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1909 Thomas Flyer K6-70 news, pictures, and information | ||
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Production of the Thomas Flyer peaked in 1906 and fell to only 913 units in 1910 when staff salaries were reduced. E.R. Thomas, himself never learned to drive a car, sold his interest in the company. The new company was too late to save Thomas and went into receivership on August 29th of 1912.
Sales literature claimed the 1909 Thomas was the most powerful, complete and luxurious stock car made. Superiority was not due to any single item but a result of attention to every detail that earned its rank as the world's most perfect car. Thomas offered four lines in 1909 and the K 6-70 was the largest.
The engine is a 784 cubic inch, 6-cylinder, developing 70 horsepower with 5 and 1/2 inch bore and 5 and 1/2 inch stroke.
The factory price in 1909 was $6,000.
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In 1908, a stock Thomas Flyer gained worldwide acclaim for winning the famed 'New York to Paris Race' when it circled the globe in 169 days. Car sales, which had always been good among the wealthy, increased greatly until E.R. Thomas sold the firm in 1911.
Notably, it was said that Thomas died without ever learning to drive!
This 1909 Thomas Flyer was formerly a part of Bill Harrah's Collection and was known as 'Big Red.' This is the same model of Thomas Flyer that participated in, and won, the 1908 New York-to-Paris Race. These cars are powered by a six-cylinder, 72-horsepower engine.
Production of the Thomas Flyer peaked in 1906 and fell to only 913 units in 1910 when staff salaries were reduced. E.R. Thomas, himself, never learned to drive a car, sold his interest in the company. The new company was too late to save Thomas and went into receivership on August 29, 1912.
The Erwin Ross (E.R.) Thomas Motor Company produced automobiles from 1902 through 1919. Production transpired in Buffalo, New York. The first cars produced by the company appeared in 1903 and were mostly small runabouts with seating for two. The company had begun like so many other auto-manufacturing firms at the time - through a bicycle business. Thomas had been building bicycles for several companies before making the switch to automotive production.
The first E.R. Thomas Motor cars were powered by a vertically-mounted water-cooled straight-three cylinder engine that produced just over 20 horsepower. The engine was mated to a two-speed planetary gearbox.
As times progressed, so did the E.R. Thomas Motor Cars. The Company did much to promote their vehicles and to attract customers, such as painting the cars in bright and attractive colors. The cars became more powerful and elegant and became renowned for their reliability and endurance.
In 1908, an E.R. Thomas Car was entered into 'The Great Race' which ran from New York to Paris. The decision was made at the last minute and there was little time to properly adapt the car for the race. Instead, the company pulled one from the production line and entered it into the race. The race began at New York during the winter and proceeded for San Francisco. The entrants then loaded onto a boat and traveled to Alaska and then Siberia. Once they arrived at Siberia, the race continued.
The Race was actually won in 169 days, and covered 22,000 miles. 13341 miles were actually driven. At the conclusion of the race, ending in Paris, it was an E.R. Thomas in first place, claiming the overall victory.
Demand for the E.R. Thomas Motor cars increased after the heroic victory. In 1911, the company only produced six-cylinder cars. Within a year, the car had entered into receivership and purchased by C.A. Finnegan of the Empire Smelting Company.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2008
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe first E.R. Thomas Motor cars were powered by a vertically-mounted water-cooled straight-three cylinder engine that produced just over 20 horsepower. The engine was mated to a two-speed planetary gearbox.
As times progressed, so did the E.R. Thomas Motor Cars. The Company did much to promote their vehicles and to attract customers, such as painting the cars in bright and attractive colors. The cars became more powerful and elegant and became renowned for their reliability and endurance.
In 1908, an E.R. Thomas Car was entered into 'The Great Race' which ran from New York to Paris. The decision was made at the last minute and there was little time to properly adapt the car for the race. Instead, the company pulled one from the production line and entered it into the race. The race began at New York during the winter and proceeded for San Francisco. The entrants then loaded onto a boat and traveled to Alaska and then Siberia. Once they arrived at Siberia, the race continued.
The Race was actually won in 169 days, and covered 22,000 miles. 13341 miles were actually driven. At the conclusion of the race, ending in Paris, it was an E.R. Thomas in first place, claiming the overall victory.
Demand for the E.R. Thomas Motor cars increased after the heroic victory. In 1911, the company only produced six-cylinder cars. Within a year, the car had entered into receivership and purchased by C.A. Finnegan of the Empire Smelting Company.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2008
 1909
Thomas
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