1913 Pope-Hartford Model 29

Colonel Albert Pope invested his bicycle wealth in the manufacturing of electric vehicles, entering the automobile business in 1896. He is credited with being the first manufacturer to mass-produce automobiles; convinced that electric cars were the way to go, he produced over 500 of these vehicles in 1899. He also dabbled in building cars with internal-combustion engines, and soon after the turn of the century, he established several divisions, including the Pope-Toledo and Pope-Waverly. The longest-running of these was the Pope-Hartford, located in Hartford, Connecticut. By 1909, the Pope-Hartford was a well-regarded luxury car with a reputation built on endurance racing.

In 1913 Pope-Hartford offered three different models, the 40 horsepower Model 31, a 50 horsepower Model 33, and this 60 horsepower Model 29. The Model 29 came very well equipped with a Gray and Davis electric starter and an electric lighting system. The car was built in six different body styles, including a Tourer, Limousine, Landaulet, Berline, Phaeton, and this Roadster, which cost $4,250 in 1913. This is one of only four Model 29s known to survive and is the only one in a private collection. The Pope-Hartford Model 29 is one of the best examples of Brass Era design, having a potent overhead-valve, 6-cylinder engine with each bank cast in pairs and bolted to a two-piece aluminum crankcase, something that was very advanced in its day. It has been owned by several renowned Brass Era collectors, including William Harrah, John Mozart, and Otis Chandler.