1916 Owen Magnetic O-36 Touring Chassis

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

It’s said nothing is new under the sun; the Owen Magnetic is proof. Manufactured between 1915 and 1922—in New York, Cleveland, and later Wilkes‑Barre—the Owen Magnetic was one of the most advanced automobiles of its era.

The heart of every Owen Magnetic was the remarkable electromagnetic transmission created by engineer Justus B. Entz. His patented system blended a gasoline engine with a generator and an electric traction motor, eliminating the need for clutching or gear shifting. Drivers controlled speed through a rheostat rather than traditional mechanical gears, achieving an unusually smooth and silent driving experience. The 1916 O‑36 rode on a 136‑inch wheelbase and originally sold for $3,750 as a four‑passenger touring car.

Decades ahead of its time, the Owen Magnetic also introduced regenerative braking: with a simple cockpit lever, the traction motor became a generator during deceleration. Only 156 Owens were built in 1916, and few survive today. This 1916 O‑36 Touring Chassis, built during the company’s first year in Cleveland, was rescued from a barn in Alabama, requiring a full restoration.

This 1916 Owen Magnetic O-36 Touring Chassis is now represented at no reserve by a Broad Arrow Specialist with a clean Florida title in the current owner's name.

Highlights

• Offered from the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

• Just 156 built in 1916

• Pioneer gas/electric hybrid engineering

• Rebuilt electric traction motor

Factory Equipment

• Series‑Hybrid Drivetrain including:

  • Inline-six engine producing 34 hp

  • Electromagnetic transmission with regenerative braking

  • Electric traction motor

  • 24-volt generator

  • Electric starting mode

  • Rear‑wheel drive

Servicing & Documentation

• This 1916 Owen Magnetic O-36 Touring has been maintained by the museum’s dedicated restoration team to ensure it remains clean and “road ready.”

• Rebuilt generator, a rare working example

• February 2026: Rebuilt electric traction motor

Ownership History

This 1916 Owen Magnetic O-36 Touring is offered from the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum.

Additional Information

A Broad Arrow Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the seller of this listing. As such, the purchase transaction will be facilitated by Broad Arrow, including vehicle payment, applicable taxes required to be collected by the seller or Broad Arrow, and title/ownership reassignment. Broad Arrow is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Donnie Gould Phone: 954.647.0779 Email: dgould@hagerty.com