1914 Chalmers Model 24

High bid of $85,000 at 2013 RM Auction - Hershey. (did not sell)
Sold for $61,600 at 2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona.
The Chalmers automobile was a union between Roy Chapin, Howard Coffin, and Hugh Chalmers. Chapin and Coffin had been working with Buffalo, New York, automaker E.R. Thomas in the building of a car in Detroit, which was called the Thomas-Detroit. Chalmers was later brought on and eventually bought out Thomas. The three remaining executives renamed the company, Chalmers-Detroit, which was soon to become simply Chalmers, after Chapin and Coffin departed to form Hudson in 1909.

The Chalmers Company would enjoy tremendous success in American racing. In 1908, a pair of new cars took a one-two victory in the Jericho Sweepstakes race on Long Island, NY. The following year, a three-car team called the 'Chalmers Bluebirds' achieved four wins, three 2nds, and three 3rds in seven races. On the 1909 Glidden Tour, the cars earned a trophy and won the event outright in 1910.

The cars were promoted in many other ways besides racing; Chalmers gave cars to the baseball player in each major league with the highest batting average, as well as to the most valuable player, as chosen by sportswriters.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013