1909 Thomas Flyer K6-70 Flyabout

This 6-cylinder Thomas is the only original 1909 Thomas 6-70 Flyabout in existence. After winning the Great Race in 1907, E.R. Thomas built his first 6-cylinder engine to compete with other luxury American manufacturers, such as Pierce-Arrow, and with Rolls-Royce, which was exporting many of its cars to America at the time. Taking his well-proven 4-cylinder engine as a starting point, Thomas basically added two more cylinders to the existing block, increasing the engine capacity to 12.9 liters and providing more than 70 horsepower. The 6-70 was the largest engine available in America at the time and was offered as either a 7-passenger 'Tourabout' or the slightly more sporting 'Flyabout' model. The new 6-cylinder Model K 6-70 was one of the most expensive cars of the period, priced at around $6,000 for a Touring, Flyabout, or Tourabout, or $7,500 for a chassis fitted with a limousine or landaulet body. All the cars were bodied at the Thomas factory with aluminum panels over an ash frame, and the interiors were trimmed in French cloth or leather.