25th Jul, 2007 0:00
Kempton Park Racecourse
1924 Marmon Special Racecar Big 6
Estimated at £20,000 - £25,000
Lot details
Registration No: UN-REG
Chassis No: 7231
Mot Expiry: None
Chief test engineer for the company that bore his surname, Franklin Hall Marmon was killed on October 11th 1924 when the two-seater roadster he was driving hit some loose gravel and overturned. Equipped with a new braking system developed by his uncle Howard Marmon (the man responsible for the marque's Indy 500 winning 'Wasp' racer and fabulous V16 luxury express), the damaged prototype was duly recovered to the works. However, its fate thereafter remains uncertain. While some maintain that it was scrapped (apart from its unique engine), others believe that it was sold to Ernie Endler of Kankakee, Illinois who reportedly converted it into a single-seater racer around 1928-9. Alleged to have competed at various Illinois circuits (Champaign, Winchester and Duquoisne are all mentioned as possibilities), it then apparently disappeared for forty years or so. Purchased by Don Lewis from the Art Lieberman collection in 1973, the Endler car was subjected to an eight-year rebuild. Supposedly in attendance at the 1981 Marmon Muster, it is also reputed to have won a first prize 'Restored Vintage Racer' award that same year.
Acquired by its penultimate owner Brian Nelson Jones in June 1991, he states in the car's accompanying history file that "on September 27th 1993 we learned, while attending the Mighty Marmon Muster at the Indianapolis Speedway Hotel, that this chassis is indeed the only one built; that it is the largest Marmon-6 ever produced. It features a single, in-line block, and incorporates the water jacket into the head - both items that would not be seen in Marmon production cars for years to come. Gordon Handley, author of 'The Marmon Heritage', verified that it is a prototype". However, these claims are challenged by Chic Kleptz of the Marmon Owners' Club, who recalls inspecting the car with Handley at the 1993 event to the effect that "we both decided we couldn't find anything on the car to identify it as a Marmon". Furthermore, he adds that there is another single-seater in the US that claims to be descended from the fateful 1924 roadster.
Purchased by Mr. Van Dijk for $40,650 in 1995, this vintage racer has since been fettled by Rod Jolley. Benefiting from a recent steering arm replacement (the original had been welded at some time in the past), it is said to be great fun to drive. Though, the lack of front wheel brakes supposedly makes road use somewhat exciting (its last MOT certificate expired in December 2000).
Registration No: UN-REG
Chassis No: 7231
Mot Expiry: None
Chief test engineer for the company that bore his surname, Franklin Hall Marmon was killed on October 11th 1924 when the two-seater roadster he was driving hit some loose gravel and overturned. Equipped with a new braking system developed by his uncle Howard Marmon (the man responsible for the marque's Indy 500 winning 'Wasp' racer and fabulous V16 luxury express), the damaged prototype was duly recovered to the works. However, its fate thereafter remains uncertain. While some maintain that it was scrapped (apart from its unique engine), others believe that it was sold to Ernie Endler of Kankakee, Illinois who reportedly converted it into a single-seater racer around 1928-9. Alleged to have competed at various Illinois circuits (Champaign, Winchester and Duquoisne are all mentioned as possibilities), it then apparently disappeared for forty years or so. Purchased by Don Lewis from the Art Lieberman collection in 1973, the Endler car was subjected to an eight-year rebuild. Supposedly in attendance at the 1981 Marmon Muster, it is also reputed to have won a first prize 'Restored Vintage Racer' award that same year.
Acquired by its penultimate owner Brian Nelson Jones in June 1991, he states in the car's accompanying history file that "on September 27th 1993 we learned, while attending the Mighty Marmon Muster at the Indianapolis Speedway Hotel, that this chassis is indeed the only one built; that it is the largest Marmon-6 ever produced. It features a single, in-line block, and incorporates the water jacket into the head - both items that would not be seen in Marmon production cars for years to come. Gordon Handley, author of 'The Marmon Heritage', verified that it is a prototype". However, these claims are challenged by Chic Kleptz of the Marmon Owners' Club, who recalls inspecting the car with Handley at the 1993 event to the effect that "we both decided we couldn't find anything on the car to identify it as a Marmon". Furthermore, he adds that there is another single-seater in the US that claims to be descended from the fateful 1924 roadster.
Purchased by Mr. Van Dijk for $40,650 in 1995, this vintage racer has since been fettled by Rod Jolley. Benefiting from a recent steering arm replacement (the original had been welded at some time in the past), it is said to be great fun to drive. Though, the lack of front wheel brakes supposedly makes road use somewhat exciting (its last MOT certificate expired in December 2000).
Auction: Kempton Park Racecourse, 25th Jul, 2007
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