Tag Archives: 1913

Swift Cyclecar

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1913 Swift 7HP Twin-Cylinder Two-Seater Cyclecar

Offered by Bonhams | Beaulieu, U.K. | September 6, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The Swift Motor Co Ltd. of Coventry began as a sewing machine manufacturer. They turned to cars in 1900 and their specialty was those of the small variety. Swift were among the pioneers of the cyclecar movement that swept the world (most of Europe and the U.S.) between 1910 and the 1920s.

The twin-cylinder cyclecar was introduced by Swift in 1912 (replacing a single-cylinder model). The engine is a 972cc twin making seven horsepower. The car is tiny, light, and will seat two. I quite like the looks of it.

This car has been known in the collector world since 1959 and was used regularly up until 1968 before it became more of a static showpiece. The interior is mighty old if not original – same for the engine. It is a driver and the body and brass are in great shape. It should sell for between $23,000-$27,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $33,826.

1913 Unic Taxi

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1913 Unic Type C9 Landaulette Taxicab

Offered by Bonhams | Beaulieu, U.K. | September 6, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Unic was founded in France in 1905 by Georges Richard (formerly of Georges Richard and later, Brasier) and in 1938 they shifted their concentration from automobiles to commercial vehicles. In the 1950s, Unic became part of Simca and a few years later, was acquired by Saurer. Fiat became the major shareholder in 1966. Unic was one of the firms amalgamated into IVECO in 1975.

Unic sold passenger cars in a range of models and power outputs. The Type C9 was new for 1913 and it is powered by a straight-four making 12/14-horsepower. It was extremely popular among taxi companies and the United Motor Cab Company of London ordered this one.

It is thought that this taxi left service and immediately was transported to the U.S. as a collectors item. It was mechanically sorted in 2010 and ran well, although it might need some additional work to get it roadworthy today. These were very popular European taxis shortly after the turn of the century and it would be a very cool ride today. It should sell for between $47,000-$54,000. click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $44,484.

1913 Stevens-Duryea

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1913 Stevens-Duryea Model C-Six Five-Passenger Touring

Offered by RM Auctions | Monterey, California | August 16, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

The Stevens-Duryea was a car for millionaires. The Vanderbilts drove one – a C-Six to be exact (it’s still on display at the Biltmore and if you’ve been there, you’ll know that the car is huge). Stevens-Duryea was founded when J. Frank Duryea and his brother Charles developed what I can only imagine to resemble an Oasis-level brotherly feud. J. Frank left and designed his own car, which the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company wanted to be part of. J. Frank, J. Stevens… was J. Geils there too? (Okay, enough musical jokes).

The C-Six was produced for 1913 and 1914 only. It was available in a number of body styles over two wheelbases and featured a 44.6 horsepower (44.8 for 1914!) 7.5-liter straight-six engine. The restoration on this car was completed in 2008 and the details are perfect – check out more pictures on RM’s website here.

The current owners acquired the car in 2010 and the car is described as running well. It is one of nine C-Sixes known to survive and it is fantastic. It should sell for between $200,000-$275,000. Click here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $302,500.

1913 Michigan Touring

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1913 Michigan Model R Touring

Offered by RM Auctions | Plymouth, Michigan | July 26, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

Michigan was one of many short-lived American automobile manufacturers that existed prior to WWI. It is, in fact, amazing that a car so rare from so long ago is now readily available in such fantastic condition. Michigan was founded in 1904, but production didn’t really take off until 1911. And the company closed its doors after 1913 because, strangely, company officials were shady as can be. Many of their employees were on paper only (with the managers taking their “employees” paychecks home). One of the managers actually gambled away a large portion of company funds at a horse track.

This Model R was for the 1913 model year only. It uses a 4.9-liter straight-four making 40 horsepower. Available as a two-passenger Roadster or five-passenger Touring, the original owners of this car opted for the larger of the two options.

The Michigan Buggy Company boasted of over 6,000 cars sold, but it is thought (with how honest the company was) that the number is likely closer to 1,200. This car was restored in 2002 from a complete survivor. It last sold in 2008 for $154,000 and this time is expected to bring between $140,000-$180,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Michigan.

Update: Sold $132,000.

Update: Not sold, RM Sotheby’s, Ft. Lauderdale 2018.

Merryweather Fire Engine

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1913 Merryweather Fire Engine

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Merryweather & Sons is the world’s oldest fire-fighting equipment manufacturer, tracing its origin all the way back to 1692. Their first self-propelled fire engine came in 1899 (it was steam-powered).

