of the engine it is stamped with number 5033, which would sit in the 1905 sequence, but the font of this is not consistent with other known examples. Its coachwork is clearly old/original, as is the chassis and running gear, so it seems likely that this is either a car that received some updates during its career or that was updated when restored. In any event, it does seem to be all Cadillac and certainly of this period.When inspected for cataloguing it was clear that the Cadillac has at some point received a refurbishment of its bodywork with new paint in sky blue coloring, black wings and black leather button back interior. The chassis also has been repainted in the period 'straw' color popular for visibility during maintenance. It does not appear that there has ever been provision for any top mechanism. It is not known when the Cadillac was last run, however there are countless owners of this period of manufacture who would no doubt be happy to guide a successful purchaser on returning it to the road, and for ongoing maintenance and use. While a 1905 Cadillac will not enable entry to the most popular event for early cars, they are nonetheless incredibly sturdy, reliable automobiles that are ideal for the tours orientated to include slightly later examples. In the UK, those include the Singles and Twins events, and the aptly named Creepy Crawly, here in the US the HCCA provides for them well, and now here in Newport one can exercise their cars each spring on the Veteran Car Tour. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 524
1906 Pope-Toledo Model XII 35/40HP Roi Des Belges Engine no. 35-40-1821352.8ci 4-Cylinder Engine35/40bhp3-Speed Sliding-Gear Manual Transmission with Double Chain DriveFront and Rear Semi-Elliptic Leaf SpringsRear-Wheel Drum Brakes*A well-known, largely original example with 1950s cosmetic restoration*Exceptionally beautiful, handsomely designed coachwork*Offered with a significant history and maintenance file*An outstanding early Brass Era car with power, quality, style and character'DON'T TAKE 'THE OTHER FELLOW'S' DUST''Buy a...Pope-Toledo, and your 'right of way' on any road, anywhere, will be absolute, supreme and acknowledged. It matters not what make 'the other fellow' drives, nor what price he paid, you can pass him if you want to. Isn't it a great satisfaction to know that your car has this quality – even though you do not want extreme speed? It is positive assurance of Power, Power at the Wheels, Power for Emergencies, Power for Hills, for Sand and Heavy Roads; Reserve Power, so that your engine is exerting itself scarcely more than idling when bowling along at a 30 mile clip.' There can be little doubt that the advertising copywriters knew how to summarize the essence of these majestic cars. Produced in Ohio from 1903 to 1909, the Pope-Toledo was in its time the peak of Colonel Albert Pope's Brass Era automotive empire, which produced fine cars in most all the major cities of the United States. It was noted for grand, almost baroque styling, with the largest models boasting ornate 'Roi-des-Belges' bodywork, quite literally a translation of 'King of Belgium' since this monarch was noted to favor this style of coachwork with tulip-like complex curves and dramatic swaging, atypical for this period. A particular aspect being that he preferred there to be a partition between the front seats, where many cars of this period simply carried a bench front seat, it was a characteristic that no doubt suggest that he liked to be firmly held in his seat when driving. And, given the sturdy, durable engineering and no small measure of power, that would have stopped him being 'thrown about' at speed!The 1906 Model XII was, in fact, among the most powerful automobiles then on the American road, challenging the famous offerings of Packard, Peerless, and even Thomas, with a 35hp four-cylinder engine and a three-speed sliding gear transmission, with a direct-drive 'speed gear' and double chain drive. It combined brawn and elegance as did few others of its time, and became one of the most respected and, today, sought-after early American automobiles.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDIn 1951, Bob and Herb Horn, recent emigres from Iowa, opened Horn Bros. Cars of Yesteryear in Sarasota, Florida. In an era when roadside car museums were the norm, the Horns filled their facility with some truly exceptional early automobiles. The museum was sold in the mid-1960s to Walter Bellm, who continued to operate it until the mid-1990s. In its heyday, Cars of Yesteryear was a fabulous, weird and wonderful place, with the great cars of the Brass and Classic Eras complemented by Bantams, a Lincoln designed for Jacqueline Kennedy, and microcars hung off the walls and ceiling.The Horns brought this Model XII with them from Iowa, based on the period Hawkeye State registration no. 4639 still attached, as well as the Iowa license plates with which it was photographed in the museum in-period, including an appearance on the cover of the December 1954 issue of Car Life. After nearly forty years in the museum, the car was sold by Mr. Bellm to Fred Weber of St. Louis, from whom it was acquired by Don C. Boulton in 1991.The car's present restoration hails from the Horn ownership and it maintains a good look for a car of its age. The red and black color scheme is well-suited to the ornate curves