1917 Locomobile

This 1917 Locomobile Model 48 is a seven-passenger tourer that is said to have spent time in the collection of Barney Pollard before being acquired by a founding member of the Locomobile Society. Finished in blue, the car is powered by a 525ci T-head inline-six that features a bronze crankcase, three individual cylinder castings, dual-plug ignition, and a single updraft carburetor. Additional equipment includes a four-speed manual transmission in a bronze case, a bronze steering-box housing, internally expanding and externally contracting rear drum brakes, blue-painted 25” wood-spoke wheels, a black convertible top, black leather interior upholstery, and fold-out middle-row jump seats. This Locomobile M-7 48 was purchased by the seller five years ago and is now offered with invoices from current ownership, model-related literature, and a Massachusetts title in the seller’s name. The Locomobile Company of America was founded in Massachusetts in 1899, shortly after which it moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where it shifted its focus from steam cars to gasoline-fueled vehicles. After a foray into racing that included the first win by a US marque against major international competition in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, Locomobile introduced the Type M platform in 1911. Later referred to by its rating of 48 taxable horsepower, the model remained in production through the company’s demise in 1929. Riding on a 142” wheelbase, this example’s touring body is finished in blue with black fenders and is said to have been repainted under previous ownership. Features include drum-style headlights, a body-color radiator shell, a horizontally split windshield carrying a driver-side spotlight and mirror, and a black convertible top with an oval rear window. Wood-spoke 25″ artillery wheels are finished in blue with red and white accents and host demountable rims wrapped in 35×5 Universal tires. A pair of spare rims wearing matching tires is secured to the rear of the car. Stopping is handled by pedal-actuated externally contracting bands and lever-actuated internally expanding shoes acting upon separate concentric sets of drums at the rear wheels. The left-hand-drive cabin offers seating for up to seven with front and rear bench seats and fold-out middle-row jump seats. The front seat and rear seat cushion are said to have been fitted with replacement black leather overtop the existing leather trim. Features include black carpeting in the rear compartment, ribbed vinyl floor cover under the driver’s feet, rear door pockets, a rear footrest, and a rear robe bar. An accelerator pedal from a later model was fitted in 2020 in lieu of the original central pedal. The four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a black-painted dash panel housing a drum-style speedometer, a Waltham clock, and gauges monitoring fuel level, amperage, and oil pressure. The speedometer and five-digit odometer were repaired in 2021, and the latter shows 32k miles with true mileage is unknown. A replacement Stewart speedometer swivel was installed in 2020, at which time the ammeter was replaced. The 525ci T-head inline-six features three individual monobloc cylinder castings atop a bronze crankcase, a seven-main-bearing crankshaft, twin-plug ignition, a single updraft carburetor, and an electric starter. Output was factory rated at 90 horsepower. A Bosch dual distributor was added in 2020, at which time the spark plug wires were replaced and various other wiring repairs were carried out. The battery is said to have been replaced in May 2020. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission housed in a bronze case, and service within the last two years is said to have included replacement of the gearbox fluid and rear axle fluid. Clutch repairs and adjustments were performed in 2020, and the seller notes that the clutch has limited travel. Suspension incorporates solid axles, semi-elliptical front springs, ¾-elliptical rear springs, and rear radius rods. The steering box is also housed in bronze. The seller notes various leaks from the engine, transmission, and rear axle. The Massachusetts title lists an odometer discrepancy brand, with a not-actual mileage notation.