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Photograph credit: James Mann/Classic & Sportscar
The New York Auto Show
Details
The New York Auto Show
1925 RICKENBACKER SUPER SPORT
Chassis No. 7
Dark brown over beige with copper plated detailing and brown leather interior
Engine: straight eight, L head, dual ignition, dual carburetor, 4,400cc., 105bhp at 3,000rpm; Gearbox: three-speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic front and rear; Brakes: four wheel mechanical drum. Left hand drive.
No story about the Rickenbacker automobile would be complete without understanding its namesake, Eddie Rickenbacker. Racer, flyboy, pilot and original all-American hero, his exploits are legendary. Born in 1891, by 1906 the flamboyant teenager was a riding mechanic in the Frayer-Miller factory team entry at the Vanderbilt Cup races on Long Island. He subsequently made his racing debut at Red Oak four years later, piloting a lightweight Frazer-Columbus machine, followed by a drive in the Red Wing Special in a 100-mile challenge against Barney Oldfield's Knox. This was followed in 1911 by a co-drive with Frayer at that year's Indy 500, the pair finishing 11th overall having witnessed an horrific accident in front of them during the race. (Rickenbacker was in fact destined later to own the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1927-1945). By that time motor racing was firmly in his blood and 'Fast Eddie' as he had become known joined Duesenberg for two years, then moved to Peugeot and finally to Maxwell where Barney Oldfield was his teammate. He earned a reputation as a shrewd race strategist and was sometimes billed by promoters as Baron von Rickenbacher (sic) the Prussian nobleman.
His racing successes included defeating Ralph DePalma who was driving a powerful Mercedes in Tacoma in 1916 after which he ran Duesenbergs for the Vanderbilt Cup races in Santa Monica and at Ascot Park in Los Angeles. After experience in a two-seater biplane in Riverside, CA and a subsequent visit to Brooklands circuit in Surrey, Rickenbacker 'was determined to join those brave Englishmen and fightover France' in the Great War. He joined the 94th squadron where he became the Ace of Aces. Having downed 26 enemy planes, his total was the highest of all the American pilots and he returned to the US as quite a hero. His exploits were told thousands of times in popular magazines of the day.
The popularity of Rickenbacker was the perfect match for the new line of cars that were to be produced bearing his name when in 1921 Barney Everitt, Walter Flanders, Willam Merzger and Rickenbacker formed the new Rickenbacker Auto Company. Appropriately the Hat in the Ring insignia from Capt. Eddie's flying squadron became the company emblem. By August of the following year their new model was debuted at the New York Auto Show, powered by an in-line six cylinder engine. An eight cylinder option was available featuring a second flywheel fitted on the front of the crank shaft for added smoothness. However, the most significant engineering achievement was the introduction of four wheel brakes. This was a production first for mid-priced cars, and was vehemently denounced by the competition. In fact Studebaker took out full-page advertisements claiming that four wheels brakes were not safe and could cause violent accidents if applied incorrectly. The Rickenbackers also were equipped with a unique novelty, the 'Skinner Oil Rectifier' that separated gasoline and water from the engine oil by distilling it with exhaust heat in order to prevent the oil from becoming diluted by impurities. Sales topped out at 10,000 in 1923, but dropped thereafter and, in an effort to boost sales, Barney Everitt introduced a European look for the new show car of 1925.
The car offered here, chassis no. 7, is the most exotic of all the Rickenbacker cars as it is the 1925 Show model created to revive market interest. Named the Super Sport, it was built on a narrowed standard eight chassis and is fitted with a sleek aluminum skinned boat tail coupe body. To enhance the illusion of power and speed, running boards are omitted and the wheels are covered with cycle fenders. For an aerodynamic look, it has teak bumpers shaped like an aerofoil cross section, the windscreen is shaped in a vee and the radiator is topped with a miniature monoplane mascot. Buffalo wire wheels were specially designed for the car, while inside the cabin are bucket seats, teak fittings throughout and even an ignition kill switch. However, the most striking parts of this Super Sport are the copper-plated detailing and the dramatic copper-plated bullet-shaped headlights. At the New York Auto Show, Rickenbacker turned down $10,000 for the Super Sport and eventually it ended up with the Mellin family, who later gave it to their son as a graduation present. For three decades it was stored on blocks, driven just occasionally in the summer. William Harrah tracked it down and purchased it in 1973 for his museum in Reno, Nevada. At the time the mileage was just 11,616. Later the Super Sport was sold to a Japanese collector and subsequently was purchased by the Blackhawk Collection before going to its present owner.
Currently this amazing car is in excellent condition, having undergone a through restoration, and it appears now as it did when it was the hit of the New York Auto Show. No detail has been overlooked with all of the brightwork flamboyantly re-finished in copper. The charming interior has been reupholstered using period materials of the highest quality, while the steering wheel, dash, and window sills have been refinished in natural wood with a high gloss finish.
