To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Arizona
event, 17 - 18 January 2019.
Estimate:
$25,000 - $35,000
- Offered from the Richard L. Burdick Collection
- Rare and unusual Texan marque
- One of only some 12 built; the only known survivor
- Older restoration and well conserved
"Badge engineering" is a colloquial term for cars sold under
different brand names with minimal changes, sometimes just a
different manufacturer's badge. Modern examples include the Kaiser
Henry J and Sears-branded Allstate, and Hudson Ramblers produced
after the merger with Nash. Badge engineering is nothing new,
however. It was a well-established practice in the 1920s.
The Lone Star Truck and Tractor Association was founded in San
Antonio, Texas, in 1919. The firm was not a manufacturer, but
instead a re-seller of cars that were built elsewhere and
re-branded to appeal to Texans. Lone Star cars (a five-passenger
touring was the only style available) were actually built by the
Piedmont Motor Car Company of Lynchburg, Virginia. Piedmont was
what is called an "assembler," purchasing chassis, axles, engines,
and bodies and assembling them into a whole car. Thus, the Lone
Star, which came as a Beauty Four with a Lycoming L-head
four-cylinder engine, or Beauty Six with Continental L-head six,
was identical to the Piedmont 4-30 or 6-40. The four had a 116-in.
wheelbase, while the six was six inches longer.
Interestingly, Lone Star was not the only firm to re-brand
Piedmonts. The same cars were sold by Fred Bush in Chicago, whose
name was applied to other bought-in cars, as well. Some
right-hand-drive Piedmonts were also exported under the name
"Alsace."
Only a dozen Lone Stars are believed to have been built by
Piedmont. This is the only known survivor. It was reportedly sold
new to a San Antonio customer and believed to have been driven
fewer than 20,000 miles. Restored by Curtis Foester of Port Levaca,
Texas, it is painted green with black fenders, nicely contrasted by
varnished wood-spoke artillery wheels. The upholstery is done in
black pleated leather. The Lycoming engine is correctly detailed in
all respects. The radiator is topped by a Boyce MotoMeter, below
which the unique Lone Star badge proudly speaks its Texas
heritage.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az19.
