Vehicle Description
Once the pride of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Locomobile rose to
prominence as one of America's most prestigious and exclusive
automobile manufacturers. After a false start in the steam car
business, Locomobile turned exclusively to petrol engines by the
end of 1905, and before long, their stock in the emerging motoring
industry soared. Their cars were extremely well-built, and they
enjoyed considerable success in motorsport at a time when
reliability and durability mattered as much as outright speed. In
1911, Locomobile introduced the T-head inline-six powered Model 48,
which remained their top offering for an unprecedented eighteen
years - the remainder of the company's existence. Locomobile's
standing among the likes of Packard, Cadillac, and Pierce-Arrow
attracted the attention of William C. Durant, the founder and
former CEO of General Motors, who had been ousted by the board of
his own firm and had a reputation for unpredictability. Durant
capitalized on a period of poor management at Locomobile, which
resulted in receivership in the early twenties. Eager to return to
prominence in the car business, Durant swept in and purchased the
company, making it the crown jewel in his new, GM-rivaling
automobile empire. Unfortunately, Durant's second attempt at a
motoring empire ended in failure, taking down some great names in
the process - Locomobile included. But before that, Locomobile
introduced a flurry of new models, including the all-new Model 90.
This new six-cylinder car was only slightly smaller in size than
the big Model 48, and it featured a thoroughly modern, L-head
monobloc engine that was lighter and nearly as powerful as the
older T-head design. Unlike lesser models that used outsourced
engines, the Model 90's inline-six was designed and built entirely
in-house at Locomobile, so there was no question it met their
exacting standards. The Model 90 was beautifully built and offered
with a series of fabulously expensive bodies, making it a worthy
companion to the 48 at the top of the Locomobile line. A series of
lesser models introduced during Durant's ownership did little more
than tarnish the illustrious Locomobile name, but the Models 48 and
90 carried the torch proudly until the doors closed for good in
1929. On offer is this marvelous and exceedingly rare Locomobile
Model 90, wearing original and distinctly sporting dual-windshield
"Sportif" coachwork. It is one of two examples believed to exist,
and it is presented in wonderfully preserved condition, having had
just three owners in ninety-three years. According to the 2nd
owner, the respected early collector M. L. "Bud" Cohn, this car was
special ordered for Russell Clifford Durant. The son of William C.
Durant, Cliff was an accomplished racing driver, musician, and
yachtsman, and he served as Locomobile's President at the time this
car was built. The powerful and stylish Sportif was undoubtedly a
suitable machine for a wealthy playboy like Cliff Durant. Mr. Cohn
reportedly purchased the car directly from the Durant family at
some time in the early 1950s, not long after Billy's death. It
remained a centerpiece of Cohn's collection for nearly 30 years,
and he kept it in remarkably original condition excepting some
upholstery work and cosmetic freshening along the way. Documents
show that in 1976, Cohn sold the Locomobile to Mr. Sam Makhanian,
also of Los Angeles. Makhanian was a loving custodian of this
beautiful and significant Locomobile, and he took great care to
carry on preserving its exceptional originality. Today, the
fabulous Locomobile Sportif remains unrestored and well-preserved,
displaying a charming and inviting patina. The original coachwork
is in superb condition, featuring evocative details like twin
rear-mount spares, wood spoke artillery wheels with black wall
tires, flying eagle mascot, and stanchion-mounted search lamp which
all further enhance its distinct appeal. Two-tone dark green and
black paintwork suits the car's sporting character and is in good
order considering its age. Likewise, the interior is in fine order,
trimmed in tan upholstery to compliment the paintwork and tan top.
It was likely reupholstered during Mr. Cohn's ownership, though he
was careful to retain the original hardware, controls, convertible
top bows, and other fittings. Locomobile's fabulous L-head
inline-six presents well under the hood, displaying a patina
consistent with the car's history and originality. It runs and
drives quite well, with plenty of thrust from the Locomobile-built
372 cubic-inch six. The next keeper will undoubtedly relish in the
powerful and refined 90 horsepower L-head engine and beautifully
engineered chassis, and it needs little more than new tires and
some minor dialing-in before embarking on tours and driving events.
The extensive history file contains original correspondence between
Bud Cohn and the most recent owner, including a bill of sale with a
statement from Cohn regarding the car's history within the Durant
family. Also included are a number of California registration
certificates that verify its long-term ownership, along with period
service information, and a reprinted manual. This Model 90 Sportif
is a beautiful example of Locomobile's scarce and exciting
flagship, beautifully preserved and ideally suited to CCCA CARavan
touring or similar events. Its offering represents a unique
opportunity to acquire one of the rarest and most charismatic of
the mighty Locomobiles. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6641-1927-locomobile-model-90-sportif/
