Maxwell, Model S Gentlemen's speedster Horseless Carriage brass automobile (1906)
Sale price: US $2,500.00 Make an Offer
| Condition: | Seller notes: |
| Year: | 1906 |
| Make: | Maxwell |
| Model: | Model S |
| Vehicle Title: | Clean |
| Mileage: | 100000 |
Gerrardstown, West Virginia, United States
Vehicle description
PLEASE READ EVERY WORD before bidding or asking questions.
Up for auction is a 1906 Maxwell Model S "Gentlemen"s Speedster". This is a very rare car. To our knowledge, this is the only known and confirmed "Model S" in existence. I bought it over a year ago to document and study for inclusion in David McCreadie"s Maxwell 2-cylinder book. However, I have several other cars I am buried under so I am not up to restoring this gem. . and that is what it deserves. So, I have decided to pass it along to someone who has the time to do it.
The car is very correct and complete. Since I purchased it in 2020, I have gathered parts to make it correct. The only thing it is missing is the tail lamp. The differential is a hybrid of some early year with Maxwell outer axle housings welded in place. I have purchased the correct "no rivet" rear housing and have the innards to go with it. I also purchased the correct 1906/07 Splitdorf coil assembly. It is in working condition and has been restored, but I would give it a final sanding and clear coat. But it"s all there and in great shape. The engine is the correct early 1905/06 4-inch bore with round flange jugs. It turns over and has compression. The jugs were cracked and need to be repaired which is typical on these cars. The crankcase looks good and does not appear to have any cracks that I can find. The driveshaft is correct and complete. The radiator looks to be good and is the correct briscoe unit. The front axle assembly is the correct unit with tie rod ends that have brass screws for oil plugs. This is correct until 08. The leaf springs (both front and rear) are correct and have the correct large high head nuts and bolts holding them in place. The body is original and will need some work but it"s all there along with the brass sill plates. Oiler tank and dripper are the correct Essex components. The rear deck is wood and you can see the screw holes for the brass rail. The rail in the picture is a home-made unit and wrong. This car had the rail with 5 stanchions. Early photo"s show rails with both 5 or 7 stanchions. . anyway, this one had five as shown in the old photo I"ve included. The nuts and bolts on this car are correct, thick, high-head nuts and bolts. The screws holding the side lamp brackets and the coil assembly are correct 1/4-20 with 1/2 inch square nuts. This is correct for early cars as opposed to the newer nuts that are 7/16 across the flats.
The frame has had some repairs. Someone added angle iron along the bottom edge for strength. You can see where it has had some repairs but this is fixable and the angle iron can be removed. I replaced all the wood under the gas tank and seat riser with correct oak planking like originally came from the factory. The upper seat is not ironed for a top and this is correct for the Gentlemen"s speedster. The upholstery is in great shape but is not correct. It"s a vinyl and this car should have leather. The wheels are correct Maxwell wheels and hubs and are good for rollers and for maybe putting around at a very slow speeds if you choose to get it running before restoring it. The same with the tires. However, the tires and tubes have held air for the last year so no problem moving it around or driving it at very slow speeds. The brakes are the correct early style Maxwell drum brakes
I have the geneology on the owners of this car going back to 1925 so it is pretty well documented. This is a great car and will make an award-winning AACA show car if you take your time and do it right. I have a very reasonable reserve for such a rare, complete early brass car. Please feel free to ask questions and I will respond promptly and with detail or other pics.
TERMS: I will communicate via the ebay messenger service. If you have a question, click the "Contact Seller" button and peck out your questions. I don"t want to talk on the phone. It may be a pain for you if you can"t type, but this way, we both have a copy of the communication for our records. I will reply promptly and clearly, Payment is required within 7 days of auction end in the form of Cash at pick up OR by bank wire transfer. I WILL NOT take any other form of payment. I will store the car for you for up to 30 days while you make your arrangements. But you need to submit full payment within 7 days of the auction end regardless of when you pick it up. This car was never titled so it is sold with a NOTARIZED bill of sale only. You will also get a copy of all the paperwork from prior owners (and the notarized bill of sale I got when I bought it) to help with traceability. Titling it is up to you. Shipping arrangements are also up to you. Please note, that my driveway can only handle a pickup truck and car trailer, with the trailer being no longer than 28 feet. I live on a mountain in West Virginia (2 hours west of Washington DC) so you can’t get a semi up my driveway. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I communicate quickly and clearly. Good luck!
