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1914 Mercedes 50 HP news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Tourer Chassis Num: 12526 Engine Num: 15509 |
| Sold for $528,000 at 2012 RM Auctions. | |||
Its bodywork was built by Mercedes in a day when custom coachbuilers bodied most senior-series cars. From the start Mercedes cars were elegantly designed for high performance and favored by roalty and financiers of the old and the new world. Many other switched allegiance when in 1914 Mercedes placed first, second and third in the French Grand Prix. This magnificent specimen, a high wheeled export model original sold in Argentina, is the only known type like it in the United States. Former AACA National First Place Winner in 1978.
 |  |  | Town Car Coachwork: Brewster Chassis Num: 16081 |
| High bid of $221,000 at 2009 RM Auctions. (did not sell) | |||
The Mercedes cars had a front-engine design, used a chain to drive the rear wheels, and engines that ranged from six to nine liters, though smaller 1,760 versions were available. As early as 1904, America had become an important market, with a quarter of Mercedes production destined for the US. This spawned the creation of a plant in the US, at Long Island City, New York. Production would continue in the US until 1907, when a fire destroyed the American factory.
In 1905, the 15/20PS became the first Mercedes to use shaft drive, though the larger cars continued to use chains.
The racing endeavor paid off for the Mercedes cars, when in 1908 a 140HP Mercedes driven by Christian Lautenschlager won the French Grand Prix. By this point in history, the Mercedes cars had become suitable for the road and were even being used by several European heads of state for official travel. The list of dignitaries included King Leopold of Belgium, England's Edward VII, and Kaiser Wilheilm II. The list of US clients included the Astors and Vanderbilts, Henry Clay Frick and Isaac Guggenheim.
This 1914 Mercedes 22/50PS Town car was built after the fire at the American factory. It is believed that the chassis was imported to the Long Island City facility of Brewster & Co. for the fitting of a Town Car body.
The Brewster & Co. was established by James Brewster at New Haven, Connecticut in 1810. It quickly earned a reputation for quality and quantity. This accolade would continue under James' son Henry, winning international acclaim at the Paris carriage exhibition in 1878. By 1905, the Brewster & Co was under the direction of the third generation of carriage builder, William Brewster. During this year, the company would built their first body for the evolving automobile industry. A few years later, in 1911, the company focused solely on automobile body production, abandoning their carriage production, and moved workshops from Manhattan to Long Island City, New York. From 1915 through 1925, Brewster built complete automobiles powered by Knight-engines.
The first owner of this Town Car may have been John Jacob Astor IV. This may not be the case, as he went down with the Titanic in 1912. The car does not have its original chassis plate making it nearly impossible to determine the actual build-date. The engine number, however, is from early 1914.
In 1937, the car was purchased by an aeronautical engineer named Alec Ulmann. He is best remembered for organizing the 12 Hours of Sebring races and for his car collection. The next owner was Charlie Stitch, a mechanic who had worked for Daimler-Benz in Germany, but now lived in Manhattan.
The years that followed are a bit of a mystery for this vehicle. Little is known until it was purchased by a noted Japanese collector in 1991. It would return to the United States six years later before leaving again, to Automuseum Deventer in the Netherlands. It was on display at the 2000 Concours d'Elegance Paleis Het Loo at Apeldoorn and later purchased by Massachusetts collector Howard Fafard, who owned it until very recently.
The leather fenders and upholstery are original to the car. The Brewster body shows some signs of its age and of its older restoration. The T-head four-cylinder engine displaces 5720cc and produces 50 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and two-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The chassis measures 135-inches and suspended in place by a solid front and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs.
In 2008, this 1914 Mercedes 22/50PS Town Car, titled as a 1910 model, was offered for sale at the 'Automobiles of Amelia Island' auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $300,000 - $400,000. Bidding reached $221,000 but was not enough to satisfy the vehicles reserve. The lot was left unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009
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 1914
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