To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$100,000 - $150,000
- An icon of mid-century American vacations
- Designed by the legendary Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
- Originally pressed into service at Yellowstone National
Park
- Restored in period-correct Glacier National Park "Reds"
livery
- Correct 318 cu. in. 16A flathead six-cylinder engine
- The ideal party wagon, with room for 17 and a sunroof!
The White Company of Cleveland, Ohio, manufactured over 500
examples of their Model 706 between 1936 and 1939 for use at
America's national parks. These mighty beasts featured roll-back
canvas convertible tops over their 17-passenger interiors, accessed
by no fewer than eight doors, and were handsomely styled by the
noted industrial designer Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky for
coachbuilders Bender of Cleveland. Some examples remain in service
at various parks to this day, while others have been restored to
evoke wonderful memories of family vacations long ago.
Glacier National Park's fleet of 18 original White buses, acquired
at a cost of $90,000, was popularly known as the "Reds" and the
drivers as "red jammers" because of the sound the unsynchronized
gears of the transmission made when the driver shifted on the steep
roads of the park. They were regularly used to give tours up
Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of several scenic roads built at the
park by the Great Northern Railroad. Today several of these buses
remain in service at Glacier National Park and are still giving
rides.
The Model 706 offered here was originally pressed into service at
Yellowstone National Park as bus no. 363. Today, it is still
running an original 318-cubic-inch 16A flathead six-cylinder
gasoline engine and has been restored in Glacier "Reds" livery with
red-and-black steel wheels by Krown Restoration in Wilsall,
Montana. Inside features and comfortable tan leather bench seating
within under the roll-back black canvas top and. There is also a
surprisingly sizable rear cargo area tucked behind the final row of
seating. Inspection shows the paintwork, interior, and top fabric
to all be very well preserved restored and still in excellent
overall condition, while the undercarriage shows only light wear
from occasional use.
Few vehicles offer more opportunity for fun-with 16 of your friends
and family, no less!To view this car and others currently consigned
to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.
