1938 Adler Type 10 2.5-Litre Cabriolet

Offered by Bonhams | Online | June 2021

Photo – Bonhams

Adler was a pioneering German car manufacturer that sold its first car in 1900. They introduced the revolutionary front-wheel-drive Trumpf in 1932. In 1937, the company introduced the Type 10, which is also known as the 2.5-Litre. This would be Adler’s final real new car, as the company chose not to resume automobile production after WWII.

The 2.5-Liter’s namesake inline-six produced about 57 horsepower when new. The streamlined cabriolet bodies were produced by Karmann and allowed the car to hit 78 mph. The model was offered with two- or four-doors and as a coupe, convertible, or sedan.

In all, just 5,295 Type 10s were built through 1940. Only a handful of two-door cabriolets are known to exist, and this one was restored in the 1970s. The car is accompanied by an Adler motorcycle, bicycle, and typewriter so you can own one of each of the company’s products. The package is expected to fetch $170,000-$190,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Update: Sold, Artcurial Paris 2023, $106,588.

1906 Autocar Type 10 Runabout

Offered by Bonhams | Carmel, California | August 16, 2013

Photo – Bonhams

Autocar, a company that is still around producing trucks, adopted the name Autocar in 1899. Their first car was introduced in 1900. In 1907, they started building trucks and by 1911, that’s all they were making. You’d think, in the past 100 years, they may have thought about a name change, but no, Autocar remains Autocar, even though they haven’t built a car in 102 years.

The Type 10 was introduced in 1904. It uses a flat-twin engine (at a time when most companies were using an inline configuration) making 12 horsepower. It was practical and reliable and over 1,000 were built by the end of production.

The car was restored sometime around 1967. A collector acquired it in ’67 and owned it until 2008 when it went to a European collection. Because it spent the past 50 years in museums, it remains in remarkable condition. This car should sell for between $40,000-$50,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams in California.

Update: Sold $46,200.