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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.

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.

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.

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 Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16145666

Two U.S. companies built V-16-powered automobiles: Cadillac and Marmon. The former survived the tough economic times of the 1930's, the latter did not.

From its beginnings in 1902, Marmon was headquartered in Indianapolis. A Marmon 'Wasp' won the first Indy '500' race. From the beginning until the end - in 1933 - the Marmon was an exceptionally well-engineered car, thanks in large part to its namesake, Howard Marmon.

From 1931 through 1933 only 390 Marmon 16's were built. Built on a stately 145-inch wheelbase and priced at $5,000, the Marmon 16-cylinder engine produced 200 horsepower. The innovative design was done by a young Walter Dorwin Teague Jr., who became a famed industrial designer.

Marmon, in its short life, left its imprint on the auto industry by pioneering the use of the rearview mirror, the V-16 engine and the use of aluminum in automobile manufacturing.

This particular Marmon Sixteen is fitted with a four-door convertible sedan body built by the noted coachbuilder LeBaron. This body style is considered by many to be the most attractive and desirable coachwork ever fitted to the Marmon Sixteen chassis.

Approximately 390 Marmon Sixteens were built between 1930 and 1933, and of these, it is believed only about 40 were fitted with the LeBaron convertible sedan bodies, with only 60 Marmon 16s remaining today.

This vehicle spent the first years of its life in the Southern California area, where it remained until it was purchased in 1955. The new owner rarely used the vehicle and placed it in storage in 1957, where it remained untouched and preserved until 1995, when it was purchased by Donald Lyons.

Upon purchasing, Mr. Lyons placed it in the hands of a noted vintage restorer. The vehicle was found to have only 18,500 miles from new. In 1998 the restoration was completed. The new owner takes great pride in showing this rare Marmon 16.

by Dan Vaughan

Sports Coupe by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16141-694
Engine number: 16693

Howard Marmon introduced an advanced 4-cylinder car in 1902 from his shops in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before the effect of the economic depression of the 1930s caused the end of production, Marmon presented its ultimate accomplishment, a model powered by an 8.1 litre, 16-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower that sold for $4,925.

This vehicle is a 1931 Marmon Model 16 with a Sports Coupe body finished in a very attractive paint scheme.

Only six examples of the two-passenger coupe are known to exist. Of those six, only four are known to have their original engines, including this example. The early history of this vehicle is not known, as the Marmon records were lost after the factory closed. Its existence since 1995 has been carefully followed.

From 1955 to the early 1960s, the car was owned by Albert A. Hood, Jr. of Wyckoff, New Jersey. At that time, it was painted black. In 1963, it was in the possession of Albert L. Walker of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who sold it to Gordon Gress of Milwaukee in 1965. In 1982, still in Gress' possession, it was reported as 'untouched' and 'in fair condition, running when last driven. Needs complete restoration. Twenty-two thousand miles, well stored and preserved.'

Gary Overby of Puyallup, Washington, purchased it in 1988, who in turn sold it to Marvin Tamaroff of Southfield, Michigan in 1991. In Tamaroff's care, the car was given a professional restoration in 2002. It was sold at auction in 2008 before being acquired by the current owner.

The car is painted blue and beige and has extensive brightwork. The interior is done in beige leather.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale at RM Auctions' Arizona sale where it was estimated to sell for $475,000 - $650,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for $687,500, including the buyer's premium.

4-Door Sedan by LeBaron

Built in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marmon was known as a luxury car manufacturer. The Marmon Sixteen, featuring a V-16 engine, made its debut in the early years of The Great Depression. Marmon is best known for having the winning car in the 1911 Indianapolis 500 Race. Marmon manufactured automobiles from 1903 and was a victim of the economy, closing its doors in 1933.

The sixteen-cylinder engine was 490 cubic-inch, 200 horsepower, overhead valve, downdraft carbureted, and surprisingly a powerplant weighing only 930 pounds. Each Marmon Sixteen was certified to have exceeded the speed of 100 mp on the Indianapolis 500 racetrack. The coachwork is considered innovative and modern in style.

This automobile has been painstakingly restored by its owner and was completed in February of 2007.

