1924 Moon 6-50 Tourer

Automobile Production for the newly formed Moon Company began in 1905. The company was run by Joseph Moon, whose early creations were driven by a shaft-drive, proprietary four-cylinder engine. The car had a touring body style, seating up to five passengers. The design had been courtesy of Louis Mooers whose resume included work for the Peerless Company.

The company was based in Saint Louis, Missouri, and built a reputation for building both cars and trucks. The company remained in business until 1930, when the Great Depression brought its history to an end. It was purchased by Ruxton Automobile. The Moon Company's best year was 1925, with 10,271 vehicles sold.

The early Moon production automobile sold for around $3000, a rather steep price tag at the time. By 1910, Moon had created another model line that was less expensive and more affordable. Sales increased greatly in 1913 to 1540 vehicles when Moon began offering their first six-cylinder model. Three years later, six-cylinder automobiles were all Moon-produced.

Moon continued to offer a solid product through the 1920s and grew a reputation for having a durable, reliable, and quality automobile. The engines were now Continental six-cylinder units which improved the vehicle's performance and durability. In 1924, Lockheed hydraulic brakes were offered. That same year, production rose to 7,500 units.

In 1926, an eight-cylinder Diana was introduced. The product was unreliable and did not live up to expectations; this experience greatly diminished the company's reputation. A few years later, the Moon nameplate would disappear due to global economic conditions and a stiff marketplace. The factories were sold in the early 1930s and converted to produce matches.

The company's best production year was 1925, with less than 10,300 examples produced. The total production of Moon automobiles is not as high as many other marques of that era. Only a few Moon automobiles have survived to modern times. Coming across one of these elegant automobiles, with its squared, Rolls-Royce-type grill, is truly a treat.

This 1924 Moon 6-50 Touring automobile was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. It was offered without reserve and estimated to sell between $35,000 - $50,000. The car is powered by a 195.6 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine with a three-speed manual gearbox. The body sits on a 115-inch wheelbase, and there are hydraulic brakes located at all four corners. It is one of the few Moon vehicles that have survived the test of time and has been treated to a complete restoration.

The original owners kept the vehicle for nearly seventy years before it was passed to its next owners. It is finished in a two-tone gray and navy color scheme. The interior is finished in matching gray leather.

At the auction, this wonderful piece of history was sold for $38,500.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2007