of the original body and bell-shaped radiator and is picked up by elaborate hand-laid striping. Clearly the work was largely cosmetic and the car beneath remains well-preserved, as it retains all of its gorgeous original trim and such often-lost original features as storage drawers under the driver's seats and additional compartments within the running boards. Leather aprons are mounted between the fenders and the body. The Selden plate is still attached, and the car carries its matching set of brass Solar model 626 cowl lamps, model 684 headlamps, model 404 tail lamp, and acetylene generator with pride. The dashboard boasts a Junghans 8-day clock, made in Germany, and a Jones 100 mph speedometer.Even the engine of this car is a work of mechanical art, with external overhead valve gear that is a joy to watch in operation. Certainly Mr. Boulton thought so, as after acquiring the Pope-Toledo he invested considerable time and money in returning it to operational condition. A significant file of restoration and repair receipts attests to this fact, and accompanies the Model XII along with two Pope-Toledo instruction manuals, many other documents and articles, and artifacts of its Horn Brothers and subsequently Bellm's ownership.The Pope-Toledo was one of the highlights of the Donald C. Boulton Collection at Bonhams dispersal sale in 2019 at Amelia Island. Father and son were enthusiastic attendees of the auction, they may well have been the first through the door of the first day of preview if memory serves the cataloguer right and were clearly determined to secure a car from that group. Ultimately, they settled on this fabulous Pope-Toledo as their souvenir of the day. Its transition would no doubt have been one that Mr. Boulton approved of, and as evidenced from the cars on offer today, it was a natural fit for the collection, where it sat alongside the later roadster of its same maker. In preparation for the sale, the car has received the care and attention that latterly had alluded its past two owners, the car has been sympathetically and carefully cleaned. The comprehensive set of brass work has been laboriously polished, and the car was checked over and made to run once again. The 1906 Pope is a remarkably original and certainly very rare survivor of this period of production. Its mechanical aspect is extremely powerful for its day, while atop the running gear is one of the most beautifully sculpted examples of coachwork of this period, with not a flat surface anywhere on the body. The Two Generations, Boulton Pope is as richly rewarding on the road as to look at. Its appearance on the market is only owing to the sad and untimely passing of its owners and it deserves to return to long term appreciative custody where it will unquestionably grace any collection.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 525
1910 Courier Model 10-A-1 Roadster Engine no. 388149 cu in, Side Valve Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle Carburetor20hp 3-Speed GearboxFront, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Three-Quarter Leaf Spring2-Wheel Drum Brakes *Believed to be the sole survivor of marque*Owned for many years on Long Island*More modestly priced car from the Stoddards of DaytonTHE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe Courier business ran from 1910-1912 and is a lesser-known product of the Stoddards, of Stoddard-Dayton fame. The Stoddard family were successful entrepreneurs with interests in paint and varnish manufacturing and farm equipment. The patriarch's son, Charles Stoddard, became convinced of the future of the automobile and, after deciding to build a gasoline car contracted with the Rutenber company in Chicago for a supply of engines and began to manufacture the Stoddard Dayton.The brand is best known for their 1909 cars which carried an ingenious power unit penned by the English engineer designer H.J. Edwards. A 4.75 x 5 inch 36hp four, the configuration that was in itself not unusual. Its valve layout, however, set it apart. Edwards' design was a true cross-flow head with inclined overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers, a beautiful piece of engineering. The idea was that the Courier would be a budget version of the Stoddard-Dayton, only it should be marketed with an entirely separate name so as not to tarnish the more luxurious product. They consisted of 4-cylinder Touring Car, or Roadster as offered here, which retailed for $1,050. From the 2006/7 Horseless Carriage Club Roster of Members, it seems that this is the only example of the Dayton built Courier to survive. As early as 1964, the car is featured on a Long Island Auto Museum postcard, being listed as the property of Lester Cutting, of Huntingdon, New York. Mr. Cutting was still its owner by the mid-2000s and it is believed that this is who the car was purchased directly from. With space at a premium, the pretty sporting Courier remained consigned to long term storage and does not appear to have been used for many years. Its engine cosmetics suggest that it had been rebuilt not so long ago and are certainly fresher than the overall condition of the paintwork and finishes. The sporting Courier has 'great eyes' and should certainly provide its next owner with a fun car to go touring with or just exercise for fun, for you'd be surprised how exhilarating a total lack of protection and only a steering wheel to hold onto is even at modest speeds!Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 526
