1928 Marmon Model 68 Roadster

Introduced in Indianapolis in 1902, a Marmon automobile - the famous 'Marmon Wasp' - went on to win the first Indianapolis 500 race in 1911. Marmon continued to produce fine automobiles until the depression greatly reduced the sales of luxury cars. Production would end in 1933. They made a variety of models culminating in their famous V16 models introduced in 1931.

In 1927, Marmon introduced a 'Little Marmon.' It was a full 20 inches shorter and nearly 1,500 pounds lighter than its six-cylinder sibling, the E-75 Series. The Little Marmon was powered by a 190 cubic-inch, 65-brake horsepower L-head straight-eight and sold for barely half the price.

For 1928, the Marmon Motor Car Company introduced the new 68 Series, which had nearly the same size as the Little Marmon, but with a slightly larger 201.9-cubic inch eight. At the time, Marmon also added an eight-cylinder model, called the Series 78, with a 120-inch wheelbase and a 216-cubic inch overhead-valve engine. The Series 68 had a base price of $1,395.

Marmon's attempts to offer a broader range of vehicles and appeal to a wider audience worked, with production nearly tripling in 1927 from the previous year. 1928 saw a further increase of nearly 60 percent.

For 1929, Marmon introduced a 'junior marque' named the Roosevelt. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based company was in business for only a short time, lasting from 1929 through 1930. It was named for the late President Theodore Roosevelt and bore his image in advertising and on its radiator. The Roosevelt had the same appearance as the Marmon, and it was the first U.S. car with a straight-eight engine to sell for under $1,000.

With the Roosevelt marque, sales increased a further 75 percent, but it was all very transitory. As the 1930s and the Great Depression came into view, Marmon sales fell by two-thirds and never recovered.

This particular vehicle is a Marmon Series 68 wearing a Roadster body by Murray. Its odometer currently shows less than 38,000 miles. The exterior is finished in bright blue with black fenders. The paint is original and remains in remarkable condition, despite a few chips from usage. The car has the vintage Westclox stem-wind Auto Clock and an intact FEDCO anti-theft VIN plate. The front seats have been re-upholstered, but the rumble cushions are original. It has a tan canvas top and a post spotlight located on the left running board.

The current owner acquired this car from Tom Stolte of Golden, Colorado, who had acquired it from the original owner. The current caretaker has owned it for the past 15 years.

Power is from an L-head, 201.9 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine offering 72 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2016