1913 Lozier Type 72 Meadowbrook Runabout

This 1913 Lozier Meadowbrook Runabout Type 72 has a six-cylinder 'T' head engine with a ball-bearing crankshaft, Bosch Triple Ignition, and four-speed transmission with third gear direct and fourth gear for higher speeds. The car has 58 sets of ball bearings, more than any other car in the world.

The original Lozier Motor Company of Plattsburgh, New York, manufactured cars from 1904 thru 1913. In 1913 the selling price started at $5,000 to $7,500. This Runabout has a running board for the chauffeur so that he might drive the car home from the country club.

Lozier was one of America's highest-quality automobiles and one of the most powerful of the era. They were sold with two bodies: one of summer and one for winter.

The Lozier Motor Company in Plattsburgh, New York, was founded at the turn of the 20th century by Henry Lozier after selling his Cleveland Bicycle Company for $4,000,000. Initially, the new company manufactured marine engines and launches, later exploring the possibility of producing steam- and gasoline-powered vehicles. When they were presented with an opportunity to repair a crashed Mercedes, they did so at no cost to the owner, relishing the opportunity to study its mechanical componentry. Testing and experimentation led to the production of automobiles in 1904. The first Lozier automobile was unveiled in January 1905 at the New York Automobile Show.

Although having a steep price tag of $4,500, the 30–35 hp four-cylinder Lozier automobile used the best components available and was endowed with high-quality engineering. Twenty-five vehicles were built in 1905, and 56 were built a year later.

In 1907, the Lozier went racing with Ralph Mulford, who was hired as the factory driver. During their racing career, the Lozier automobiles established more 24-hour endurance records and won more 24-hour races than any other car of the era. A Lozier won the Elgin Road Race in 1910 and the Vanderbilt Cup a year later. In 1911, it placed 2nd in the inaugural Indianapolis 500.

The Lozier automobiles were well-engineered, durable, and sophisticated. The chassis utilized ball bearings in nearly every moving part, including crankshaft bearings, and the bodies were formed from lightweight aluminum. The company pioneered casings for its double-chain drive, eventually switching to shaft drive in 1908. The componentry was innovative and often far ahead of its competitors, including the use of a four-speed gearbox, multidisc clutches, and redundant ignition systems. As expected, the Lozier automobiles were expensive and the company claimed its cars were 'The Choice of Men Who Know.' Period advertisements declared, 'Lozier Motor Cars are built for people who measure cost in comfort, safety, power, appearance, and dependability. The superlative degree of these qualities describes the Lozier – the only car in America that has commanded a price of $5000 or more for eight consecutive years.'

When demand exceeded the Plattsburgh factory's 600 car-per-year capacity, Harry Lozier made the decision to relocate the facilities to Detroit, and a large, new factory was built. The decision proved detrimental and Harry was soon forced to leave his namesake company. The new president quickened the company's demise through a series of ill-considered decisions, prompting another new round of leadership, which only worsened the situation. By the close of 1914, Lozier was in receivership and a reorganization effort in 1915 failed, as did a second attempt. By September 1918, Lozier had closed permanently.

Lozier's best year of production was 1912 when they built 600 cars. That year, the company built only six-cylinder automobiles and introduced the Type 72 'Big Six' and the Type 77 'Light Six.' The Type 72 replaced the previous Type 51 and used its 131-inch wheelbase and 554 cubic-inch T-head engine with 51 (ALAM) hp. New features included electric headlamps, multi-point ignition, an automatic splash-lubrication system, and left-hand-drive steering. Production of the Type 72 began in 1912 and ended in 1913.

The Lozier Type 72 body styles included the Lakewood Torpedo, Riverside, Knickerbocker Berline, Briarcliff Toy-Tonneau, Meadowbrook Runabout, and Larchmont Touring cars. The Meadowbrook Runabout was a sporty, two-passenger car named after the Long Island, New York, hunt club. It used the same chassis as the Briarcliff and Lakewood and carried its tires on the platform behind the front seats. The running board carried a side seat intended for the chauffeur. Devoid of fenders, the lightweight Meadbrook scored many victories for the Lozier marque.

1913 Lozier Type 72 Meadowbrook Runabout
This 1913 Lozier Type 72 is powered by a 554 cubic-inch T-head inline six-cylinder engine with a single Updraft carburetor and delivers an estimated 51 HP (ALAM-rated). It has a four-speed manual gearbox, two-wheel mechanical drum brakes, a solid front axle and a live rear axle. The front and back are suspended by semi-elliptical leaf springs with the front having friction shock absorbers and the back transverse leaf springs.

It is believed that this is the only Lozier Type 72 Meadowbrook Runabout in existence. In December 1943, it was sold at the Frederick H. Cleveland Estate auction in Poughkeepsie, New York, where it was reportedly purchased by a local used car dealer for $150. At the time, it was described as having been driven 1,200 miles.

Walter Levino of Peekskill, New York, purchased the Lozier by 1949 and remained with him until 1953, when it was sold to Thomas J. Lester of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. It was given a restoration in 1953 and 1954 and finished in its current bright yellow livery with a unique, period air starter. Mr. Lester displayed the Lozier at numerous shows and events, earning its AACA First Prize award in 1954, taking part in the Henry Ford Museum's annual sports car show in 1955, and completing the Glidden Tour and National Reliability Run in 1957. Also in 1957, it participated in the second Anglo-American Vintage Car Rally, organized by the VMCCA. This was an eight-day, 800-mile rally through eastern states. For this event, Mr. Lester painted the radiator grille with his entry no. 4, which remains on the car to this day.

In 1959, the Lozier was acquired by Jerry S. Foley III of Jacksonville, Florida. It has remained in his care for the past six decades and has appeared in numerous publications, including the cover of Sports Car Illustrated in 1960, and Town & Country in 1963, as well as the pages of Car Life and Automobile Quarterly.

This well-maintained Lozier had been driven sparingly and has not had significant restoration work carried out since Tom Lester's ownership.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2023