1906 Pope-Toledo Type XII Roi des Belges Touring

The Pope-Toledo was produced from 1903 through 1909 and was the peak of Colonel Albert Pope's Brass Era automotive empire. The 1906 Model XII was among the most powerful automobiles on the American road. The 35 horsepower four-cylinder engine displaced 352.8 cubic inches and was coupled to a three-speed Sliding-gear manual transmission with double chain drive.

Bob and Herb Horn brought this Model XII 35/40HP Roi De Belges with them when they moved from Iowa to Sarasota, Florida where they opened the Horn Bros. Cars of Yesteryear. The museum was sold in the mid-1960s to Walter Bellm, who continued to operate it until the mid-1990s. This car spent nearly four decades in the museum before it was sold by Mr. Bellm to Fred Weber of St. Louis, from whom it was acquired by Don C. Boulton in 1991.

The car wears a restoration which had been completed while in the Horn ownership. It has a red and black color scheme, a bell-shaped radiator, and hand-laid striping. Leather aprons are mounted between the fenders and the body. The Selden plate is still attached, and there is a matching set of brass Solar model 626 cowl lamps, model 684 headlamps, model 404 tail lamp, and acetylene generator with pride. The dashboard contains a J. Unghams 8-day clock, made in Germany, and a Jones 100 mph speedometer.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2019