Some of the finest automobiles ever produced in the 20th Century will be offered at Bonhams Scottsdale Auction 2014, scheduled for January 16th at the Westin Kierland Resort in Arizona. Leading the assembly of Brass and Nickel Era automobiles is a 1910 Simplex 50HP Toy Tonneau, the ultimate performance car of its time. With a massive and well-built four-cylinder engine (of nearly 10,000cc!) and robust dual-chain drive chassis, matched to four tall gears, this powerful, fast and comfortable machine is truly an exemplary motorcar in terms of history, engineering and collectability.
Another legendary marque, similarly coveted and renowned for its sporting prowess, is a 1920 Stutz Series H Bearcat, a car synonymous with speed and rakish good looks. Also very noteworthy is an original 1915 Packard 1-35 Twin Six 7-Passenger Touring in superb running order that’s quite possibly the best preserved of its model extant. With the exception of the top, tyres and spark plugs, this beautiful, functioning survivor remains as it left the Detroit factory nearly a century ago and has what are believed to be just 27,000 original miles. Not only is the condition of this early American luxury car remarkable but its powerful and smooth V-12 engine is so impressive that Enzo Ferrari reportedly used it as inspiration for his own cars.
Included in the sale are two other cars worthy of attention – a 1926 Kissel 6-55 Gold Bug 2-Passenger Speedster and 1910 Thomas Flyer Model 6-40 Touring. The Kissel Speedster, favoured by celebrities of the day from Amelia Earhart to Fatty Arbuckle, was the epitome of the Roaring Twenties. The Thomas Flyer, the model renowned for having won The Great Race from New York to Paris, was formerly part of the famous Harrah Collection and is just three owners from new.
