1917 Chandler Type 17 Tourer

The Chandler Motor Car Company was organized in Cleveland, Ohio in 1913. It was founded by Frederic C. Chandler, who had worked for Lozier and brought with him four other Lozier employees. With the knowledge gained and lessons learned, the company was successful from the start.

The new engine powering the Chandlers was a 268.3 cubic-inch L-head six that was cast in pairs of three. It had integral cylinder heads and fully-enclosed valve trains. For 1918, the bore of the engine was increased slightly to 288.6 cubic inches.

This 1917 Chandler was purchased by the Nethercutt Collection from Rodney Flournoy of Modoc, California in 1994. Previous owners include Ernest Ongaro of Sebastopol and Lester Andrews of Los Altos, both in California. The car wears an older restoration that was finished in blue with black fenders and a hood. It has a black top and the interior is done in black leather.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Hershey Auction presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $20,000 - $30,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $17,050 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2011