1912 Simplex 38 HP Four-Passenger Tourer

This 1912 Simplex Model 38 is one of approximately 200 cars built by the Simplex Automobile Company in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1912 and is a 127”-wheelbase example of the 38-horsepower model. Chassis 1150 is said to have undergone a refurbishment in the late 1980s, at which time it was fitted with four-passenger touring coachwork in the style of New York coachbuilder Holbrook before earning an AACA Senior National First Prize in 1991. The car is said to have spent several years in museum storage before receiving an additional refurbishment that was completed in 2014 by Laidlaw Restorations in Connecticut, with work including a repaint in black and the installation of a replacement black soft top. Power is provided by a 485ci T-head inline-four that features dual blocks, a single Zenith updraft carburetor, and Bosch magneto ignition and is mated to a four-speed manual transmission connected to the rear wheels via shaft drive. Additional features include externally contracting rear drum brakes, semi- and ¾-elliptical leaf springs, red-painted 26” wood wheels with demountable rims, an electric starter, acetylene headlights, a wicker storage trunk, seating for four upholstered in black tufted leather, and a Jones speedometer with a tell-tale needle. This Simplex 38 was purchased by the selling dealer one year ago and is now offered in Missouri with a tool kit and a clean Texas title. The Simplex marque was created by A.D. Proctor Smith and Carleton R. Mabley, New York City importers of European cars who began manufacturing their own vehicles under the Smith & Mabley name in 1904. After being purchased in 1907 by Herman Broesel, Sr., and renamed the Simplex Automobile Company, the firm continued to manufacture vehicles in Manhattan before opening its New Brunswick factory in 1912. Alongside the flagship Model 50 and Model 90, both chain-driven, Simplex added a 38-horsepower shaft-drive offering to its lineup in 1911. Simplex cars were offered in a variety of body configurations provided by one of several coachbuilders, and this example’s 127”-wheelbase chassis wears reproduction Holbrook-style open four-passenger coachwork that was reportedly built by Arthur Bergstrom in Illinois during the 1980s refurbishment. Previously finished in red, the body was repainted in its current shade of black with red pinstriping during the refurbishment completed by Laidlaw Restorations approximately 10 years ago. Features include rear-hinged rear doors, a two-piece windshield with a tilt-out upper section, a polished brass radiator shell, a leather hood strap, Solarclipse acetylene headlights, a kerosene tail lamp and cowl lamps, a wicker storage trunk above a wood-slat rear step plate, and a black soft top with a three-pane rear window. The headlights are not connected to a fuel source. Red-painted artillery wheels with black accents feature demountable rims wrapped in 35×4½ Universal tires, while a pair of Goodrich Silvertown spare tires are secured along the right side of the car. Stopping is handled by mechanically actuated externally contracting bands at the rear wheels. The right-hand-drive cabin houses pairs of barrel-back seats up front and at the rear upholstered in diamond-tufted black leather, while color-matched upholstery covers the rear door panels. Additional features include front and rear passenger footrests, a robe bar, right-hand shift and brake levers, and a bulb horn. The wood-spoke steering wheel carries throttle and spark controls and sits ahead of a wood dash panel that hosts a Bosch ammeter and a fuel-level gauge. A Jones 100-mph speedometer features a tell-tale needle and a five-digit odometer showing 9,700 miles. Approximately 20 miles have been added under current ownership, and total mileage is unknown. The 485ci inline-four features two monobloc castings of two cylinders each, side valves, a single Zenith updraft carburetor, a Bosch dual ignition system with a magneto and a coil, and an electric starter. Maintenance in 2023 has included an oil change, a lubrication service, and the replacement of the battery. The four-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels via a torque tube and a solid rear axle, the latter of which is sprung by ¾-elliptical leaf springs. The front suspension incorporates a solid axle and semi-elliptical leaf springs. The Texas title notes that the VIN certification has been waived.