1925 Locomobile Model 48 Sportif

The post-WWI recession was difficult for many automakers and the Locomobile Company was no different. The glut of military trucks which came on the market after the War, decimated sales of its Riker truck line. It fell into the hands of Hare's Motors which did not help the situation and was later acquired by Billy Durant, who was determined to create a competitor to General Motors.

By 1929, Locomobile had entered receivership, ending the history of one of America's earliest and best automobiles.

Andrew Riker designed the Model 48 which was introduced in 1911. Production would continue until the end of the marque's existence, yet today very few examples have survived.

The Locomobile 48 was powered by a 6-cylinder engine which had a very large bore and stroke of 4.5-inch x 5.5-inch. The iron T-head cylinders were cast-in-pairs and bolted to a bronze crankcase, which contained a drop-forged alloy steel crankshaft that was both statically and dynamically balanced and rode in seven main bearings. An aluminum intake manifold mated up with a bronze-bodied carburetor while the gearbox casing was cast in manganese bronze. The exhaust valves were chrome-cobalt steel. Coil and battery ignition ignite dual ignition through a pair of 6-cylinder distributors. The engine was mated to a four-speed transmission - in an era when much of the competition chose to use only 3-speeds.

The Locomobile Model 48's chassis members were pressed from chrome-nickel steel, then heat treated and hot-riveted together, and rode on chrome-nickel-tungsten steel leaf springs, semi-elliptical in the front and 3/4 elliptical at the back.

Many of the coachworks was built to client specifications by independent coachbuilders. Many designs, however, would come from Locomobile's own Custom Body Department under the direction of former Kellner designer J. Frank de Causse. Locomobile had no body building facility of its own, allowing the company to choose the best coachbuilders while specifying that the coachbuilder's nameplate not be affixed. De Causse's style was simple, individual, and distinctive.

The 'Sportif' tourer featured a dual cowl design. It sold for $7,400 in 1925, a price that was rivaled only by the Stevens-Duryea Model G.

Chassis no. 19131
This example does not appear to have been restored, receiving only sympathetic attention to its cosmetics and mechanical maintenance consistently and as needed. Finished in olive green with black fenders, the interior upholstery and trim are black leather and it has a beige cloth top. The body-color wood spoke wheels have black wall tires. There are foot-operated four-wheel drum brakes and handbrake operating on separate concentric rear wheel drums. There is also a 12-16 volt high voltage primary electrical system.

All Locomobiles were sold only one way - fully equipped. This example is no exception; it has dual windshields with large folding wind wing panels and canvas wind skirts on the rear windshield, a folding footrest, and dual spares mounted behind a luggage shelf between the rear fenders. An accessory 'Sunoco Vapor Lubricator' has been added to the engine which also has a four-note exhaust whistle. The folding windshield has a single vacuum-operated wiper.

The current owner acquired this car at the Richard C. Paine, Jr. Collection auction by Bonhams in 2008.

The Locomobile Model 48 Sportif seats only four.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013