- Offered from the Muckel Collection
- Known history since the early 1930s
- Older concours restoration in beautiful condition
- Former winner of the AACA Cup
- Ideal for further shows and Brass tours
- A great example of one of America's best-engineered Brass
cars
The Locomobile Model 48 was one of the few automobiles whose
engineering survived virtually unchanged from the Brass through the
Nickel and Classic Eras. Originally introduced in 1911 as the Model
'M,' it would be produced with relatively few mechanical changes
for the next 18 years, through the end of Locomobile production in
1929. During those nearly two decades, it enjoyed a faultless
reputation with a certain kind of customer�a very wealthy,
conservative American captain of industry, who favored time-tested
engineering over the latest complex frivolities. The Model 48 was
superbly, carefully built, using only the best materials, including
numerous special metals in its T-head six-cylinder engine. Properly
maintained, these cars could run for decades in and out of a
family's carriage house.
The early Model 'M' offered here has had its history traced back to
the late 1930s, when it was discovered at Richard and John Hoyt's
farm and sawmill in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, complete less
most of the original body and being used as a pickup. Charlie Ker,
a milkman from Allenwood, New Jersey, bought it from the Hoyts and,
as his wife later recounted, spent months cleaning it up, after
which he used the car to attend one of the first post-war Glidden
Tours. Eventually it was, somewhat amazingly, retired to the back
of the Ker family room in Allenwood, where it eventually became
"walled in" by the couple's antiques collection.
There the Locomobile remained until 1995, when it was purchased as
a "family-room find" by Chris Figge of Westerville, Ohio. Mr. Figge
worked alongside Tim Ohlendorf of Ohlendorf Restorations to
complete a beautiful restoration.
Remarkably, the chassis was incredibly intact, and many of the
original components, down to the grease cups, were saved and
reused. The body was precisely re-created, using exact measurements
taken from the panels and hardware of a surviving original 1911
body, and was fitted with many of the accessories shown in factory
literature of the year, including Klaxon horn, tire covers, clock,
Jones speedometer, Prest-O-Lite tank, brass foot rails, an extra
taillamp, and Hartford shock absorbers. All brass was restored by
the noted Rick Britten. Even the carpet mats and tire covers are
both correct to those shown in factory literature, indicative of
the level of detail. Upholstery was completed by Ernie Schwartz.
The only deviations from "stock" were the fitment of a very
discreet starter, for ease of operation, and an upgrade to later
cast-iron Locomobile brake drums, converted to hydraulic operation
for safety.
Testament to the quality of the work, the Locomobile received one
of the AACA's most prestigious honors, the AACA Cup, for the
Central Division in 2006. It was also the subject of feature
articles in Antique Automobile magazine (March/April 2007) and in
the Horseless Carriage Gazette (May/June 2008). Mr. Muckel
subsequently exhibited it at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance. Today it is complete with a detailed history and
restoration file, as well as an original manual.
One of but eleven extant 1911 and 1912 48-horsepower Locomobiles,
and the only known 1912 Five-Passenger Torpedo, this handsome
machine, still in beautifully detailed overall condition, is in the
first rank of Brass Era touring cars.To view this car and others
currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf19.