Victoria by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16144705

In 1902, Howard Marmon was only 23 but had already constructed his first automobile. It was an advanced piece of machinery for the time, featuring overhead valves and air cooling. Nine years later, a Marmon was driven to a victory at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 race. The Indianapolis 500 race was much different in 1911 than it is today; instead of just taking three hours to complete, it took all day. The race tested the driver and car's stamina at full speeds for many, many hours. Completing the race was considered an accomplishment, but winning it was the ultimate achievement. Following on the heels of this success, the Marmon cars were driven to over 50 race victories in the following two years.

Marmon automobiles seemed to have to problems winning on the race track, but in the showrooms the cars were less successful. Marmon did offer a road-going version of its Indianapolis 500 Wasp, dubbed the Model 49, but at $5000, this was too high for most individuals.

The company's savior came in the form of World War I, when the engineering talents of the company were commissioned to build 5,000 Liberty aircraft engines. This gave Marmon financial stability.

After WWI, the company resumed production of its Model 34, a car that was introduced in 1916 and included extensive use of aluminum. Many items on this Model 34 were created from aluminum, including the transmission, rear axle, body, fenders, and radiator. Sales were disappointing and when the post-war recession began to show its ugly head, Marmon began feeling the financial pressure. In 1924, Howard's brother resigned the presidency and George M. Williams took over his duties. Williams saw a future in Marmon with a more affordable line of models that would attract more buyers and increase sales. The result of his vision was the Roosevelt Model powered by a straight eight-cylinder engine. The gamble proved to be accurate as sales increased greatly and the company was once again financially sound. By the close of the 1920s, Marmon was building more than 20,000 cars per year.

The financial security allowed Marmon to further pursue his engineering passion and to continue to carve a legacy in the automotive industry, by creating the Marmon Sixteen in 1931. The name 'Model 16' was appropriate as the car was powered by a state-of-the-art sixteen-cylinder, overhead valve engine that displaced nearly 500 cubic inches and produced 200 horsepower. The engine had all-aluminum construction which meant it was both lightweight and strong. Many other areas of the car were also built from aluminum, including many parts of the chassis. The power-to-weight ratio was unmatched by any other marque of the era and the Sixteen was able to achieve 100 mph with very little effort.

The Sixteen had only one flaw - when it was introduced. Cadillac had introduced their sixteen-cylinder car nearly two years before Marmon's was introduced. More importantly was The Great Depression, which was strangling the pockets of potential buyers. By 1933, Marmon found itself out of business.

This Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe is one of the few surviving examples in modern times. It has an elegant LeBaron coachbuilt body featuring the legendary LeBaron cowl tags. The design for the vehicle was penned by Walter Dorwin Teague Jr., a student at MIT at the time. His father, Walter Dorwin Teague Sr., had been given the project but had passed it along to his automotive enthusiast son.

This car has been treated to a comprehensive professional restoration that brought it back to better-than-new condition. It is finished in a two-tone paint scheme with a tan convertible top. It earned its CCCA Senior Award status in June 2002.

There were only 22 examples of the convertible coupe constructed with only eight remaining in modern times. Six are in private collections, one is in a museum in the Netherlands, and one is in the process of being restored.

This 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook where it was offered without reserve and estimated to sell for $400,000 - $500,000. It is powered by an overhead valve V16 engine mounted at a 45-degree angle. There is a three-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel servo-assisted mechanical drum brakes. At the auction, the car was sold for an impressive $726,000.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16-144-722

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 Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16 145 593
Engine number: 16860

Introduced in 1931, the Marmon Sixteen featured beautiful styling, power, and technology. The LeBaron Convertible Sedan body is painted in its original color scheme of black with an orange body molding and maroon leather. The original price for this car was $5,420.

Production ended in 1933 with only 390 in all body styles having been produced. Just 70 examples of the Marmon Sixteen are known to have survived.

The Marmon Sixteen's engine is made almost entirely of aluminum and produces two-hundred horsepower. Unfortunately for Marmon, Cadillac had beaten them to market with a sixteen-cylinder nearly two years earlier. As the Great Depression deepened, there were fewer people who could afford to travel in such opulent style.

This example was one of the first Sixteens to receive a modern concours restoration, and over its extensive show career on both sides of the coast, has become one of the most famous examples.

