1928 Marmon Model 78 Roadster

The Marmon family's background was in manufacturing millstones. They outgrew the shop in Richmond, Indiana, and moved to larger quarters in Indianapolis in 1876. That same year, Daniel Marmon's wife, Elizabeth, gave birth to their second son, Howard.

Howard saw his future in the automobile business and started laying out designs in 1898. The first car was completed in 1902, it carried an air-cooled overhead valve V-twin engine, typical of the advanced designs that Marmon cars continuously carried.

This example is the car that paced the 1928 Indianapolis 500. The mileage is original. It is a 1928 Marmon Series '78' Rumble seat Roadster, featuring an 86 horsepower straight eight engine.

For 1928, Marmon offered the Model 68, the Model 78, and the Model 75. The Model 68 rested on a 114-inch wheelbase and was powered by an eight-cylinder engine offering 42 horsepower. The Model 78 had a 120-inch platform and an 86 horsepower, eight-cylinder engine. The Model 75 was the largest, having a wheelbase of 136 inches and powered by a six-cylinder engine. Pricing for the Model 68 ranged from $1,400 - $1,450. The Model 78 sold for $1,900 - $2,000. The Model 75 sold for $3,490 - $4,200.