1911 EMF Model 30 Speedster

The E-M-F Company was founded by Everett, Metzger, and Flanders in 1908. Barney Everitt had a history of building automobile bodies, William Metzger is considered America's first auto dealer, and Walter Flanders was from the Ford Motor Company. Chief engineer William Kelly designed a 226 cubic-inch, 30-brake horsepower engine, which was installed into a channel-section chassis frame and powered the rear wheels via a three-speed rear-mounted transaxle. During their first year of production, E-M-F produced over 8,000 automobiles. Their company was poised for success, but unfortunately, things began to unravel, and Everitt and Metzger soon departed to build the Everitt automobile. Flanders added a lower-cost Flanders 20 with distribution by Studebaker. By the 1910s, Studebaker had completely taken over, and the cars were badged as being manufactured by that South Bend concern.

This particular example began life as a five-passenger touring car. At some point in its history, the body was cut down into a two-seat speedster, with bucket seats for the driver and a passenger. It retains its original fenders, with the rear fenders slightly reshaped to suit the new body. It has the original brass trim, a cream body finish, and red leather upholstery. Accessories include brass side lamps, a flared bulb horn, and a round fuel tank. There is a 226.2 cubic-inch L-head four-cylinder engine offering 30 horsepower. A three-speed manual gearbox sends the power to the rear wheels.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014