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1914 Mercedes 50 HP Town Car

  • Coachwork by Brewster
  • Chassis Number: 16081
When Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft was formed, it focused its talents on the creation of stationary engines. Experimentations in creating an automobile, and by 1895, several models were put into production. They were offered with several engine options and there various types of bodies. In keeping with the companies conservative nature, none of the cars offered were very sporting. This changed when Emile Jellinke, an Austrian-born entrepreneur and Daimler agent, began requesting a racing car. He had driven a Daimler in the 1900 Nice Automobile Week but was very disappointed with the cars performance. A proper factory-built car was built, coupling a lightweight chassis with a powerful, 35-horsepower engine. Though the company was hesitant to build the car, Jellinke soon convinced them by placing an order for 36 such cars. The deal stated tat he was to be given exclusive sale franchise for Austro-Hungry, France, Belgium and America. The 36 cars were named after his eleven-year old daughter, Mercedes.

The Mercedes cars had a front-engine design, used a chain to drive the rear wheels, and engines that ranged from six to nine liters, though smaller 1,760 versions were available. As early as 1904, America had become an important market, with a quarter of Mercedes production destined for the US. This spawned the creation of a plant in the US, at Long Island City, New York. Production would continue in the US until 1907, when a fire destroyed the American factory.

In 1905, the 15/20PS became the first Mercedes to use shaft drive, though the larger cars continued to use chains.

The racing endeavor paid off for the Mercedes cars, when in 1908 a 140HP Mercedes driven by Christian Lautenschlager won the French Grand Prix. By this point in history, the Mercedes cars had become suitable for the road and were even being used by several European heads of state for official travel. The list of dignitaries included King Leopold of Belgium, England's Edward VII, and Kaiser Wilheilm II. The list of US clients included the Astors and Vanderbilts, Henry Clay Frick and Isaac Guggenheim.

This 1914 Mercedes 22/50PS Town car was built after the fire at the American factory. It is believed that the chassis was imported to the Long Island City facility of Brewster & Co. for the fitting of a Town Car body.

The Brewster & Co. was established by James Brewster at New Haven, Connecticut in 1810. It quickly earned a reputation for quality and quantity. This accolade would continue under James' son Henry, winning international acclaim at the Paris carriage exhibition in 1878. By 1905, the Brewster & Co was under the direction of the third generation of carriage builder, William Brewster. During this year, the company would built their first body for the evolving automobile industry. A few years later, in 1911, the company focused solely on automobile body production, abandoning their carriage production, and moved workshops from Manhattan to Long Island City, New York. From 1915 through 1925, Brewster built complete automobiles powered by Knight-engines.

The first owner of this Town Car may have been John Jacob Astor IV. This may not be the case, as he went down with the Titanic in 1912. The car does not have its original chassis plate making it nearly impossible to determine the actual build-date. The engine number, however, is from early 1914.

In 1937, the car was purchased by an aeronautical engineer named Alec Ulmann. He is best remembered for organizing the 12 Hours of Sebring races and for his car collection. The next owner was Charlie Stitch, a mechanic who had worked for Daimler-Benz in Germany, but now lived in Manhattan.

The years that followed are a bit of a mystery for this vehicle. Little is known until it was purchased by a noted Japanese collector in 1991. It would return to the United States six years later before leaving again, to Automuseum Deventer in the Netherlands. It was on display at the 2000 Concours d'Elegance Paleis Het Loo at Apeldoorn and later purchased by Massachusetts collector Howard Fafard, who owned it until very recently.

The leather fenders and upholstery are original to the car. The Brewster body shows some signs of its age and of its older restoration. The T-head four-cylinder engine displaces 5720cc and produces 50 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and two-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The chassis measures 135-inches and suspended in place by a solid front and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs.

In 2008, this 1914 Mercedes 22/50PS Town Car, titled as a 1910 model, was offered for sale at the 'Automobiles of Amelia Island' auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $300,000 - $400,000. Bidding reached $221,000 but was not enough to satisfy the vehicles reserve. The lot was left unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009

2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $300,000-USD $400,000 
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
USD $221,000

Recent Sales of the Mercedes 50 HP

(Data based on Model Year 1914 sales)
1914 Mercedes 50 HP Seven-Passenger Touring
Chassis#: 12526
Sold for USD$528,000
  2012 RM Auctions - Monterey
1914 Mercedes 50 HP image  1914 Mercedes 50 HP image  

Mercedes 50 HPs That Failed To Sell At Auction

1914 Mercedes 50 HP's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1914 Mercedes 22/50PS Town Car 2009 RM Auctions Automobiles of London$135,000$180,000$230,000
1914 Mercedes 50 HP 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island$221,000$300,000$400,000

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1914 Mercedes 50 HP

Additional valuation insight and sales data
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1914 Mercedes 50 HP Vehicle Profiles

1914 Mercedes 50 HP vehicle information
Town Car
Coachwork: Brewster
Chassis #: 16081
1914 Mercedes 50 HP vehicle information
Tourer
Chassis #: 12526
Engine #: 15509