1910 Buick Model 2A Pickup Truck Chassis no. 24757 Engine no. 24557159ci, 2-Cylinder Horizontally-Opposed EngineSingle Updraft Carburetor22bhp at 1,200rpm2-Speed TransmissionLeaf Spring Suspension2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes*Compatriot to the Model F and G Buicks *Freshly restored example, presenting well *A fun light commercial vehicle, perfect for farm or other useTHE MOTORCAR OFFEREDDavid Dunbar Buick founded the Buick Motor Car Co. in Detroit in 1903. By early 1904, Buick had sold control of his firm to investors and had been moved to Flint, Michigan, where 37 Buicks would be built before the year was out. Entrepreneur William C. Durant gained control of the fledgling car builder in November, 1904. With 'Billy' Durant at the corporate wheel, Buick soon became one of the best-known and best-selling automobiles on the market. A horizontally opposed 2-cylinder engine powered early Buicks. Featuring a patented overhead-valve (OHV) design, it made an impressive 22 horsepower. The engine was mounted under the body, at the center of the chassis (the fuel tank was under the hood). Buick would use this 159-cid engine in some models through 1910.Completing the set of options that Buick offered on their two-cylinder chassis in this period alongside the Model F (Lot 503) and Model G (Lot 534), is this example of their commercially purposed light truck. It is said that initially he offered a 'plumber's body' design, as a nod to the origins of his first fortune being made in porcelain bathtubs!The Buick was acquired for the collection in 2018 and appears to have been a fresh restoration at that point. It is beautifully refinished in dark blue paintwork, with black fenders and a stake bed set up for the body. The brass radiator which sits proudly ahead of the driver and passenger appears to have been renewed as part of its refurbishment. One can easily imagine the dependable Buick twin chugging away at whatever duty it was called to do in period, today it could provide a talking point in any collection or indeed a vehicle to use at Commercial rallies. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 528
1908 Franklin Model G Touring Chassis no. 5052G Engine no. see text143.1 ci, Pushrod Overhead Valve Inline 4-Cylinder Air-cooled Engine (likely 1909/10) Single CarburetorApproximately 22hp3-Speed Manual TransmissionFully Elliptic Leaf Suspension2-Wheel Rear Drum and Transmission Brake*Early 'barrel nose' Franklin touring car *A way to experience Franklin's alterative approach to the automobile *Formerly in long term California ownershipsTHE FRANKLIN MODEL GFor the early part of the Franklin story please refer to Lot 512. After its debut with a transversely mounted four-cylinder in 1902, 1905 would prove to be a transitional year as the Franklin's engine moved up front under the barrel-shaped hood with a front-mounted fan to supply cooling air to the finned individual cylinders. Wilkinson was a fervent believer in the virtues of light weight and simplicity, a belief reflected in his decision to reject the added components and complexity of water cooling. He kept experimenting and adding features as soon as they demonstrated their practicality. Automatic spark advance was added in 1907, pressure feed lubrication in 1912, aluminum pistons in 1915, aluminum connecting rods in 1922.At first glance this early Franklin looks like a conventional touring car of the day. Even its big round grille wasn't that out of place in 1910. Delaunay-Bellevilles sported similar grilles. Look a little closer, though, and some unusual things begin to become apparent. The Franklin had full-elliptical springs, for instance, which most marques had abandoned in favor of semi-elliptical and 3/4 elliptical springing that provided more accurate wheel and axle location. The Franklin's laminated wood frame was worthy of notice, too, at a time when such wood frames as survived were pretty generally at least steel 'armored'.That was, however, about all that was apparent from outside. It was unusual, and maybe even a little archaic in the fast-moving automobile industry in the final year of the century's first decade. The big difference was that Franklin was doing all these things by design and with the intent of perfectly sound engineering principles. It would keep them, more or less, for the rest of its life and in the process build up a loyal following of customers who appreciated its determinably idiosyncratic insistence upon doing things Franklin's way.More than a hundred years later no one has come up with a convincing argument why Franklin was wrong, either. The big round grille was Franklin's way of swallowing the volumes of air needed to satisfy its overhead valve four-cylinder engine's direct air cooling. 