1923 Rickenbacker Model B

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an amazing and inspiring individual. He was born into poverty and his education never went past the fifth grade. He had to work at a young age to help support his family. He was a brilliant intuitive engineer and his skills were discovered when he began sweeping the floor of the Frayer-Miller Automobile Company. By age fifteen he was the leading engineer and the riding mechanic in the company's Vanderbilt Cup entry becoming one of the top racing drivers in the US finishing second in the AAA standings.

Prior to the outbreak of World War I, he was hired as an engineer by Henri Coatalen of the Sunbeam Motorcar Company in Wolverhampton, England. While Mr. Rickenbacker was sailing to England, war was declared, ending Sunbeam's civilian production. Rickenbacker returned to the United States and volunteered himself to the Army as potential flyer. He felt his skills as a racing driver would lend themselves nicely to combat flying, however, the Army disagreed and pretentiously dismissed him for his lack of college education. An appointment as General Pershing's driver got Eddie to Europe and after some persistence, he eventually made it into the air. Though only reluctantly given flying instruction Eddie would become the top ace of the Great War and America's most famous and beloved hero, eventually receiving the Medal of Honor.

After the war, he devoted much of his efforts to business instead of racing. One of his businesses was a car company that bore his name. The company, unfortunately, would be one of his business failures.

His Rickenbacker automobiles featured four-wheel brakes - a first in the price range. The competition saw this as an opportunity to discredit the car and the company by stating that four-wheel brakes were dangerous. Ads touting this danger were spread through auto publications. The Rickenbacker car was labeled as a lethal machine that would go out of control at the press of its brake pedal. Customers who were used to rear-wheel brakes were easily convinced.

The Rickenbacker cars were, in reality, well-engineered with exceptional build quality and were truly one of the finest cars on the market at their price range. The engines were smooth and quiet, and the frames were boxed and highly rigid.

The Rickenbacker Company ended with its sale to J.S. Rasmussen in Germany and the design would live on as two models of the AUDI brand in 1928.

This particular 1923 Rickenbacker B6 Coupe is powered by a 218 cubic-inch six-cylinder side-valve, twin flywheel engine offering nearly 60 horsepower. There is a single updraft Stromberg carburetor, three-speed transmission, and four-wheel mechanical brakes. The radiator features the 'Hat in the Ring' logo of his 94th Aero Squadron.

This restored automobile was once owned by a former President of the Rickenbacker club.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2017