Beschreibung:

1931 MARMON V16 MODEL 149 FIVE PASSENGER CLOSED COUPLED SEDAN COACHWORK BY LEBARON Chassis No. 16-149-518 Engine No. 16609 Pine green with tan cloth interior Engine: V16, 491ci., 192bhp at 3,600rpm, torque 407lbs at 1,600rpm; Gearbox: three-speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four wheel mechanical drums. Left hand drive. In 1917, while he was a member of the Bolling Commission, Howard Marmon traveled through France where he witnessed Ettore Bugatti's powerful and impressive sixteen cylinder engine being run in on a test bed; needless to say Marmon was quite impressed. Incidentally, the directive given to the commission was to locate, select and obtain the rights of a superior aero engine that could be produced in the United States in support of the Allied war effort. Marmon was so personally impressed by what he had seen that he instantly took the opinion that the sixteen cylinder engine would one day power one of his fabulous motor cars. Like so many other automobile manufacturers of the day, Marmon wanted to compete in the luxury car market. As a result, the Marmon Sixteen was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in November of 1930. Slowed by production delays, the new Marmons were first delivered to their eager customers in April of 1931 - well into the depths of the Great Depression. Even the fantastic clean styling by famed designer Walter Darwin Teague could not boost sales and only a total of 390 Marmon Sixteens were produced between 1931 and 1933. Amazingly, every Marmon Sixteen built was certified to have covered at least five miles at Indianapolis while driving at speeds in excess of 100mph. The 1931 Marmon Sixteen on offer here joined the Browning Collection in 1988. A plaque accompanying the car indicates the following prior owners: Stancroft, Waters, Torrence, Coskey, Rossetti and Miller. Overall, the Marmon is in very fine condition. We understand that the frame off restoration was executed in 1981. The nearly twenty year old restoration appears to have held up quite well as the car still shows beautifully. Attesting to its quality, the Marmon on offer here was awarded a Senior National First Prize from the Antique Automobile Club of America. The paintwork is good, the brightwork, including the beautiful deco-style chromed radiator shell, is also in excellent condition. The tan cloth interior appears excellent and has been very well maintained while in the Browning Collection. The pine green paintwork has darker green belting pinstriped with a light mint green matched to the chassis and running gear. The Marmon is fitted with C.M. Hall Depress Beam headlamps, color matched painted wire wheels with stainless steel spokes, foldout windshield, adjustable driver's seat, sidemount spare tires with hard covers and a Jaeger eight day clock. On a recent short distance test drive, the Marmon Sixteen performed quite proficiently. V16 Marmons are regarded as among the finest driving cars from the Classic Era and are highly sought after. Of the 390 built it is reported that 75 Marmons remain in existence today. Of those 75 examples a meager 12 Close Coupled Coupes remain extant. Additionally, this lovely example with chassis number 16-149-518 appears to be one of the earliest sixteen cylinder cars still in existence, and the only other recorded earlier example is chassis 517. These impressive American masterpieces of automotive motor car design are often quite underrated and we recommend close inspection. WITHOUT RESERVE