'Direct' in the sense that all automobile engines are air cooled (unless they're suddenly dunked in a river or pond) using water or some other liquid concoction coolant as an intermediary.The full-elliptical springs gave a soft, comfortable ride and were reputed to be easy on tires. The wood frame has been compared with a good tennis racquet or old time wooden skis which flex and absorb shocks and irregularities before they get to the human's frame. Franklin dealers would perversely jack up opposite corners of their cars, then demonstrate how the doors still opened and closed smoothly. Try that on a Buick or Ford.The Model G was introduced in 1906 with a 12hp engine and 88' wheelbase. The model grew in following years, 12hp on 90' wheelbase in 1907, 16hp on 90' in 1908, and 18hp on 91 1/2' in 1909 and 1910 with 143 cubic inches displacement from a 3 3/8' bore and 4' stroke. The compact chassis dimensions are closely adapted to the attractive close-coupled four-place touring car coachwork which is so consistent with the philosophy of John Wilkinson. The engine drives through a 3-speed transmission and shaft drive with contracting band rear wheel brakes and a separate band brake on the driveshaft.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe Model G we offer here dates from the 1908 season. There is nothing on file that charts its provenance, however consultation with respected marque authority Mark Chaplin has confirmed that while not owned by members of the Franklin fraternity its ownership over the last three decades can be traced back to a H. Maxwell of California from at least as far back as 1989 and up to 2015, and it appears to have been briefly owned by noted collector Jim Cooley of San Diego prior to its acquisition by the father and son Two Generations collection. Mr. Chaplin also noted that the 1908 engines were the Achilles heel of that year's production and it was quite common for them to have been replaced with slightly later units, often by the factory. Distinctive features of the successors were concentric valve engines as well as magneto ignition, which its precisely what can be found in this car. It is most likely that the power unit dates from 1909 or 1910, although a number was not found to be visible to substantiate this. On inspection, the Franklin while clearly complete and an honest entity, it is apparent that the car has been refurbished in a basic manner for aesthetic presentation, rather than on the technical side. The paintwork in a bottle green scheme appears to be relatively fresh as does the button back interior trim work. All in all this is an interesting example of its breed and a perfect foil to its predecessor in the collection to demonstrate how the Franklin production developed. With mechanical refreshing, it could provide its next owner with a purposeful way to experience this unique automobile brand. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 529
1912 Ford Model T Touring Chassis no. 93288 Engine no. 102111177ci Flathead Inline 4-Cylinder EngineSingle CarburetorApprox. 22hp at 1,600 rpm2-Speed Planetary Manual Transmission with Ruckstell 2-Speed Back Axle Transverse Leaf Springs and Solid Axles Front and Rear Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes*Handsome example of the Brass Era Touring T *Long term history*Desirable specifications THE MODEL TFor years the Model T Ford was the backbone of car collecting. The perennial popularity in the T since it came has bred a vast number of collectors who have kept them alive. This has ensured that reference books, experienced mechanics junk yards full of parts, and even newly manufactured reproduction parts and supplies have always been available to support the population of Model Ts in various stages of restoration and preservation.To those who haven't experienced a great 'Brass T' they are about as much fun as you can have on four wheels. These cars exude charm and charisma like few other cars. Henry really got it right with the early Ford Ts and when properly set up they perform remarkably well. Of course, with the emergence of the Model T and Henry Ford's insistence on a quality stock product and limited availability of options for buyers, in one fell swoop he created a completely new industry of aftermarket components, not dissimilar from smartphone accessories today. Beautifully made though his wooden wheels were, (anyone who has seen the videos of the laborers building them can't to be hypnotized by the process), there were plenty of people who preferred more sporting wire wheels, for those a whole host of options became available. His transverse leaf spring suspension may have been the most universal answer to the rugged American roads of the time, but not everyone wants the sensation of floating like a small boat on the road! So there were numerous alternative bolt on extras to stiffen up the ride. And of course, there was only so much reach that you can get out of a car with two speeds, and there the answer was to double up your options at the rear end, Ruckstell being the most prolific producer of this option.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe 1912 Touring car we offer here from the Two Generations collection showcases many of these accessories, including – Pasco Wire Wheels, Ruckstell back axle and Rocky Mountain Brakes, as well as a water pump to enable improved circulation and cooling. Better still it is a wonderful original example of the Model with history known for much of its life. Unusually for a T it still retains its original car number plate on the dash, these so often being lost when firewalls were inevitably replaced due to age and wear, also on its dash it carries a California registration tag from 1915, which almost certainly attests to its origins, further, the car is understood to have been in the single ownership of James E. Warjone of Ketchum Indiana for some 65 years prior to its acquisition by the collection.Finished in black, but accented with red wheels and coachlines, for aesthetics and easy access the front doors have been removed although they remain with the car. In general, the car can be described as very tidy older restoration and owing to its recent inactivity should be checked over prior to use. Between its looks, history and specification, this is as good a proposition in these cars as one could script. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 530
