1921 Colonial Straight Eight Four-Door Touring Sedan

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The Nethercutt Collection is one of America’s finest Automotive Museums and Collections, a masterpiece comprising over 250 perfectly restored American and European motor cars, along with a vast array of rare mechanical musical instruments and precious antique furniture. 

Maintaining a classic car collection of this size is never easy, and when it reaches the scale of our collection, it becomes increasingly more challenging. Our founder, J.B. Nethercutt said the following at age 91, “The recognition and preservation of beauty has been a major focus of my life. It would suit me well if what people remembered about me was, ‘Where he went, he left beauty behind.’” 

As a result, we have decided to part ways with a small group of cars from the collection and will do so in partnership with our friends at Hagerty Marketplace. Many of the cars we have decided to sell we have owned for in excess of 50 years, or have been in storage, not on display, or represent a tremendous opportunity as a restoration project. They are a compelling mix of pre-war examples that have been thoroughly well-cared for and that will easily find new caretakers who will undoubtedly cherish and use them as intended.  

As we say goodbye to this group of cars, we hope the occasion for their sale will introduce us to new collectors and enthusiasts, and we look forward to hosting you at the Museum and Collection in Sylmar, California, in the coming months, years and decades. 

 * * * 

This is the sole prototype built by the Mechanical Development Corporation, San Francisco, California, at a cost approaching $50,000 when new. The company financed engineer William A. Rider to produce the car. Advertising proclaimed, “A car that promises to produce a sensation equal almost to that created by the first automobile.” The 60 hp Straight Eight had an estimated sales price of $1,800, and would deliver both 28 mpg and 2,000 miles to a gallon of oil. Considering its features, the 125.5-inch wheelbase, and the car’s overall size, this seemed highly unlikely.

The Colonial, was however, likely the first straight eight-cylinder engine on the West Coast and among the first cars in America to offer four-wheel hydraulic brakes, made by Binn’s Machinery & Tool Works of San Francisco. During this time both Duesenberg and Kenworthy announced their own straight eight and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. They saw production. The Colonial did not.

Three years later, in 1924, Mechanical Development Corp. and Rider tried once more. They announced the 1921 prototype as an all-new car to be built in a $2.5 million San Francisco plant capable of producing 12,000 cars per year. This remains the only known vehicle produced.

Highlights

• Offered from The Nethercutt Collection

• Formerly part of the Harrah Collection

• One-off prototype

• 60 hp in-line eight-cylinder engine

• Four-wheel hydraulic brakes

• Incredible survivor automobile

Features

• Original upholstery and carpeting

• Covered dual side mount spare tires

• Disc wheels

• Oil cooler

• Electric horn

• Bullet cowl lamps

• Twin Zenith carburetors

• Moto meter

• Headlight restoration has begun

• Nickel finishes throughout

• California top with unique window system including twin divider rear glass

• Wind wings incorporated

• Rear courtesy lamps

• Vinyl rear trunk cover

• DeDion independent rear suspension

• Unique ignition driven from rear of motor

• Cigar lighter

• Original tires

• Dentil-type running board moldings

• Unique cylinder-type rear taillight

• Dual exhaust

• Stirrup door handles

Known Imperfections

• Original throughout and never restored

Included

• Accessory rear trunk with original tools

• Harrah’s paperwork

Ownership History

Harrah's Automobile Collection, Reno, Nevada; Chester C. Hanson; D. Cameron Peck Collection; Griffin Borgeson, San Francisco, California; "Horse Trader Ed" Shapiro, San Francisco; Emma Borg Estate - Sister of C. Minzenmayer, board Director of company (probably his car)

From Cameron Richards, Vice President of The Nethercutt Collection: “Out of all the cars being offered, this one-off Colonial is by far the rarest. It is the only known Colonial to ever be produced out of San Francisco. It would be a true dream to see this car purchased and restored back to its very rare, former glory. This is my favorite car that is listed.”

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

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