1917 Winton Model 33 Three-Quarter Limousine

Alexander Winton was unquestionably one of the individuals - quite possibly the individual - who launched the American automobile industry. And he did it in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the most famous cars built in that city, the car was in production from 1897 until 1924.

The Winton Motor Car Company was founded in March 1897 by Cleveland bicycle manufacturer Alexander Winton, who, along with Thomas W. Henderson and George H. Brown established a factory in Cleveland, Ohio. To promote their early products and to spotlight their dependability, Winton drove one of his automobiles from Cleveland to New York City in July 1897. The publicity generated from Winton's second drive to-and-from New York in 1899 enabled the company to increase production to 25 cars a week.

This particular Winton, a 1917 22A Convertible Limousine, was once owned by Mr. Winton's son, Alexander Winton Jr. He rescued it from a Cincinnati wrecking yard shed, where it had been stored from 1928 to 1952. It was in its original condition and relatively complete. Mr. Winton took the car on several Glidden Tours before selling it to the current owners.

In 1965 it underwent a restoration, completed in 1976. The restorer's son is the current owner. Powered by a 348 cubic inch inline 6-cylinder engine with a four-speed transmission, the rare body style converts from a formal limousine to an open-top touring car. This Model 33 Three-Quarter Limousine was the very top-of-the-line in construction and appointments.