1910 Pope-Hartford Model T Touring

The enormous bike craze of the late 1800s helped Col. Albert Pope build a highly successful bicycle empire. By the close of the decade, Pope had consolidated over 40 bicycle manufacturers into his American Bicycle Company. The manufacturing capability and skill set of these companies gave Pope a strong basis to enter automobile manufacturing. Pope began in the 1890s with the Columbia automobile. It was primarily an electric car that gave Pope a toe-hold in the new market. The Pope automobile empire would grow over the years to include the 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. Their first car was powered by a single-cylinder engine in 1904. Four-cylinder options followed in 1906 and these four-cylinder powerplants would ultimately build the brand's reputation. They were well made and soundly engineered, earning them a reputation for durability and performance.

This 40-horsepower Pope was kept at William Harrah's Idaho ranch for his private use. It was acquired by the Harrah Auto Collection in the 1960s in highly original and complete condition. It was later given a Harrah's gold star restoration. It is finished in mocha paint over dark brown leather, accented with brown linoleum and sisal matting. The Grey and Davis lighting is all original and the headlamps are Pope Hartford branded with miniature fenders for chimneys.

The car was sold from the Harrah collection during one of the dispersal auctions in the 1980s. It resided in a West Coast collection before its acquisition by Charles LeMaitre. Mr. LeMaitre participated with the car in several HCCA tours during this time. The current caretaker acquired the car in 2006. Since then, the engine has been rebuilt and given an electric starter system and adapted the rear brakes to be hydraulic. It has been given a new top and a complete set of tonneau covers in chocolate brown.

This Model T 40 HP tourer is powered by a 300 cubic-inch overhead valve engine fitted with a single carburetor and Bosch 'Dual' Magneto. It produces 40 horsepower and is fitted to a 3-speed Sliding-Gear transmission.