Car Rambler Type One Surrey 1905 for sale

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Sold | $58,800 USD

An outstanding preservation-class candidate, retaining predominantly believed-original paint, upholstery, woodwork, and brass hardware
Delivered new to Homan & Schulz Co. of New York City and retained by its original family in Connecticut for more than 80 years
Powered by a 235-cid water-cooled two-cylinder engine with two-speed sliding-gear manual transmission and chain drive
Attractive olive green and black livery with folding windshield, removable surrey top, and polished brass appointments
Accompanied by copies of its original factory logbook and benefiting from a relined cone clutch and carburetor air valve replacement in 2022

Few survivors from the dawn of the American automobile industry offer such an evocative combination of patina, provenance, and preservation as this 1905 Rambler Type One Surrey. Completed in January 1905 and delivered that March to Homan & Schulz Co. of New York City, this remarkable five-passenger touring car boasts a documented ownership history spanning more than 120 years—a time capsule of Brass Era motoring preserved with extraordinary care through generations.

This Type One Surrey remained with its original owner’s family in Norwalk, Connecticut, for over eight decades, reportedly spending over half a century carefully stored in the family’s carriage house before joining the celebrated collection of early automobile enthusiast Louis Biondi, where it remained for nearly three decades. Reportedly never subjected to a comprehensive restoration, this exceptional example is believed to retain much of its original paint, upholstery, woodwork, and polished brass fittings.

Finished in an elegant olive green and black color scheme, the surrey presents with polished brass appointments, a folding windshield, removable surrey top, and the distinctive right-hand-drive layout typical of America's earliest automobiles. Brass headlamps, cowl lamps, horn, and radiator surround complement the wood-spoke artillery wheels, while its graceful proportions recall the formative years when the automobile was evolving beyond its horse-drawn carriage origins.

Power comes from a 235-cubic-inch water-cooled two-cylinder engine rated at 18 horsepower, coupled with a two-speed sliding-gear manual transmission with chain drive. In 2022, the leather cone clutch was reportedly relined and the brass carburetor air valve replaced by Bob Knaak of Orange, California. Riding on a 90-inch wheelbase, the Rambler offers a nimble, approachable character well suited to both static display and participation in early car events.

For the collector seeking an unrestored, documentation-rich example from America’s motoring infancy, this Rambler offers an exceptional entry point into the preservation class—one with a story as compelling as its condition.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.

1905 Rambler Type One Surrey | RM Sotheby's | The Hershey Auction

1905 Rambler Type One Surrey | RM Sotheby's | The Hershey Auction

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