The original owner was Dr. G.H.A. Clowes, a resident of Marmon's hometown of Indianapolis. The car was well-equipped, being outfitted with factory radio and front and rear heaters.

Throughout the next two decades, the car enjoyed a number of other short-term owners in Indiana, including Indianapolis collector John Hoggat. It was later owned and restored by Richard Askren, with the engine reportedly rebuilt and tested by the Perfect Circle Piston Ring Company. After the work was completed, it was sold in 1972 to Briggs Cunningham. During his ownership, the car was given the current engine, number 16860. After the sale of the Cunningham Collection to Miles Collier, the car was purchased by Indiana collector S. Ray Miller. Between 1988 and 1989, it was restored by Eric and Vivian LaVine to the highest of standards. As part of this flawless restoration, the car was refinished in a correct Marmon color scheme, Black with Menelaus Orange moldings, a dark red interior, and a black cloth top.

After the restoration, it embarked on a modern concours career, including its CCCA Primary Fist (with 100 points in its first showing), followed by a Senior First and the AACA's President's Cup. In 1989, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, winning 2nd in Class, followed by Best Prewar Open Car at Meadow Brook and Best in Class at Indianapolis in 1990.

The current owner purchased the Marmon when the Miller collection was dispersed in 2004. It was then put on display at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, followed by an extended display in the Gallery of Classics at the ACD Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana.

by Dan Vaughan

Limousine by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16147602

The Marmon Automobile Company traces its roots back to 1851 when Howard Marmon's father manufactured flour grinding mill equipment. Automobile production began in 1902. Howard Marmon helped to develop the World War I Liberty aircraft engine. After the war, he wanted to develop the finest car money could buy and concentrated on developing a V-8 engine. He began developing the V-16 engine in 1927. However, Cadillac was able to bring their V-16 to market before Marmon. The Marmon Sixteen was introduced at the 1930 Chicago Auto Salon. The Sixteen was a 45-degree 491 cubic-inch V-16 engine made almost entirely of aluminum. The engine created 200 brake horsepower. Mr. Marmon was awarded a medal for outstanding achievement for the Society of Automotive Engineers for designing the engine. All Marmon Sixteens were tested for 210 miles on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with four laps of at least 105 mph. Only 400 examples were produced. The limousine version of the Sixteen differs from the standard seven-passenger sedan in that it was equipped from the factory with a built-in divider windshield which required significant structural modifications to the center portion of the body. Also, the limousine was supplied with leather upholstery in the front section for the chauffeur and a cloth interior for the rear passenger section.

This Marmon Sixteen Limousine wears coachwork by LeBaron and became part of a large private collection in 2007. Prior to the acquisition, the car was involved in a highway accident while in tow and suffered damage, primarily to the coachwork. The car was in gear during the accident and some of the gears within the transmission were damaged from the sudden jolt. No other mechanical damage was suffered.

The car's next owner had the vehicle restored with cost as no object and no area overlooked or untouched. The body was restored and the gears were fixed, returning this vehicle to a visually stunning example that was mechanically flawless.

The Sixteen is finished in a subtle yet regal color combination of dark burgundy and black. It is equipped with twin front-mounted horns, dual spotlights, and a pair of side-mounted spares with metal covers and mirrors. The interior features black leather upholstery and a set of pristine gauges in the chauffeur area. Behind the division window, the passenger area is fitted with burled wood and privacy blinds. There is even a pair of jump seats.

In 2010, this Marmon Sixteen was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $275,000 - $350,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for $346,500, including the buyer's premium.

The current owner purchased the Marmon in August of 2010 and had full mechanical and cosmetic servicing, including new aluminum cylinder heads produced at great expense. These heads allow the engine to perform in the manner in which it was originally intended.

4-Door Sedan by LeBaron
Chassis number: 149 752
Engine number: 16750

The 1931 Marmon was available in one of eight standard body styles. The Sixteen was designed by Walter Darwin Teague Sr., with bodies built by LeBaron. Each Sixteen constructed was delivered with a certificate attesting that it had exceeded 100 mph for at least five miles on the Indianapolis Speedway.

This close-coupled sedan has undergone an 18-month cosmetic updating and mechanical servicing by its current owner. Beginning with an older restoration, the body was re-sprayed with a combination of Deep Sea Blue hood, fenders and roof, complementing a Platinum Silver Body that is accented by silver coach striping. Wheels, including dual side-mount spares, are painted a contrasting, period-correct blue.

