1914 Simplex Model 50 Touring

The history of the Simplex is deeply rooted in the intersection of American and European innovation. The Simplex name was associated with several owners in its short 12-year run, but in that time Simplex vehicles came to represent the best combination of power and fashionable design that the U.S. had seen.

The year 1914 ushered in the first 'Long Stroke' Fifty to the Simplex lineup. With the new configuration, the engine size actually shrank slightly, but it was still just under 600 cubic inches - one of the largest production 4-cylinders of the time. Simplex continued to sell most of their chassis with chain drives despite the fact that this was then considered old technology; Simplex's customers had an idea of what their car should be and continued to demand the race car-derived chain drive layout. Simplex was the last American car to utilize chain drive, doing away with it in 1915.

This 7-passenger Touring car is an original example and represents the end of the large, 4-cylinder Simplex vehicles.