Vehicle Description
50 bhp, 414.7 cu. in. L-head inline six-cylinder engine,4 speed
manual transmission, semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension, and
rear-wheel mechanical brakes. Wheelbase: 132 in. A descendant of
the Thomas Flyer Wonderful largely original condition Veteran of
decades of enjoyable touring Ideal Glidden Tour car The Chalmers
automobile was the delightful, if unlikely, product of a union
between two early Detroit automotive industry veterans, Roy Chapin
and Howard Coffin, and Hugh Chalmers, vice-president of the
National Cash Register Company. Chapin and Coffin had been working
with Buffalo, New York, automaker E.R. Thomas in the building of a
car in Detroit, dubbed, aptly, the Thomas-Detroit. Chalmers was
brought on, bought out Thomas, and together the three remaining
executives built the aptly renamed Chalmers-Detroit - soon to
become simply Chalmers, after Chapin and Coffin departed to form
Hudson in 1909. Until the company foundered in 1922, the Chalmers
firm enjoyed tremendous success in American racing. A pair of
Chalmers-Detroits managed a one-two win of the Jericho Sweepstakes
on Long Island in 1908; the following year, a three-car team, the
Chalmers Bluebirds, achieved four overall wins, three seconds, and
three thirds in seven races. A pair of the new cars, now called
Chalmers-Detroit, managed a one-two win of the Jericho Sweepstakes
race on Long Island in 1908, and the following year a three-car
team called the "Chalmers Bluebirds" achieved four wins, three
seconds, and three thirds in seven races. The cars earned a trophy
on the 1909 Glidden Tour and won the event, the most prestigious in
early automaking, outright in 1910. Even the promoter, Chalmers
famously presented 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. The 1914 Chalmers offered here
was born of that power, and features an L-head inline six-cylinder
engine that can only be described as "mighty," with 50 horsepower
on tap. These cars were renowned in their time for their solid
construction and power, and this high-horsepower six-cylinder model
sports very attractive close-coupled Touring bodywork. It is almost
completely original and unrestored, wearing its original paint,
upholstery, and equipment, including a Delco starter/generator
system, a miniature four-cylinder air compressor, and dual
rear-mounted spares. Having been toured extensively in the 1950s
and 1960s, it proudly wears the badges from those tours on its
footboard, testifying to decades of loving enthusiast care and
ownership. The earliest known owner of the Chalmers is James Rice,
who acquired the car in the 1950s. Later, probably in the 1970s,
Jim Stamper acquired the car from the estate of James Rice, and
kept it until 2011, when he sold it to the vendor. As a 1914 model,
this Chalmers is an excellent driver that is eligible for all the
"big horsepower" Brass Era tours - including the Glidden, the
modern incarnation of the event that this company conquered in
1910. With 50HP and a four speed transmission, the car will run
with the front group on most brass era tours. The current owner
reports that it is one of the easiest brass era cars he has ever
driven, with an engine/clutch/trans setup so smooth that double
clutching is seldom required once a driver has spent a few hours
with the car. Steering is light and nimble. The condition is
amazing, with original leather and carpet, original finish on the
brightwork, and mostly original paint on the body, though the
fenders have been repainted as they often were. Their location
almost guaranteed that they provided bumper services while parking!
The car has lots of manuals and documentation, a box of period
tools, and the engine is fitted with a wonderful four cylinder
chain drive air cooled compressor that accepts a tire inflation
hose and chuck, which is also still with the car. Overall a lovely
car, capabl