Inside, it was well appointed with beige cloth accented with burl wood panels and window frames, a pull-down rear window shade, and flower vases. There are new whitewall tires and is equipped with Trippe driving lights.

In 2011, at the Pebble Beach, CA auction presented by Gooding & Company, the car was estimated to sell for $225,000-$275,000. It would leave the auction unsold after its reserve was not met.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe by LeBaron

This 1931 Marmon Model 16 (Sixteen) has coachwork by LeBaron. This vehicle was on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sedan by LeBaron

There were 390 V-16 of different body styles produced. There are five four-door sedan convertibles left in modern times. The V-16 engine had an aluminum block, with overhead valves. The body was also constructed of aluminum.

The original purchase price was $5,000.

Victoria by LeBaron

Howard Marmon, after graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, returned to the family machines business in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1902 as chief engineer. Later that year, he built his first car. He strove to build the perfect automobile, and by some accounts, he did just that with the 1931-1933 Marmon Sixteen.

The Marmon was designed by Walter Darwin Teague Sr., though he admitted that his son W.D. Teague Jr., then a student at MIT, did all the original drawings. The number of 16-cylinder cars produced in 1931-1933 was 390, and they were priced at $5,100 to $5,400.

Marmon advertised the Sixteen as 'The World's Most Advanced Car,' and not without reason. Despite its size, the engine weighed a relatively light 930 pounds fully dressed, some 370 pounds less than Cadillac's slightly smaller V-16. This contributed to a weight-to-power ratio of just 4.65 pounds per horsepower, an impressive figure for the day, likely rivaled only by Duesenberg.

The 5-passenger coupe (Victoria) is considered by many as the most stylish of the Marmon Sixteen body styles.

Club Sedan by LeBaron

This Marmon Sixteen Club Sedan wears coachwork by LeBaron and is one of 390 Marmons built before the company's demise in 1933.

Convertible Coupe by LeBaron

Howard Marmon founded the Marmon Motor Car Company of Indianapolis in 1902. It was an outgrowth of a company that made grinding mill equipment dating back to 1851. A few low-production, experimental automobiles were made in the beginning but by 1909, the Model 32 'Wasp' won the first Indianapolis 500 race, cementing the company's reputation for making fast, dependable cars and introducing the rear-view mirror to the world.

The world's first V-16 engine was under development at Marmon in 1927, but the stock market crash interrupted the project and the engine was not ready until 1931. The engine produced 200 horsepower with 491 cubic-inch displacement, 45-degree V-16 engine with overhead valves and distributor ignition.

Unfortunately for Marmon, Cadillac had already introduced a similar engine. By the time it came to market, the Great Depression had so hurt the demand for luxury cars that Marmon and its competitors all suffered a decline.

Introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in November 1930, the Marmon Sixteen was nevertheless a hit. The Marmon Sixteen motor developed 200 horsepower from its 491 cubic inches. The chassis had a 145-inch wheelbase. Bodies were designed by Walter Dorwin Teague Jr. and were built by LeBaron of Detroit and other custom coachbuilders.

Marmon Sixteen production ended in May of 1933 after only 390 cars had been built.

This Marmon Sixteen has a fully documented history that includes some years of storage in a barn where the floor collapsed, leaving the car sitting on its frame on the barn beams. It was restored in 2000 and shown at the CCCA Annual Meeting where it earned 100 points, winning its Primary Class Award. It also gained a Senior Award from the CCCA and a Junior and Senior First Place from the AACA.

4-Door Sedan by LeBaron

The original owner of this full classic was Mrs. J.W. Fisher of Indianapolis, Indiana. Mrs. Fisher was the sister of Howard and Walter Marmon of the Marmon Motor Car Company of Indianapolis.

In 1929, Marmon introduced an under $1,000 straight eight car known as the Roosevelt, but the market crash of 1929 made the company's problems worse. Howard Marmon had begun working on the world's first V16 engine in 1927, but he was unable to complete a production model Sixteen until 1931. By that time, Cadillac had already introduced its own V16, which was designed by ex-Marmon engineer Owen Nacker.

