1929 Essex Challenger Boattail Roadster

The Essex Motors Company produced small, affordable automobiles. It had been created by the Hudson Motor Car Company for the purpose of creating a smaller version of its Super-Six. The first Essex was first shown in 1919 after it had been delayed due to World War I. The vehicle's great quality, durability, and vibration-free four-cylinder motor made it an instant success. Over the years, sales continued to escalate and propelled the Hudson Motor Car Company into third place in overall sales for 1929.

Essex introduced their first value-priced Essex Six in 1924, and in 1927, Essex offered the first two-passenger Speedabout. It had a distinct boattail design, a leather interior, and a special rear axle ratio. The lightweight construction and fairly aerodynamic design gave the Speedabout a top speed in the neighborhood of 70 mph.

Essex did not offer the Speedabout in 1928, but it reappeared in 1929, with just five known examples built. Biddle and Smart of Amesbury, Massachusetts supplied their stylish aluminum bodies, which included a rumble seat. Special gear ratios were fitted, and along with overdrive, the Speedabout was now capable of 80 mph. Speedabouts were reportedly only built as show cars by Hudson, primarily to test their feasibility for eventual volume production.

This Speedabout Boattail Roadster was given a body-off restoration with no expense spared, which the Guild of Automotive Restorers completed in 2002 for one of its executives. A mechanical rebuild was part of the process. The car was driven sparingly before joining its current private collection in 2005.

The engine is an L-head six-cylinder unit that displaces 161 cubic inches and produces 55 horsepower. There is a three-speed sliding gear transmission plus an overdrive and four-wheel mechanical brakes.

In 2010, this Essex Speedabout Boattail Roadster was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook event presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $60,000-$80,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $66,000 including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010