1931 Marmon Model 16 Convertible Coupe

Production of the Marmon Sixteen began in early 1931, by which time Cadillac's V16 had been on the market for over a year. Pricing for the Marmon began in the low $5200 which made it $750 less than the equivalent Cadillac. Buyers of the Marmon Sixteen did not take delivery until April 1931 and, for the year, just over 200 Sixteens were produced.

This Convertible Coupe was purchased new by a young Yale student whose father was the owner of St. Louis-based Century Electric. The father did not approve of the purchase due to the extravagance of the car and forced the sale of the car to James E. Hamilton, who was an electrical engineer at the factory. The car was sold for '1/2 of what 'Junior' paid for it.' Over the next two decades, Hamilton drove the car sparingly. After an accident involving a Volkswagen Beetle, Hamilton's son restricted his father's driving activities, and the Sixteen was placed into storage in an Indiana barn.

The Marmon remained in the barn until the 1980s. By this point in history, James Hamilton had passed away. A grandson named George inquired about the car, and a trip to the barn was made, revealing the car. The wheels had fallen through the floor and left the frame resting on the beams of the barn. The car was brought to Walter Reynolds' restoration shop in Indianapolis. The current owner inquired about purchasing the car in 1987. It was not for sale. Many years later, in 1999, Reynolds agreed to sell the car.

A restoration effort began in June 1999 and was completed on January 5, 2000. It was first shown at the CCCA Annual Meeting, held in Indianapolis, where it was judged a perfect 100 points, winning the Primary Production Class in the process.

This car is number 22 of a probable 22 Convertible Coupes produced for 1933. The interior is trimmed in teal leather upholstery with matching carpet. The 490.8 cubic-inch sixteen-cylinder engine can produce 200 horsepower, which it sends to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission. There are four-wheel vacuum-assisted mechanical drum brakes and a wheelbase that measures 145 inches.

In 2009, this Convertible Coupe was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey sale presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $450,000 - $550,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for $517,000, including the buyer's premium. It was the highest sale of the auction.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2009