The Marmon Sixteen was produced for three years; 1931-1933. The engine displaced 491 cubic inches and produced 200 horsepower. It featured an all-aluminum design with steel cylinder liners. Marmon became notable for its many innovative works in automotive manufacturing. They are credited with having introduced the rearview mirror as well as pioneering the V16 engine and the extensive use of aluminum in auto manufacturing. The use of aluminum and other lightweight materials produced an engine that was nearly 400 pounds lighter than many of its competitor's engines. This contributed to the Marmons impressive power-to-weight ratio and established their reputation for building some of the best-handling larger cars of the era.

The owners of this 1931 Marmon Sixteen Four Door Sedan have prepared the car for extensive touring.

Convertible Coupe by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16144652
Engine number: 16513

The Marmon Sixteen had Art Deco styling with a bold grille in the front which was composed of horizontal bars. The body had a straight beltline that was elegant and simple. During the three-year production run of all Sixteen body styles, it is estimated that 365 to 370 examples were produced, and it is believed that fewer than 40 of those were Convertible Coupes. Just eight examples of this body style survive today.

The history of this car begins around 1946, when Charles W. Bishop of New Haven, Connecticut, was its owner. It was still in his possession during the summer of 1955, when its mileage was noted at 30,000 in an article by the Classic Car Club of America. In January 1965, Vernon Jarvis of Decatur, Illinois, acquired the car, after which it passed among four owners, finally becoming part of noted San Francisco enthusiast Owen Hoyt's collection in 1973.

By 1985, the restored Marmon was part of the Matt and Barbara Browning collection in Ogden, Utah. Richard Paine's Seal Cove Auto Museum in Maine acquired the car in a multi-car trade with the Brownings in 1990. The current caretaker acquired the car in 2002 and embarked on a no-expense-spared restoration.

This car is finished in soft green and has an olive green leather interior. It made its restoration debut at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it was awarded a First in Class trophy.

This car has a tan convertible top, chrome grille, wire wheels, and side-mounted tire covers.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe by LeBaron

Howard Carpenter Marmon's swan song was to offer one of two production V-16 engines offered by an automobile manufacturer; the other being Cadillac. A superbly crafted unit of aluminum and light alloy, the V-16 Marmon boasted the largest displacement of any engine on the market, yet was lighter than most smaller eights. Horsepower was nearly the equal of the Duesenberg Eight while surpassing both it and the Cadillac V-16 in torque output. Available in one of eight factory-offered body styles, the Sixteen was styled by Walter Dorwin Teague Sr., with bodies built by LeBaron.

Confirming its performance, each Sixteen was delivered with a certificate attesting that it had exceeded 100 mph for at least five miles on the Indianapolis Speedway. Yet another casualty of the Great Depression, just 390 were produced during the three-year period of 1931-1933, of which approximately 70 survived.

Victoria by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16144705

Marmon introduced their V-16 at the 1931 New York Auto Show. Howard C. Marmon had been developing a multi-cylinder airplane engine beginning in 1926, which eventually culminated in this 491 cubic inch 45-degree V-16 automobile engine. The engine is all aluminum with case-hardened cylinder sleeves, overhead valves, detachable cylinder heads with bronze valve seats, blade and fork connecting rods, a Stromberg duplex downdraft carburetor, and Delco electrical system. The 930-pound engine produces 200 horsepower giving the engine one of the highest power-to-weight ratios ever generated at that time.

Besides having a very modern engine design, the coachwork produced by LeBaron, from designs by Walter Dorwin Teague with influences from Ray Dietrich and Frank Hershey, was extraordinarily modern and unique. They were aerodynamically engineered to reduce wind resistance to a minimum, with a slanted radiator, windshield, and a curved roof line and shaped rear panel, the flow of air over the body was smooth with few pockets of drag-inducing turbulence.

The Depression hit Marmon very hard and the market for a $5,000 luxury car was very limited, to the degree that only about 390 V-16 Marmons were built between 1931 and 1933 when production ceased.