1935 Ford V8 Roadster Chassis no. 182129187221ci L-Head V8 EngineSingle Stromberg 97 Carburetor85bhp at 3,800rpm3-Speed Manual TransmissionSingle Front and Rear Transverse Leaf Spring with Solid Front and Three-Quarter Floating Rear Axles4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes* Ford's V8 – an iconic piece of engineering design * Updated model for 1935* Handsome and rakish black colorwayTHE 1935 FORD V81935 saw a complete redesign for the Ford V-8. The engine was relocated substantially forward of the front wheels' centerline and the hood shortened to dramatically enlarge the passengers' compartment and locate rear seat passengers in front the rear axle without lengthening the wheelbase. Ford called it 'Center-Poise Ride' and it was a noticeable improvement in interior room and ride. The front fenders were deeply skirted, as they had been since early in '33 model production. The frame X-member was made much larger and the frame side rails boxed for greater stiffness.The flathead V-8 again was improved. Horsepower remained the same but the poured babbitt connecting rod bearings were replaced with more reliable and easily rebuilt insert bearings. Stromberg came out with a new model 48 carburetor.One of the redesigned Fords paced the Indianapolis 500 mile race on Decoration Day and four of the wonderfully innovative and creative Miller-Ford V-8 Specials made the field in the 500 although all failed when the grease boiled out of their exhaust manifold-mounted steering boxes, seizing the steering solid.The 1935 Ford's look is very different from classic proportions but with its grille moved far forward between the deep, crowned, rounded fenders it has its own snub-nosed, truculent, belligerent appeal. It is a car with attitude, attitude that apparently appealed, and still appeals, to a certain group of collectors and Ford enthusiasts.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDIn a collection with covers many of the cornerstone models of Ford production prior to the 1950s, it is only natural that one should find an example of the remarkable V8 and in Roadster form it is rarely bettered. With a sinister, black scheme the rakish looks of the model are even more heightened, the features are accented with red upholstery, red pinstriping and red wire wheels shod with white wall tires. Its condition is best covered with a description of an older restoration, and in parts some of the finishes, such as the steering wheel and dash appear to be original and not refurbished. This would be one of the most recent arrivals to the group, being purchased from collector Mark Hurwitz in 2020. Owing to the timing of that purchase and the brief ownership prior to their passing, it seems that the Ford was barely used by them. In checking over today, it is noted that the gearbox shifter occasionally locks and this should be attended to as well as a general check over prior to use. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 532
1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 36-UU Touring Car Chassis no. 12133 Engine no. 32325 (see text)475ci T-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine40bhp (Rated)4-Speed TransmissionFront, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Three-Quarter Elliptic Leaf SpringRear-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes*Example of famed Pierce-Arrow high quality automobile*A proven tour car*Nice older restorationTHE PIERCE-ARROW MOTOR CAR CO.Pierce-Arrow had cemented its reputation for performance and reliability when the Pierce Great Arrow won all five of the famed Glidden Tours in 1905-1909 while achieving perfect scores in all but one of them.Both to retain its high standards and to facilitate its continuing innovation and refinement, Pierce-Arrow closely controlled all aspects of construction including coachwork for which most other luxury marques relied upon outside coachbuilders. Instead, Pierce-Arrow worked with its Buffalo, New York neighbor Aluminum Company of America to perfect casting techniques, which produced cast aluminum body panels as thin as 1/8'. The resulting Pierce-Arrow bodies were exceptionally strong, rattle-free and lightweight. Body design also was handled within Pierce-Arrow's Art Department. Created long before GM recruited Harley Earl to create GM's Art & Colour Department, Pierce-Arrow had Herbert Dawley designing bodies for Pierce-Arrow automobiles and working with Pierce's demanding clientele to manage accessories, colors and materials.Pierce-Arrow actively sought the business of prominent figures, including the White House where every President from William Howard Taft through Franklin Delano Roosevelt rode in the Buffalo company's automobiles. Pierce-Arrows were favored by movie stars like Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson and Tom