The truck you see here is powered by an Aster engine – a monstrous 8.6-liter straight-four to be exact. It also has some serious pumping equipment on it and the restoration still holds up magnificently. Looking at it, you can see differences between old American and old British fire engines. It’s kind of a weird thing to notice. This should sell for between $76,000-$100,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $126,027.

Wolseley CR-Type

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1913 Wolseley CR-Type

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Wolseley was part of Vickers in 1913 and the mechanicals of this truck carry the Vickers name. The CR-Type was introduced in 1913 and competed directly against the Leyland “Subsidy B” truck we featured above.

It uses an 8.5-liter straight-four making 35 horsepower. This is believed to be the only surviving Wolseley commercial chassis, which makes it kind of a big deal. It has been “authentically” restored and presents a great opportunity for a new owner, who will have to pay between $47,000-$67,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $39,012.

Awesome Classic Commercial Vehicles

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The Michael Banfield Collection

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

 1915 Peerless TC4 4-Ton Open Back

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

This sale from Bonhams includes quite a number of really awesome commercial vehicles. I don’t have enough time to feature them individually, but because they’re so cool (and you so rarely see them at auction), I thought I’d do two posts that cover the coolest among them (which is pretty much all of them).

This truck is from one of America’s premier luxury car manufacturers. They started building trucks in 1911 and the U.S. Army loved them. The British government bought 12,000 of them between 1915 and 1918, during the First World War. This thing uses a 6.8-liter four-cylinder and was in service with the British government until 1956. It’s beautiful. And it should sell for between $34,000-$42,000. Click here for more.

Update: Sold $72,173.

1922 Tilling-Stevens TS3A Open Top Double Deck Bus

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

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American Underslung Scout

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1913 American Underslung Model 22-B Scout

For Sale at Hyman Ltd | St. Louis, Missouri

Photo - Hyman Ltd.

Photo – Hyman Ltd.

The American Motor Car Company of Indianapolis, Indiana built some of the coolest pre-WWI cars in America. The Underslung model line – which was new for 1909 – featured a, well, low-slung chassis that make the cars look incredible sporty.

The Scout was the two-passenger roadster. Larger cars were also offered. The Model 22 was offered for 1912 and 1913 only and 1914 was the final model year for the American Underslung. It uses a 4.1-liter straight-four making about 25 horsepower.

This car was restored in the 1980s and has been used heavily since. The listing on Hyman Ltd’s website says it better than I can, so read more about it there. In summary, it says that this car has more character than just about anything else you could drive – and they’re right. It’s an amazing old car that can be used and driven. You could have a lot of fun in this car. It is priced right too, for what it is (in the $100,000 range). Check out more cars for sale by them here.

Here’s video of a similar car:

A Sporty Turcat-Mery

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1913 Turcat-Mery Model MJ Boulogne Roadster

For Sale by Fiskens | London, England

Photo - Fiskens

Photo – Fiskens

Turcat-Mery was a French automobile manufacturer that was actually around for a decent amount of time, but hardly anyone has heard of them. Their cars certainly don’t come up for sale often today – which is why, when I saw this one for sale at Fiskens (one of the world’s premier collector car dealers), I had to feature it.

The company was founded when two Mery brothers – and their brother-in-law, Leon Turcat – wanted to improve upon the Panhard et Levassor. Their first car went on sale in 1899. The company started competing in races in 1903 and won the inaugural Monte Carlo Rally in 1911.

Financial problems arose in 1921 and the company shut its doors in 1928. This gorgeous, sporty pre-war roadster uses a 6.1-liter straight-four. It is one of only a handful of models from this company left and is possibly the only MJ Roadster in existence. You can find out more (or buy it) here.

1913 Little Bull

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1913 Bull Little Bull 5-12

Offered by Mecum | Davenport, Iowa | April 4-5, 2014

Photo - Mecum
Photo – Mecum

The Bull Tractor Company was founded in 1912. The tractor you see here was built one year later – 101 years ago. The Bull was the best-selling tractor of 1914 and cost $395 when new. It was the first commercially-successful gas-powered tractor but Bull couldn’t sustain the progress and went belly-up in 1920.

Engine: Two-cylinder. 12 horsepower.

Production: 1913-1917.

Produced: 3,800+.

Update: Sold $81,000.