4-Door Sedan by LeBaron

The Marmon V16 engine was first seen at the Chicago Auto Show in November 1930, but due to production delays, the new Marmon Sixteens were not delivered until April of the following year - at the beginning of the Great Depression. Billed as 'The World's Most Advanced Motor Car,' it was a serious competitor to Cadillac's V-16, which had gone on sale the year before. The new all-aluminum power plant was an engineering marvel as well as a work of art, earning Howard Marmon the annual design achievement award from the Society of Automotive Engineers. The 8-liter, overhead valve, 16-cylinder engine delivered 200 bhp, and a typical V16 with saloon body was capable of driving at over 95 mph. Unfortunately, given the economic downturn, few people could afford this $5,000 luxury automobile, so fewer than 400 cars were produced, and in 1933 the Marmon Motor Car Company went into receivership. This Sixteen is one of around 70 Marmons that have survived. It was shown at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours following a recent restoration by its multiple-Marmon-owning owner.

Sports Coupe by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16 141 675
Engine number: 16684

This 1931 Marmon Sixteen Coupe by LeBaron was having its engine rebuilt in 1978 when it was stolen, and the car's whereabouts were unknown for five years until the Marmon Roster received a tip in December 1983, which led to its recovery by authorities in New York State early the following year. The car was returned to Phil Mayer, who reunited it with the original engine components. In 1987, the Sixteen left the original owner's family, legally, when it was sold to James Guerra of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. In 1989, ownership went to Gerry Lettieri and four years later was acquired through an East Coast broker by Jack Dunning, with whom it has now remained for over 25 years.

While in Mr. Dunning's care, the car was given a restoration between 1996 and 1997 by Glen Hatcher of Cambridge, Ohio. After the work was completed, it was finished in dark maroon with the correct pinstriping color-matched to the wheels. It enjoyed a successful show career, including an AACA National First Prize and CCCA Senior Premier honors, the latter with two perfect 100-point scores. The car was also Best in Class at the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance in 1997. Its most recent honor was a win in the Senior Emeritus class in the CCCA Midwestern Grand Classic at the Glenmoor Gathering in Canton, Ohio, in 2011.

by Dan Vaughan

Sports Coupe by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16 141 675
Engine number: 16684

Built from 1931 through 1933, the pinnacle of Colonel Howard Marmon's engineering expertise, the Marmon Sixteen was a technological marvel. Extensive use of aluminum in the 491 cubic-foot, 200-horsepower V16 resulted in a more powerful engine than the competing Cadillac V16, while weighing over 300 pounds less. V16 bodies were designed by Walter Dorwin Teague and built for Marmon by LeBaron. They featured uncluttered lean, simple lines, minimal trim, and functional but luxurious interiors. Total V16 production over the three years was 390 cars, of which approximately 75 are known to survive.

Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16145666

This Marmon Sixteen Convertible Sedan (style 145 and chassis number 16-145666) rests atop a 145-inch wheelbase chassis supported by semi-elliptic leaf springs and a beam front axle. There are four-wheel mechanical, 16-inch drum brakes along with 18-inch, chrome-plated, steel-spoke wheels wrapped with 700-18 black sidewall tires with Marmon-badged, bright center caps. Beneath the long and graceful bonnet is a 490.8 cubic-inch overhead valve sixteen-cylinder engine with a downdraft carburetor, mechanical fuel pump, and a cast aluminum alloy uni-block and heads. The 200 horsepower produced by the engine at 3,400 RPM is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual synchromesh transmission with floor shift controls.

Forty-nine examples of the Marmon Sixteen wearing the convertible sedan body were built. This example is finished in gloss black with polished aluminum and stainless trim, and dual steel-cover spare tires are mounted in the fenders. There is a black fabric convertible top, and the interior is trimmed in pleated gray leather.

This Marmon Sixteen's original owner was Mr. Goldschmidt of Modesto, California. After seeing very little use, it was put into storage and did not emerge until 1955. The second owner was Scott Dean of Fairview Park, Ohio, who also used the car for a short time and stored it until 1995. Don Lyons of Dowagiac, Michigan, acquired the car and had it sent to Bill Godisak of Sun Ray Restorations to perform a complete restoration in 1996. Since completion, the car has won a First Primary Award and a First Senior Award at a CCCA Grand Classic, with the car carrying CCCA Senior Badge No. 2174.

