1912 Marion Bobcat Model 33

Sold for $165,000 at 2007 RM Auctions - The McMullen Collection.
Sold for $88,000 at 2008 Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey by RM Auctions.
Sold for $132,000 at 2018 RM Sothebys : Hershey.
This 1912 Marion Bobcat Model 33 Speedster entered the John McMullen collection in the early 1990s. It has older mechanical work and cosmetic restoration, which still shows well in modern times. There is a large brass radiator, a marque's bade, and a Marion Moto-Meter. There are plenty of lights, a pair of vintage brass headlamps, and a firewall-mounted spotlight which is operated by the passenger. All three lights are gas-operated with the gas-operated by the cylinder mounted on the running board. There are 32x4 artillery-style wood spoke wheels and a monocle-style round windscreen.

The Marion Company was in business from 1904 through 1915, with the Bobcat being their most legendary and remembered model. It was reminiscent of the later Stutz Bearcat, and both cars shared the same designer, the legendary Harry C. Stutz. In 1910, Stutz was Chief Engineer for Marion. His idea for a factory-built speedster would soon find its way to the race track and into the record book. They were minimalist vehicles that were lightweight, easy to produce, and low-cost. These stripped-down vehicles were fitted with the most powerful engines of their day. The wheelbase measured a mere 111 inches, had two-wheel mechanical brakes, and sold for $1,475.

The Bobcat was produced from 1911 through 1913.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2008

In 1904 the Marion Motor Car Company, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, entered the automotive production business by producing sturdy and reliable automobiles. John North Willys, the owner of Overland, purchased a controlling interest in the Marion Company, and almost immediately, production escalated. Overland had an established dealer network which helped generate interest in the vehicles.

By 1911 Harry Stutz was working as chief engineer for Marion Motor. He designed a roadster, dubbed the Bobcat, which bared a close resemblance to the Bearcat. Not only in design, but in spirit as well. It was a minimalist vehicle, void of amenities and outfitted with a powerful engine, well, powerful at the time.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2008