1932 Marmon Sixteen Victoria Coupe

The Marmon car was built in Indianapolis by Nordyke & Marmon. For more than half a century before automobiles were produced, the firm produced flour-milling machinery. Howard Marmon built their first car in 1902. In 1911, the first Indianapolis 500 race was won by a Marmon 'Wasp' racer.

By the late 1920s, with the Great Depression coming into full effect, Marmon dug in and reached for the top, bringing the V16 engined automobile that they had begun designing in 1927. The model debuted in 1931. It used extensive use of aluminum in the construction of the power unit and had a capacity of over 8 liters. In total, the engine weighed a modest 422kg with an extremely good power-to-weight ratio. The engine offered 200 horsepower and was the second most powerful engine available, ahead of Cadillac's V16, but still shy of Duesenberg's extra 65 horsepower.

Marmon offered its clientele eight individual coachwork designs, all styled by LeBaron. Between 1931 and 1933, Marmon delivered just 390 V16 cars before they entered into bankruptcy.

Chassis no. 16143718
This car was delivered to Mrs. J.V. McKnight of Camp Springs, Maryland. In 1962, the car had accumulated 35,329 miles, and ownership passed to Charles M. Rothstein of Falls Church, Virginia. On Rothstein's death, the car passed to a local collector, B. Bailey, in Falls Church. A few years later, in January 1969, the car was purchased by the current owner's family.

Over the last 44 years, the car has received two professional repaints and is currently finished in a gray scheme highlighted by the chrome features of the design. The interior has been fully re-trimmed in burgundy leather. The roof has been renewed in black-grained fabric.

Currently, the car shows just over 37,500 miles on the odometer.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2014