Mix. The publicity and recognition of product placement like this was supported by an imaginative advertising campaign.Being based on the successful business of its founder, George N. Pierce, and having developed an extensive network of dealers for its very successful line of bicycles, Pierce-Arrow enjoyed excellent distribution. Its sales organization reached into every corner of the United States.Pierce-Arrow's success enabled the company in 1906 to construct a massive integrated factory in Buffalo that covered 1.5 million square feet on the site of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. Unit production from Pierce-Arrow was never high (it took until 1912 before Pierce-Arrow built its 12,000th car) but in quality and materials there was none better and Pierce-Arrows were enthusiastically snapped up by the elite at prices that made a Packard or Peerless seem inexpensive by comparison.Over the years prior to World War I Pierce-Arrow had a number of models, often offering them on a variety of wheelbase chassis and creating an impressive number of separate models. It was the first company to market a six-cylinder luxury automobile and employed impressive methods and procedures to ensure that each Pierce-Arrow built was quiet, powerful and trouble-free from the moment its new owner took delivery. While other manufacturers might rely on their customers to find and point out weaknesses in new models, Pierce-Arrow found them itself, corrected them and then charged a healthy premium for the confidence conferred by its deserved reputation for reliability, performance, silence and quality.Pierce introduced its first six-cylinder automobile in 1907. The Series Q Great Arrow employed a T-head six with 648 cubic inches and a 60 horsepower ALAM rating. In 1909 the Series QQ, a 453-cubic inch T-head six with a 48.6 horsepower ALAM rating became the top of Pierce's model range while a smaller six, the Series SS, rated at 37 ALAM horsepower with a 347 cubic inch displacement joined the company's offering. Also in 1909 the company reorganized, splitting the bicycle and motorcycle business off from the automobile business which took the name Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company. George N. Pierce resigned from active involvement and management was turned over to Col. Charles Clifton who had been its Treasurer for years.The Pierce-Arrow Model 36 was priced at an astounding $4,000 F.O.B. Buffalo, New York, and came with Pierce-Arrow's quality, rigid, luxuriously trimmed and appointed aluminum cast panel bodies.Many enthusiasts prefer these cars as 'drivers,' as they have abundant performance and are joys to drive. They are very popular in Pierce-Arrow Society activities and in tour events with the Vintage Motor Car and Antique Automobile Clubs of America and can be seen in many of this country's most distinguished collections.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDAnother hallmark car of the early American automobile industry, naturally in a collection of this stature and of this era it was a necessity that an example of the renowned Pierce-Arrow was included. The car arrived in this stable 22 years ago in the February 2001. According to correspondence on file, including a letter from Bernie Weis of the Pierce-Arrow Society, this 1911 car is fitted with a slightly later 1912 powerplant. The Pierce is known to trace much of its history in California where it is understood to have been recorded with license number 2369 in 1914. Its earliest recorded owner was Lillian Beal of Santa Barbara, who was succeeded by Samuel O Crouthers of Moreno Valley California and Phoenix, Arizona. Immediately prior to its present ownership it was owned from 1963 by Elmer A. Hankins of Riverside, California. Known as the 'Peach orchard car', it was discovered by Elmer Hankins in the 1960s as a rolling chassis with the front seats intact and rear having been modified, presumably for some commercial purpose. It was subsequently restored under his watch, during which the correct aluminum rear section of the bodywork was recreated by George Armour. Arriving in the collection those 20 or so years ago, it was one of a handful of stalwart touring cars in the group. Touring expeditions included a trip to England and Scotland in July 2005, a month long tour in Ireland in 2014, as well as many domestic events. For practical reasons a starter motor has been added. Pierce-Arrows are as rated for their touring capabilities today as they were when new. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 533
1930 Buick Series 60 Model 64 Sport Roadster Engine no. 2458372331.4 ci., SOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine98bhp at 2,800rpm 3-Speed Manual Transmission4-Wheel Leaf Spring Suspension4-Wheel Drum Brakes*Rare example of GM Art and Colour sports design*Untouched, original example *Potential Preservation Class exhibitBUICKUnder the stewardship of General Motors' President William C. Durant, Buick production rose dramatically. The company introduced its first 6-cylinder car in 1914 and for a period in the 1920s the range would consist entirely of sixes. A detachable cylinder head, strengthened chassis and axles, and 4-wheel brakes were new introductions on the 6-cylinder line for 1924, the last year of Buick's base-model four. Replacing the latter for 1925, the Standard Six boasted a