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1931 Marmon Model 16

In 1902, at the age of 23, Howard Marmon demonstrated his engineering brilliance by building his first automobile. For its time, it was remarkably advanced, powered by an overhead-valve, air-cooled engine. Nine years later, Marmon's mechanical abilities were awarded with a victory at the inaugural Indianapolis 500, with a long-tailed vehicle dubbed the Marmon Wasp. Around 50 more victories would follow over the next two years, adding to the Marmon competition pedigree.

1931 Marmon Model 16 photo
Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Chassis #: 16145666
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
Hoping to capitalize on the Wasp's success, Marmon began offering a road-going version called the Model 49. It was a remarkable automobile for its era, but at $5,000 a car, sales were slow. The 1916 Model 34 models came with a host of innovative features, including the most extensive use of aluminum to date. Aluminum is used for the radiator, rear axle, transmission, fenders, and body, helping to tip the scales in a favorable direction for Marmon. With the weight at a minimum, performance increased dramatically and the vehicles became more affordable. This helped the Marmon Car Company finally achieve financial success by marketing a series of reliable automobiles that could be marketed to a wider audience. By the close of the 1920s, sales had increased dramatically, and the company was building over 20,000 cars per year.

With financial freedom, Howard Marmon decided to push the boundaries of automotive engineering even further. Working on his own, he created one of the most remarkable and technically advanced cars of the classic era - the Marmon Sixteen, completed in 1931. Under the bonnet was an overhead-valve, 45-degree engine with a displacement of 491 cubic inches. With 200 horsepower, it car was able to achieve an effortless 100 mph. Overhead valves were pushrod-operated, a two-barrel carburetor fed crossflow alloy cylinder heads, and the block had wet cylinder liners. The engine construction was from aluminum and much of the chassis used the same material, giving the Sixteen an unmatched power-to-weight ratio. It was one of the few road-going cars that could out-accelerate the Duesenberg Model J, while costing about one-third as much. Along with power, it was smooth in operation, and the compact, well-lubricated valvetrain was nearly silent, despite mechanical adjustment. The 145-inch wheelbase offered plenty of interior space for its occupants, and many were clothed in Art Deco-inspired bodies. LeBaron built the bodies to a design conventionally credited to Walter Dorwin Teague Sr. It was his son, however, who actually designed the Art Deco bodywork, aircraft-style instrument panel, and luxurious interior. Walter Jr was an MIT student at the time and a gifted designer who would go on to design some of the most influential automobiles of his era.

Marmon was only slightly late to the party, as Cadillac's V16 beat them to market by over a year. Initial prices were more expensive than the equivalent Cadillac, and Cadillac had a larger client base, and a head start.

1931 Marmon Model 16 photo
Sports Coupe by LeBaron
Chassis #: 16141-694
Engine #: 16693
View info and history
Auction entries : 2
The Marmon Sixteen was introduced during the Great Depression when the pool of capable buyers continually dwindled. Cadillac may have been financially backed by General Motors, but Marmon was swimming alone, and the end came quietly in 1933. In a desperate effort to sell cars, Marmon reduced the prices to below those of their only 16-cylinder competitor.

Marmon's first Sixteen customers did not take delivery until April 1931. Production would continue until the factory closed in May of 1933, with between 365 to 375 examples produced.

The 1931 Marmon Sixteen
The Marmon 16 rested on a 145-inch wheelbase and its overhead valve, all-aluminum, sixteen-cylinder engine displaced 491 cubic inches and produced approximately 200 horsepower. It had a three-speed manual transmission, four-wheel vacuum-assisted mechanical drum brakes, a solid front axle, a live rear axle, and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Much of the chassis was built from aluminum, giving the Sixteen an excellent power-to-weight ratio. It was lightweight and powerful, capable of effortlessly maintaining 100 mph, and could out-accelerate the Duesenberg Model J.

1931 Marmon Model 16 photo
Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
View info and history
Coachwork included a sedan (5 and 7 passengers), coupe (2 and 5 passengers), convertible coupe, convertible sedan, and limousine. Prices ranged from the low $ 5,000 range to the low $6,000s.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020

Related Reading : Marmon Sixteen History

The Marmon V-16 was introduced around the same time Cadillac introduced their V-16-powered automobile. In comparison, the Marmon-built automobile was more powerful and an engineering marvel. By using aluminum, the 491 cubic-inch engine with its overhead values weighed just over 900 pounds. The engine was formed by merging twin-eight-cylinder engines at a 45-degree angle, giving the engine an impressive....
Continue Reading >>

Related Reading : Marmon Sixteen History

The Worlds Most Advanced Car or a new concept in fine cars, at least that was how Marmon Auto Company touted its Sixteen in 1931. But this proclamation wasnt without reason as the engine used all-aluminum construction that was considered evolutionary of the foundry art. Other big claims to fame included overhead valves that were actuated by pushrods from a single camshaft while both the block....
Continue Reading >>

1931 Marmon Model 16 Vehicle Profiles

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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$72-$5,200
1931 Model 16
$5,420-$18,000
1931 Marmon Model 16 Price Range: $5,200 - $5,420

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Sixteen

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
145.00 in.
16 cyl., 490.00 CID., 200.00hp
$5,200 - $5,420
145.00 in., 154.00 in.
16 cyl., 490.00 CID., 200.00hp
$5,270 - $5,270
145.00 in.
16 cyl., 490.00 CID., 200.00hp
$4,925 - $5,270

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