This car was shown at the Concours d'Elegance at Meadow Brook Hall, where it won First in Class. It was also displayed at the Eyes on Design show in Grosse Point, Michigan, where it won another First in Class. It would win additional awards after being acquired by its current owner in 2003, including wins at Meadow Brook Hall and the 2011 Glenmoor Gathering in Canton, Ohio, winning an award of excellence.

Only ten examples of the Marmon Sixteen convertible sedan are known to exist today.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16-145-678
Engine number: 16-695

This Marmon Sixteen Convertible Sedan by LeBaron was owned by a Mr. Ballard during the late 1950s, who sold it to Robert 'Bob' Mellin of Richmond, Michigan in 1962. Mr. Mellin intended to relocate the body to another chassis, but this never occurred. Ownership passed to another collector in Michigan prior to 1974, and shortly thereafter, it was purchased by James Leake of Oklahoma. Its next owner was Sam Vaughan and following his passing in 1989, it was sold the following year and acquired by its current caretaker. Since that time, the car was shown at various events, such as the Marmon Muster, where it was awarded the President's Trophy in 1991 and the People's Choice Award in 1992.

The body and chassis were restored in 1995 by Stan Uher of Classic Coachworks in Blenheim, Ontario, and the engine was fully rebuilt by John Forsythe in Fremont, Ohio. More recently, the car was given new cylinder heads and a new clutch.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sedan by LeBaron

Marmon cars were produced in Indianapolis from 1903 through 1933. This Convertible Sedan with coachwork by LeBaron is one of 390 total Marmon V16s built. The V16 development began in 1927 but wasn't available until 1931. The 491 cubic-inch sixteen-cylinder engine develops 200 horsepower.

The Marmon Sixteen had a modest original price tag of around $5,000.

Victoria by LeBaron
Chassis number: 16143506

Howard Marmon, founder of the Marmon Motor Car Company, was an engineer, and he pioneered the extensive use of aluminum in the Marmon Sixteen, powered by the 491 cubic-inch V16 engine. This automobile introduced several engineering firsts, including ball-bearing steering and down-draft carburation, winning Howard Marmon the SAE Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award in 1931. The body, underpinned by the 145-inch wheelbase, was styled by Walter Dorwin Teague and built by LeBaron - a sleek and sophisticated design, devoid of unnecessary embellishment. The Marmon Sixteen had 200 horsepower and was described as 'scandalously fast' at over 100 mph, but Marmon made fewer than 400 units at a time when the economy was in dire straits. Of the 34 Victoria Coupes built in 1931, this LeBaron Victoria Coupe is one of just nine remaining.

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 look and an astonishing 200 horsepower. The use of steel cylinder sleeves added to the longevity and durability of the engine. The V-16 engine earned Howard Marmon the Society of Automotive Engineers annual design award.

The engine was an engineering marvel, and the automobile was a work of art. The problem was the timing; introduced near the onset of the stock market crash and the crippling Great Depression. The most competitive market segment at this time was the upper, high-priced vehicles. Packard, Auburn, and Cadillac, to name a few, were produced exquisite automobiles catering to the wealthy. The shortlist of buyers meant production was low and the profit margin was tight. To stay competitive, the manufacturers needed to continue to introduce new products, designs, and innovative vehicles.

Cadillac and Marmon introduced their V-16 automobiles around the same time. The Great Depression meant there were few who could afford this five-thousand luxury automobile. The competition and the Depression resulted in fewer than four hundred examples being produced. The Marmon Motor Car Company entered into receivership.

The Marmon V-16 was powered by a lightweight, powerful engine and decorated in luxurious amenities and modern designs. Its demise was a market that did not have the resources to sustain its production. With its low production figures, its exclusivity is guaranteed in modern times.

by Dan Vaughan

'The World's 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 wasn't 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 and crankcase were cast as a single unit and the block was actually a 'Y' in section. A single-cast manifold served both cylinder banks while a dual-throat downdraft carburetor fed the fuel. All but three of the 390 Marmon Sixteens built carried 'standard' bodies built by LeBaron; two coupes, a Victoria, and five sedans.

