Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America’s Auburn Fall event, September 1-4, 2016.
Chassis No.
9048
Estimate:
$ 25,000 - $ 35,000 US
George B. Selden was a controversial inventor during the early days of the automobile. Selden was essentially granted the patent for the automobile in 1895, after years of amendments to his original application. The decision forced companies that wanted to produce a car to pay a licensing fee. In 1899 Selden sold the patent rights to the Electric Vehicle Company. Selden and the Electric Vehicle Company would continue to profit from the patent until 1911 when Henry Ford won a lengthy appeal from a much earlier 1903 ruling. The 1911 ruling against the Selden patent essentially ended the monopoly it had over the early automobile industry.
Selden himself had his own line of automobiles which were produced from 1908 to 1914. The company went through reorganization in 1913, during which time they refocused their efforts toward truck production. This change proved to be a smart decision, as the truck company became much more of a success. The company was eventually sold to the Bethlehem Truck Company in 1930.
This rare example of a 1918 Selden truck was built in Rochester, New York and was originally used as a logging truck. This Selden was a true barn find, having been removed from one in upstate New York. The truck was restored by its immediate previous owner, which included having a new wood huckster-style body built by Amish craftsmen. It features a Continental Motors four-cylinder engine paired with a manual transmission. The truck is driven by a driveshaft with a differential. Included in the sale are side curtains which attach to the body for weather protection. This is a big and impressive early truck that has been nicely cared for.