Up for auction is a 1906 Maxwell Model S "Gentlemen"s Speedster". This is a very rare car. To our knowledge, this is the only known and confirmed "Model S" in existence. I bought it over a year ago to document and study for inclusion in David McCreadie"s Maxwell 2-cylinder book. However, I have several other cars I am buried under so I am not up to restoring this gem. . and that is what it deserves. So, I have decided to pass it along to someone who has the time to do it.
The car is very correct and complete. Since I purchased it in 2020, I have gathered parts to make it correct. The only thing it is missing is the tail lamp. The differential is a hybrid of some early year with Maxwell outer axle housings welded in place. I have purchased the correct "no rivet" rear housing and have the innards to go with it. I also purchased the correct 1906/07 Splitdorf coil assembly. It is in working condition and has been restored, but I would give it a final sanding and clear coat. But it"s all there and in great shape. The engine is the correct early 1905/06 4-inch bore with round flange jugs. It turns over and has compression. The jugs were cracked and need to be repaired which is typical on these cars. The crankcase looks good and does not appear to have any cracks that I can find. The driveshaft is correct and complete. The radiator looks to be good and is the correct briscoe unit. The front axle assembly is the correct unit with tie rod ends that have brass screws for oil plugs. This is correct until 08. The leaf springs (both front and rear) are correct and have the correct large high head nuts and bolts holding them in place. The body is original and will need some work but it"s all there along with the brass sill plates. Oiler tank and dripper are the correct Essex components. The rear deck is wood and you can see the screw holes for the brass rail. The rail in the picture is a home-made unit and wrong. This car had the rail with 5 stanchions. Early photo"s show rails with both 5 or 7 stanchions. . anyway, this one had five as shown in the old photo I"ve included. The nuts and bolts on this car are correct, thick, high-head nuts and bolts. The screws holding the side lamp brackets and the coil assembly are correct 1/4-20 with 1/2 inch square nuts. This is correct for early cars as opposed to the newer nuts that are 7/16 across the flats.
The frame has had some repairs. Someone added angle iron along the bottom edge for strength. You can see where it has had some repairs but this is fixable and the angle iron can be removed. I replaced all the wood under the gas tank and seat riser with correct oak planking like originally came from the factory. The upper seat is not ironed for a top and this is correct for the Gentlemen"s speedster. The upholstery is in great shape but is not correct. It"s a vinyl and this car should have leather. The wheels are correct Maxwell wheels and hubs and are good for rollers and for maybe putting around at a very slow speeds if you choose to get it running before restoring it. The same with the tires. However, the tires and tubes have held air for the last year so no problem moving it around or driving it at very slow speeds. The brakes are the correct early style Maxwell drum brakes
I have the geneology on the owners of this car going back to 1925 so it is pretty well documented. This is a great car and will make an award-winning AACA show car if you take your time and do it right. I have a very reasonable reserve for such a rare, complete early brass car. Please feel free to ask questions and I will respond promptly and with detail or other pics.
TERMS: I will communicate via the ebay messenger service. If you have a question, click the "Contact Seller" button and peck out your questions. I don"t want to talk on the phone. It may be a pain for you if you can"t type, but this way, we both have a copy of the communication for our records. I will reply promptly and clearly, Payment is required within 7 days of auction end in the form of Cash at pick up OR by bank wire transfer. I WILL NOT take any other form of payment. I will store the car for you for up to 30 days while you make your arrangements. But you need to submit full payment within 7 days of the auction end regardless of when you pick it up. This car was never titled so it is sold with a NOTARIZED bill of sale only. You will also get a copy of all the paperwork from prior owners (and the notarized bill of sale I got when I bought it) to help with traceability. Titling it is up to you. Shipping arrangements are also up to you. Please note, that my driveway can only handle a pickup truck and car trailer, with the trailer being no longer than 28 feet. I live on a mountain in West Virginia (2 hours west of Washington DC) so you can’t get a semi up my driveway. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I communicate quickly and clearly. Good luck!