One of the finest names in automotive history, Marmon has under its belt a bevy of accomplishments that include winning the first Indianapolis 500-mile race, and an impressive aluminum V-16 engine in the early 1930s. In 1851 Nordyke and Marmon were formed in Richmond, Indiana, and soon moved to Indianapolis. From there it became well-known for flour milling machinery. Howard Marmon graduated in Mechanical engineering from the University of CA in Berkeley late in the 19th century. In 1902 at the young age of 23, he became Marmon's chief engineer while his older brother Walter, also an engineer, managed the business. Though the flour machinery was a good money maker, Howard was much more interested in the up-and-coming automobile business.

In 1902 he built his first car with an air-cooled V-twin engine, pressure lubrication, and overhead valves. The following year Howard built his second car, which had an air-cooled V-4. Two years later, the Marmon Company was fully in the automobile business, selling six cars, most of them to friends. The following year in 1905, production increased to 25 cars and Howard began trying different engine configurations.

After success with several models, unfortunately, the stock market crashed and Marmon, much like other manufacturers, experienced a serious sales decline. Howard Marmon continued to have even grander ideas, though, and in 1931, he introduced his dream car, the Marmon Sixteen. Though this was the first V-16, the Cadillac V-16 which had arrived in 1930, beat them to it, the Marmon engine was much more powerful and also more brilliant in appearance. Howard Marmon was recognized by his peers when the Sixteen won the Society of Automotive Engineers' annual design award.

The engine was actually quite light despite its size at a scarce 930lbs, nearly 370lbs lighter than Cadillac's slightly smaller V16. Probably only rivaled by Duesenberg, the Marmon Sixteen had impressive 4.65 pounds per hp weight-to-power ratio. Howard had a passion for his design that was evident in his minimal-weight construction of the Sixteen. All of the main pieces, the hood, front and rear splash aprons, spare-wheel mounts, running-board aprons, headlamp and tail-lamp brackets and even the fuel-filler pipe were all made of aluminum.

Due to this all-aluminum construction, very few cars couldn't even come close to the Marmon for sheer speed or through the gears acceleration. The Marmon Sixteen even accelerated faster than the prestigious Duesenberg Model J, though the Model J had a higher top speed because of its twin-cam engine. The Marmon also cost half of a Duesenberg chassis. The cylinder banks on the Sixteen were set at 45 degrees, which resulted in a narrow engine that fit under the slim hoods of the day. It also had wet, pressed-in steel cylinder sleeves and used fork-and-blade connecting rods instead of the side-by-side type that become universal in V-type engines.

Howard Marmon wasn't responsible for the body design, but he did hire an industrial engineer at a time when this profession wasn't yet popular. Walter Dorwin Teague, Sr., a 47-year-old designer took most of the credit, and it's true he handled the contract work with Marmon and translated the concept into production form. But in fact his son W.D. Teague, Jr., a student at MIT sketched the original drawings, as well as the full-size renderings and several interior concepts also the unusual aircraft-type instrument panel during weekends and in summer school. The name of the father carried more prestige than his young son's name. From 1931 until 1933 the number of 16 cylinder cars was 390 and they were priced at $5,100 to $5,400.

The Sixteen was a modern-looking vehicle, but not a 'radical' one, and it bore no resemblance to any of the earlier Marmon's. A hood that hid the water filler featured a raked Vee'd radiator with any ornament or badge while the doors extended down almost to the running boards. The fenders were constructed with the purpose of hiding chassis components. A very prominent beltline ran absolutely straight around the body which further accentuated a low-slung profile. A windshield was raked to match the radiator and the ultra-low rooflines.

Only two custom bodies are known of, two Waterhouse tourers and a very individual Victoria constructed by Hayes to a design by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. These were probably part of Howard's eventual plan to offer 32 'regular' custom styles, much in the spirit of Judkins, Waterhouse, and Murphy; town cars, limousines, speedsters, all-weather phaetons, and 'sunshine-roof' sedans. Unfortunately, slow sales halted this idea.

Despite its grandeur and distinction, the Marmon Sixteen arrived on the scene just too late. The Depression had weakened the economy and shrunk the market for $5,000-plus cars. In 1933 the Marmon Motor Car Co. went into receivership. Barely 400 Marmon Sixteen's were ever built. Though the name would carry on for many years in Marmon-Herrington's four-wheel-drive trucks and four-wheel-drive truck conversions, Marmon was out of the car business. Impressive and elegant, today a Marmon Sixteen is a nearly priceless collectible.

by Jessican Donaldson