For Sale: 1912 Hudson Automobile in Wayne, Pennsylvania

Reimel Motor Cars is immensely proud to offer one of the most desirable, thrilling, and exceptionally rare pre-WWI factory speedsters in existence: the 1912 Hudson Model 33 'Mile-A-Minute' Roadster. Finished in a gorgeous Red exterior over a matching Red leather interior, this brass-era icon offers the visceral, wind-in-your-face driving experience of a Mercer Raceabout or Stutz Bearcat, but at a fraction of the investment.

The Dawn of the Factory Speedster
Long before the modern sports car, a few daring automakers in the 1910-1914 period offered factory-built "speedsters"-stripped-down, lightweight versions of their standard chassis designed purely for performance. Hudson was at the forefront of this movement. Introduced for just one season, the 'Mile-A-Minute' Roadster took the larger, more powerful 1911-1912 Model 33 chassis and removed all unnecessary weight.

In true period racecar fashion, the traditional heavy bodywork was replaced by two fully exposed bucket seats and a massive cylindrical fuel tank (holding 30 gallons of gas and 10 gallons of oil) mounted directly to the frame. The radiator was set back several inches to improve weight distribution, and the gear change levers for the three-speed sliding gear transmission were mounted completely outside the frame. While it retains its fenders and running boards for road use, these were designed to be easily removed for competitive racing.

Under the hood sits a robust 33-horsepower, 226-cubic-inch mono-bloc four-cylinder engine. Paired with a standard-issue 100-mph speedometer, its name was no exaggeration-in 1912, hitting 60 miles per hour was truly "flying."

Incredible Provenance & Known History
What truly sets this specific Model 33 apart is its deeply documented, star-studded history within the early car collecting community.

The Barn Find: This car was discovered in a New York state barn in the late 1940s by H. Pierson Mapes, a pioneering figure in the antique automobile movement and father to former NBC President Pierson G. Mapes.

The Murchio Restoration: Mapes commissioned a restoration by Joseph Murchio, another prominent early collector whose automobile museum in Greenwood Lake, NY, was a staple of the post-war era. A cast brass plaque on the firewall proudly proclaims Murchio as "America's Foremost Authority on Antique Automobiles."

Decades of Care: Following Mapes's stewardship, the car was sold (believed to be via a Sotheby's public auction) in the late 1950s/early 1960s to Egbert Beney of Syosset, New York. It was later purchased in 1987, remaining in a single-family ownership for 30 years and making appearances at select regional car gatherings.

The Lange Collection: In 2009, this Hudson was acquired by the prestigious Clem and Mary Lange Collection via the Bonhams Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction. It has been sparingly shown and carefully preserved ever since.

Authenticity You Can Feel
Today, only a handful of these magnificent machines survive worldwide (with notable examples residing at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, as well as in collections in the UK and Germany). Designated as part of the 23,000 series, this is believed to be the 73rd car built.

Because the restoration dates back over 70 years to H. Pierson Mapes's ownership, the car wears a heavy, reassuring air of authenticity. The finishes have aged into a magnificent patina that simply cannot be replicated by a modern restoration shop. It comes appropriately equipped with a period-correct accessory monocle windshield, a period jack, tools, and copies of the original owner's manual.

Ready for the Road
Highly eligible for brass-era touring and a guaranteed conversation starter at any Concours d'Elegance, this 1912 Hudson Model 33 is a blue-chip piece of early American motoring history. Stripped-down, purposeful, and dripping with character, it is waiting for its next caretaker to take the wheel.

Please reach out to us for more information, extensive photo galleries, and videos. Contact links are available on our website at [www.reimelmotorcars.com].