1911 Pope-Hartford Model W Portola Roadster

The Pope-Hartford Automobiles, part of the empire created by Colonel Albert Pope, were produced in Connecticut city from 1903 to 1914. Most of the automotive components of the Pope-Hartford were produced in-house by the company's skilled and capable craftsmen, including the overhead-valve engine which was among the most powerful of its era.

This particular Model W 50HP has a Portola-Style Roadster which was essential a 'race-and-road' model. The utilitarian vehicle was stripped of non-essential items and powered by an advanced engine, four-speed selective-shift transmission, shaft drive, and dual magneto and coil ignition. It was capable of achieving speeds of 70 mph, an impressive figure considering the lack of safety equipment, the roads, and the era.

This Portola Roadster is the only example known to exist. Mr. Don C. Boulton purchased an original Model W engine and chassis, and rear axle from a Pope fire truck. A restoration was soon commissioned with this vehicle being the result of those efforts. It is finished in deep blue, with black moldings and a light blue pinstripe. It has an electric starter, period Hartford friction-type shock absorbers, double rear-mounted spares, and a storage compartment for tools. Pope-Hartford-branded Gray & Davis headlights with matching model 934 cowl lights illuminate the way. Power is supplied by a 389 cubic-inch overhead valve inline four-cylinder engine offering 50 horsepower. There is a three-speed sliding-gear manual transmission with shaft drive, and rear-wheel drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2019