new, overhead-valve engine displacing 191cu in and producing 50bhp, while the larger Master Six came with a 255cu in, 70bhp unit. The duo was restyled for 1926 and given larger engines of 207 and 274cu in respectively and continued almost unaltered throughout 1927. For this season, the cars were visibly distinguishable by their slightly rounded radiator edges and on Fisher bodies such as this car, a dual swage molding.It was at this point that the Buick received the attention of rising star Harley Earl. Earl's mammoth contributions to General Motors' looks had begun with the LaSalle then the glorious post-1928 Cadillacs. He was on a roll when he began work on the new Buick line up, under the command of one of its most dynamic leaders, Harlow 'Red' Curtice. Curtice saw that Buick's slide was induced by complacency and their styling was looking old-fashioned, also he was keen to revamp the cars in an effort to purge unnecessary weight and to improve their performance. Their all-new line up debuted in 1929 and was the first series to have been styled in their entirety by the GM Art and Color Department, further improvements followed for 1930. THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThe 1930 Model 64 was one of Buick's more racy models, the sport roadster, which arrived first this year and accounted for a mere 2006 units, a fraction of the 181,743 of all models shipped, making it relatively rare. They set their owners back some $1,585 in standard form, with the optional extras of wire wheels, chrome grille guard, side mounts, whitewall tires, luggage rack, fog lights and wind wings, almost all of which were clearly chosen by the first owner of this car. Buicks were certainly a focus of the collection, but this is by far the newest in this stable, 'new' being relative of course, and by time rather than condition. The car is an incredible example of its marque and model, a true time-warp car and in many respects, it is quite remarkable that it survives at all. It wears a New Jersey license plate for 1930, which seems likely to be original to the car and is a clue to its early history. Beyond this point, we are uncertain of its subsequent trail, until more recent times. However, regardless of any documented chain of ownership, the car and its condition speaks volumes about what that path might have amounted to, one would imagine a very limited number of custodians and most likely a long period of being laid up. That time would also more than likely have straddled the early days of the hobby through to more modern times, and in doing so eluded the former trends of restoring such cars. The car was formerly in the collection of James and Helen Staats of New Hope, PA, and carries a registration sticker for PA in 1981/2. The Staats being noted active HCCA and specifically Curved Dash Olds campaigners, it is likely that the shared admiration of 'CDO's' connected them with the father and son ownership of the Two Generations Collection. Clearly never having been restored, the car seems to retain its original paint, trim finishes and even its top. Its appeal is in the way in which it has weathered its 93 years, the paintwork in a khaki brown, pinstriped in red is worn in places, but still presentable, while it is the interior of both the driving compartment and the rumble seat is almost entirely intact and displays the materials with which these cars were built, but are rarely replicated when restored. The seats are in good order generally, and the driver's door has the provision of a panel behind which tools are stored, there are a couple of missing handles, but none that detract hugely from its overall presentation which with careful cleaning and preparation would no doubt enable the car to be welcomed in any of the popular preservation classes at concours events around the country. In its past tenures it has been neither altered nor restored, long may that continue... Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 534
1909 Buick Model G Roadster Chassis no. 2122 Engine no. 15382159ci, 2-Cylinder Horizontally-Opposed EngineSingle Updraft Carburetor22bhp at 1,200rpm2-Speed TransmissionLeaf Spring Suspension2-Wheel Mechanical Brakes*Renowned early Buick Twin *Formerly in California ownership in 1980s *HCCA or Audrain Tour eligible car THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDBuick's Model G was first catalogued for the 1906 year and continued in production as that model until 1909, after which the only twins were Model F's and their successors. It was powered by a two-cylinder in line engine with bore and stroke of 4.5 x 5 inches, displacing 159cu.in. (2.6 liters.), with the wheelbase progressively growing from 87 to 92 inches, all G's wore Two Passenger Roadster bodies. Some 193 of these were built in 1906, but by 1907 things were off and running with 535 units shipped, from then things receded a little with 219 in 1908, and a mere 144 in this the last year. Today these cars have a strong reputation for reliable mounts as tour cars, and benefit from being a brand that survives nearly 120 years after its inception. The Two Generations of father and son always had an affinity for Buick cars, and over the years a number of them joined their stable. The example presented here has old registrations on file which trace it back to ownership with one Raymond Shafer of Ontario California in 1980-82. It