24th Apr, 2014 15:10

Imperial War Museum Duxford

 
  Lot 48
 

1923 Marmon Model 34B 2-Passenger Speedster

Sold for £54,000

(including buyers premium)


Lot details
Registration No: LE 7464
Chassis No: 2230091
Mot Expiry: Exempt

Considerably lighter / more agile than the equivalent Stutz, Packard or Cadillac, the Marmon Model 34B made extensive use of aluminium for its 5.5-litre straight-six OHV engine, gearbox casing, differential housing and bodywork etc. Chosen to provide the pace car for the 1920 Indianapolis 500, Marmon had an example of its newcomer clothed by the Hume Body Corp of New York as a rakish `bee tailed' Speedster. Entrusted to Barney Oldfield (who had secured Marmon's famous 1911 Indy victory), the resultant two-seater lapped the world famous oval at over 80mph before easing into the pits. A suitably smitten Oldfield then drove it coast-to-coast across America eight times (to promote a tyre range bearing his name), while Marmon became the first manufacturer to offer replicas of an Indianapolis 500 pace car by putting the Model 34B 2-Passenger Speedster into production.

One of just six survivors known to the Marmon Club (from the 170 1923 Model 34B 2-Passenger Speedsters made), chassis 2230091 was sold by C.E. Valentine Junior of Michigan to renowned UK collector Colin Crabbe in June 1973. Passing to garagiste Roy Middleton of Potters Bar the following year for £8,500, the Marmon was subsequently upgraded with front-wheel brakes (via the adoption of a modified 1928 Sunbeam 3-Litre front axle) before appearing in the TV series `Reilly, Ace of Spies' and `Jeeves and Wooster'. Relinquished by the Middleton family to an associate of the Minardi F1 team in 2001, `LE 7464' entered the current ownership that same year. Presenting as an older restoration, the two-seater is described by the vendor as being in `good overall' condition with regard to its engine, three-speed gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, bodywork and paintwork. Benefiting from new batteries, this ultra rare Marmon is offered for sale with green logbook, detachable tan hood (not illustrated), assorted Marmon literature and owner's manual.
 

All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.

You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:

               

Auction: Imperial War Museum Duxford, 24th Apr, 2014

View all lots in this sale

Do you have an item to sell?

If so, contact one of our friendly specialists for your free valuation by completing the form below and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.

If you prefer to speak to humans, don't hesitate to call our office on +44 (0)1925 210035

Contact Us Today!

 

Images

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.


Turning the Page: A New Chapter for H&H Classics
Goon, Goon, Gone: Unique Peter Sellers 1960 Bentley heads to auction
Eclectic 150-plus classic car auction helps round out H&H’s milestone 30th year celebrations
One of the UK’s best driving Aston Martin DB5s heads to auction
Mid-century sports car icons race to Buxton auction
Former front cover ‘star’ heads to auction
Classic British motorcycles shine as 230 lots head to the National Motorcycle Museum auction
Racing legend Patsy Burt's Jaguar XK120 speeds to Buxton auction
22-strong single owner classic motorcycle collection heads to auction
Norton's racing heritage set to ignite the auction stage
Rare Frazer-Nash BMW with rich racing history to be auctioned
“The Rolls-Royce” of the motorcycle world, heads to      auction
Martini inspired Porsche 911 ‘RSR’ Tribute to head under the hammer
Rare ‘Car on Two Wheels’ heads to auction for the first time in 30 years
More than 100 classics sold in H&H’s 30th anniversary sale
Stunning classics worth more than £9 million offered in 30th anniversary auction
Rare Aston Martin DB1 heads to anniversary auction from long-term ownership
Rare Bentleys to star in 30th celebration auction
H&H Classics 30th Anniversary Auction
H&H unveils details of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Classic car owners handed ULEZ lifeline
H&H Classics auction Hurricane X-75 Prototype to National Motorcycle Museum
Vintage and modern classics lead the way at latest H&H sale
H&H offers exceptional range of vehicles spanning 11 individual decades
Pavilion Gardens. Wednesday 26th July 2023
A whimsical blast from the past: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang recreation heads to auction
From Italy with love: auction showcasing the essence of Italian design and sprezzatura
250 Motorcycles & Vintage Scooters Set To Go Under The Hammer!
March of the Mods: Lambretta owned by Paul Weller heads to auction
Lawbreakers to law enforcers: historic scooters with infamous connections up for sale
Jaguar SS100 among £2¼  million worth of classics sold at the Imperial War Museum
British classics to shine at H&H Classics’ sale
Historic Guinness Collection heads to auction
Browse The Catalogue Now! 135 Classic & Performance Cars To Go Under The Hammer.
Robbie Savage’s Ferrari F430 to be sold at H&H Classics
RAC Rally winning ‘Jaguar’ to be sold at auction
Former MP’s Bentley and Facel Vega ‘garage find’ among £1.3m worth of classics hammered away by H&H
Pavilion Gardens, Buxton Auction Preview Video
Genuine ‘matching numbers’ 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback among 89 strong classic car auction
Rare Facel Vega ‘garage find’ heads to auction
Indian 4 and Lambretta DL200
Golden opportunity to acquire famous limited edition Italjet scooter
H&H Classics commences landmark year with sale of 121 cars
‘Brand new’ Porsche 911 heading to auction after 21 years
Brooklands race winning Bentley to go under the hammer
Actor, Sir Michael Caine’s first car, heads to auction. £100,000 - £150,000
A Very Rare Survivor. A 1936 Indian Four. £50,000 - £60,000
A Car that will Unite Romantics and Cynics Alike. A 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Limousine