Jul 8
Would this be the Locomobile Superfly edition? It’s the first car I think I’ve seen with chrome discs. Great body style.
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Reply to Hupp31…
Reply Replies (36)
· Jul 8
I think that's the only one I've seen. I forget where that's from. That's their later dual cowl body, sometimes with cape top about 1918. Al was interested in researching those. Farnham and Nelson in the Boston area was a coachbuilder and I haven't yet identified if Bridgeport Body or anyone else manufactured them. I would say the chrome wheels are a little flashy for the Boston market.... it would have made a statement.
· Jul 8
The only info on the photo was “Locomobile, 1923 Four Passenger Phaeton”.
· Jul 8
Fantastic! @johnbloom needs to see this.
· Jul 8
I’m going to ask Santa for this this year and I’m promising right now to start being good.
· Jul 8
From appearances it looks like there’s very little convertible top and it makes me think it is a “cape top” not a touring example. Consistent with dual rear spares. The first example identifies this as a 1920 and the second one 1917. Both of these cars have quite a bit of visibility on the Internet and with Locomobile fans. I’ve never seen those chrome disc wheels before.
· Jul 8
The one you posted that was identified as 1923 does not have the cowl light that my two examples show, of course that doesn’t mean too much, it could’ve been removed.
I really like this photo you posted because it shows it with the top down. Almost every photo I see with a cape top car has it up because it’s such a distinguishing element of the car. They look great with dual cowls and top down.
· Jul 8
I agree, it does look great with the top down. It’s strange how there’s very little gloss on the body of the car. Might have been a bit older when the photo was taken.
· Jul 8
Travis, is this a Detroit Library photo?
· Jul 8
Yes, it’s from the Detroit Library.
· Jul 8
Does anybody know what kind of wheels those are? Unique for such an early car?
· Jul 8
That looks like chrome which would date the picture to 1929 or 1930. My first thought was wheel covers but maybe they are actually steel disks.
· Jul 8
I think there is general agreement that the Locomobile marque with designer Frank Dost was the first to introduce a dual cowl phaeton body style. This photo hammers home the great aesthetics of that design and surely the wealthy of that day took note as they wanted to stand out from the crowd with stylish design.
· Jul 9
View of a 1923 Locomobile phaeton. Printed on front: "Apeda, N.Y. 31." Label on back: "Locomobile double cowl 4 passenger, January, 1923." Typed on back: "Locomobile, 1923. (Double cowl 4 passenger)."
Would that mean 1931? But then it says January 1923. I dunno.
· Jul 9
The car was not built in 31, but perhaps that is the date of the photograph.
· Jul 9
Based on the chrome wheels I would say the photo was late 20s or after. So 1931 makes sense.
· Jul 9
It was taken by the Apeda studio in NYC. It seems like most of the photos by that studio do not have a number afterward do I’m not sure if that refers to the year of the photo.
· Jul 9
I am by no means a Locomobile expert, but I actually think the car could be earlier than 1923. The first dual cowl phaeton was built in 1916. If it is a Bridgeport body, those front fenders were in favor in the 1914-1917 timeframe.
By the late teens, this was a more typical front fender profile
However the subject car does have a newer headlight design that didn't start to show up till about 1919.
· Jul 9
Thank you for reminding me of my dream Locomobile.
· Jul 9
That Loco is a Boss. It could pull onto a Concours lawn with significantly more expensive cars and everyone would crank their neck and start walking over to check it out.
· Jul 9
Unfortunately my taste out runs my wallet.
· Jul 9
A closer look at some of the details on the car. Does it look like those are all white or gray tires? What years would those have been in favor?
· Jul 9
One thing that you can definitely see in the closeup is the back side of the opposite wheel. They’re definitely discs and not covers.
· Jul 9
Look like dirty whites to me. And not whitewall either, full white. Good job on the blow up, those are steel wheels. Are there any other Locomobiles with steel wheels @prewarnut & @JohnBloom ?
· Jul 10
I found this phaeton on Coachbuild.com labeled as Farnham & Nelson coachwork. Same body?
· Jul 10
As is this one, which is widely known in Locomobile circles. I believe it is a 1917.
· Jul 10
beautiful car. Dick Shappy has had it for sale for a while. i took this picture in 2019.
· Jul 10
I’ve said this before in a number of places, but I spent a solid 30 minutes talking to the owner of this car seven years ago at a CCCA show. He had had it for a long time and had done the full restoration himself. himself. It was very impressive. Those are original colors, believe it or not.
· Jul 10
hood ornament?
· Jul 10
Bob Joynt, owner. You wonder why.......I suspect there was a story. He wasn't a naive guy who stumbled onto a cool car. Maybe to be provocative......? He judged at concours for 50 years.
· Jul 11
Walt G over on the the AACA identified the wheels as polished aluminum covers, possibly by Ace. Apparently some of them had inner covers, which would explain why we can’t see any spokes.
· Jul 11
They are probably Ace. Standard equipment on RR.
· Jul 11
Speaking of cape tops, possibly Locomobile?
· Jul 12
Sure looks like one to me. The running boards are a match.
· Jul 12
Note the swooping upward rear section of the body. Very unique feature.
· Jul 12
The splash apron doors with light and rear wheel spokes all say Locomobile.