is not known when the car arrived in the collection. Viewed today, the Buick presents as an older restoration and is finished in the standard 'wine' color which all of their brethren would have been delivered as new, in this car the body sits atop a 'straw' colored frame, again a period practice that made maintenance easier to manage. Viewed carefully, the bodywork has much new wood in it and appears to be a little more boxy than the originals, so it may have been replaced or reworked at some point in its career. Unused in the current ownership for many years, it will require re-commissioning but will no doubt provide its next caretaker with the usable tour car that these are known to be. Events that cater for these cars include those of the Horseless Carriage Club and now the Audrain Veteran Tour here in Newport. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 535
1911 Ford Model T 'Frontenac' Roadster Chassis no. 68304 Engine no. 14499152 – see text177ci Inline 4-Cylinder Engine with Frontenac Overhead Valve ConversionApproximately 35bhp at 2,200rpm2-Speed Planetary Gear Transmission With 2-Speed Rear AxleTransverse Leaf Springs and Solid Axles Front and Rear Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes*The ultimate in 'sleeper' Model Ts *70mph plus performance*2 Speed Rear Axle and desirable wire wheelsTHE MOTORCAR OFFEREDWith the emergence of the Model T and Henry Ford's insistence on a quality stock product and limited availability of options for buyers, in one fell swoop he created a completely new industry of aftermarket components for his cars, not too dissimilar from smartphone accessories today. Beautifully made though his wooden wheels were, (anyone who has seen the videos of the laborers building them can't to be hypnotized by the process), there were plenty of people who preferred more sporting wire wheels, for those a whole host of options became available, such as the Buffalo made ones on this car. His transverse leaf spring suspension may have been the most universal answer to the rugged American roads of the time, but not everyone wants the sensation of floating like a small boat on the road! So there were numerous alternative bolt on extras to stiffen up the ride. And of course, there was only so much reach that you can get out of a car with two speeds, and there the answer was to double up your options at the rear end, Ruckstell and Columbia being the most prolific producers of this option. But those were the details, for those would wanted to go that extra mile, or indeed cover that mile faster than anyone else in a 'Tin Lizzie' there were also a host of performance improvements. This brilliant performance T takes the model to the more extreme levels of its development, a true 'sleeper' from 10 paces it may look like a standard roadster, in reality it is anything but. The Ford is fitted with a Frontenac overhead valve engine conversion, which increases engine performance to nearly twice the standard output, that is then relayed to the road through a two speed rear axle also, if one bears in mind that the bodywork remains of exceptionally light nature to begin with, the extra horsepower and increased gearing give a net result that the car can bowl along at 70mph! Unused in the last couple of years, a good check over is advised, but if you relish the idea of 'double takes' wherever you go on tours, this potent T might be right up your alley. Lot to be sold without reserve.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Lot 725
An 18ct gold and engine-turned enamel fob watch, the white enamel dial with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds dial signed Waltham, Mass., the engraved gold case enclosing a pink enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals, the movement signed "American Watch Co." and within an 18ct gold dust cover. Case 39mm diameter, gross weight 57 grams
Lot 809
Vincent Comet motorcycle. 1850. 500cc.Frame no. R15667 Engine no. F5AB/2A/3767 Property of deceased estate. Owned by John Philipp since 1978. Electric start, Alton 12v alternator, starts and runs but has not been ridden for some time. The bike smokes so may need a rebore. The bike has been on multiple trips over Europe. C/w old tax and MOT papers, certificate of authenticity, works order form and original receipt of chassis. Reg. FDR 503. V5 and buff logbook
Lot 810
Vincent series B Rapide project. 1947. 998cc.Frame no. R2067Engine no. F10AB/1/68 RFM- R2067Property of deceased estate. Matching rear frame member. Owned by John Philipp since 1961, c/w a receipt of sale. This is an early series B with engine no. 68. The bike was ordered on the 16/4/1947 by Alexanders in Edinburgh. This bike is believed to be over 90% complete and is totally dismantled. Matching engine and upper frame with a dating letter from the Vincent owners club, certificate of authenticity and works order form. Reg. FSC 644. Old style V5
Lot 811
Vincent series C Rapide project. 1954. 998c.Frame no. RC11872Engine no. F10AB/1/9972Property of deceased estate. John Philipp owned this bike for over 40 years and travelled all across the world on it. It is believed to be complete, engine has been dismantled. Front and rear ends are assembled. C/w loads of history including certificate of authenticity and works order form. Reg. PGH 37. V5 and old style V5
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