The early 1900’s were a unique time in the infancy of US automobile manufacturing, with hundreds of small machine shops and companies across the country creating unique motor vehicles. Some of these enterprises built vehicles in the single digits, while others produced a few hundred. Sometimes these companies were bought out by other entities with similar aspirations, while others simply found making these horseless carriages took resources that could produce a better profit margin.
One of the more unique vehicles to emerge from this period was the Kelsey Motorette, a vehicle that featured a rare three wheeled design. Cadwaller Washburn Kelsey had almost a decade of experience in the automobile industry when he introduced the Motorette in 1910.
Power came from an air-cooled two stroke twin cylinder engine estimated to produce 10 horsepower with a two-speed planetary drive transmission. After early models were plagued with overheating issues, later models were equipped with a water-cooled engine with similar specifications. It is estimated that total Motorette production was slightly over 200 vehicles (210 by one source) before Kelsey moved the company in a different direction. Very few Kelsey Morotettes exist today.
This 1911 Kelsey Motorette is one of the most honored examples with over six decades of known ownership. It was acquired in the early 1960’s by New York resident Robert Zlotoff who commissioned the exacting restoration the car wears today which included consultations with and elderly C.W. Kelsey himself! After 60 years, the car still presents very nicely bearing witness to the high-quality restoration. After Mr Zlotoff’s ownership the car became a part of the Muir collection before being acquired in October 2014 by Evergreen Historic Autos in Lebanon, MO.
Evergreen Digital Showroom offers this very rare and unique example of early US automotive history for sale at a price of $99,900 USD. Pre-purchase inspection is both welcomed and advised. We will gladly arrange shipping of this vehicle at buyer’s expense or will work with the shipper of buyer’s choice to facilitate delivery. For additional information or to set up an appointment to view this vehicle, call sales manager Steve Russell at 417-532-8000.
NOTICE
Because of the number of vehicles we represent we cannot drive every vehicle for long distances. These vehicles have been part of static displays for long periods of time, in some cases for decades, and are subject to the flaws and imperfections consistent with that. While we do our best to disclose all issues we known about a vehicle in our advertising, these are old cars and something that has always worked in the past might not function properly today. Please check the requirements of your state regarding the licensing and registration of classic vehicles and make sure the vehicle you are looking at meets those if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom possess a clean (non-branded) title which will be provided the new buyer when purchase funds clear our financial institution. Virtually all our vehicles are sold as mileage exempt due to their age. We do not warranty any vehicle, nor any part of the vehicle including air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical systems and gauges, fuel systems, accessories or powertrain components.
These are old vehicles and it is very common for them to require certain maintenance and upkeep for them to be operational. In many cases issues with leaks may develop when being driven after a long period of not being used. This is common, as classic cars at some point will leak fluids. For this reason, we do not encourage buyers to attempt driving their purchase home as we cannot guarantee functional reliability of these vehicles. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to be sure they are comfortable with these issues before purchasing a classic car.
Descriptions of vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom are intended to be informational in nature and do not in any way constitute any sort of warranty, expressed or implied. Again, these vehicles are presented “as-is, where-is” without guarantee or warranty. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 will likely not be included in the databases of companies such as CarFax and AutoCheck that provide vehicle history information to consumers. If you have specific questions regarding a vehicle we urge you to contact us at 417-532-8000.