Eddie Rickenbacker's autobiography became an instant American bestseller when it was published in 1967, and in 1973 the great hero passed away peacefully in Switzerland. The Super Sport is an integral part of his story and we are proud to be offering it for sale.
1925 RICKENBACKER SUPER SPORT
Chassis No. 7
Dark brown over beige with copper plated detailing and brown leather interior
Engine: straight eight, L head, dual ignition, dual carburetor, 4,400cc., 105bhp at 3,000rpm; Gearbox: three-speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic front and rear; Brakes: four wheel mechanical drum. Left hand drive.
No story about the Rickenbacker automobile would be complete without understanding its namesake, Eddie Rickenbacker. Racer, flyboy, pilot and original all-American hero, his exploits are legendary. Born in 1891, by 1906 the flamboyant teenager was a riding mechanic in the Frayer-Miller factory team entry at the Vanderbilt Cup races on Long Island. He subsequently made his racing debut at Red Oak four years later, piloting a lightweight Frazer-Columbus machine, followed by a drive in the Red Wing Special in a 100-mile challenge against Barney Oldfield's Knox. This was followed in 1911 by a co-drive with Frayer at that year's Indy 500, the pair finishing 11th overall having witnessed an horrific accident in front of them during the race. (Rickenbacker was in fact destined later to own the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1927-1945). By that time motor racing was firmly in his blood and 'Fast Eddie' as he had become known joined Duesenberg for two years, then moved to Peugeot and finally to Maxwell where Barney Oldfield was his teammate. He earned a reputation as a shrewd race strategist and was sometimes billed by promoters as Baron von Rickenbacher (sic) the Prussian nobleman.
His racing successes included defeating Ralph DePalma who was driving a powerful Mercedes in Tacoma in 1916 after which he ran Duesenbergs for the Vanderbilt Cup races in Santa Monica and at Ascot Park in Los Angeles. After experience in a two-seater biplane in Riverside, CA and a subsequent visit to Brooklands circuit in Surrey, Rickenbacker 'was determined to join those brave Englishmen and fightover France' in the Great War. He joined the 94th squadron where he became the Ace of Aces. Having downed 26 enemy planes, his total was the highest of all the American pilots and he returned to the US as quite a hero. His exploits were told thousands of times in popular magazines of the day.
The popularity of Rickenbacker was the perfect match for the new line of cars that were to be produced bearing his name when in 1921 Barney Everitt, Walter Flanders, Willam Merzger and Rickenbacker formed the new Rickenbacker Auto Company. Appropriately the Hat in the Ring insignia from Capt. Eddie's flying squadron became the company emblem. By August of the following year their new model was debuted at the New York Auto Show, powered by an in-line six cylinder engine. An eight cylinder option was available featuring a second flywheel fitted on the front of the crank shaft for added smoothness. However, the most significant engineering achievement was the introduction of four wheel brakes. This was a production first for mid-priced cars, and was vehemently denounced by the competition. In fact Studebaker took out full-page advertisements claiming that four wheels brakes were not safe and could cause violent accidents if applied incorrectly. The Rickenbackers also were equipped with a unique novelty, the 'Skinner Oil Rectifier' that separated gasoline and water from the engine oil by distilling it with exhaust heat in order to prevent the oil from becoming diluted by impurities. Sales topped out at 10,000 in 1923, but dropped thereafter and, in an effort to boost sales, Barney Everitt introduced a European look for the new show car of 1925.
The car offered here, chassis no. 7, is the most exotic of all the Rickenbacker cars as it is the 1925 Show model created to revive market interest. Named the Super Sport, it was built on a narrowed standard eight chassis and is fitted with a sleek aluminum skinned boat tail coupe body. To enhance the illusion of power and speed, running boards are omitted and the wheels are covered with cycle fenders. For an aerodynamic look, it has teak bumpers shaped like an aerofoil cross section, the windscreen is shaped in a vee and the radiator is topped with a miniature monoplane mascot. Buffalo wire wheels were specially designed for the car, while inside the cabin are bucket seats, teak fittings throughout and even an ignition kill switch. However, the most striking parts of this Super Sport are the copper-plated detailing and the dramatic copper-plated bullet-shaped headlights. At the New York Auto Show, Rickenbacker turned down $10,000 for the Super Sport and eventually it ended up with the Mellin family, who later gave it to their son as a graduation present. For three decades it was stored on blocks, driven just occasionally in the summer. William Harrah tracked it down and purchased it in 1973 for his museum in Reno, Nevada. At the time the mileage was just 11,616. Later the Super Sport was sold to a Japanese collector and subsequently was purchased by the Blackhawk Collection before going to its present owner.
Currently this amazing car is in excellent condition, having undergone a through restoration, and it appears now as it did when it was the hit of the New York Auto Show. No detail has been overlooked with all of the brightwork flamboyantly re-finished in copper. The charming interior has been reupholstered using period materials of the highest quality, while the steering wheel, dash, and window sills have been refinished in natural wood with a high gloss finish.
Eddie Rickenbacker's autobiography became an instant American bestseller when it was published in 1967, and in 1973 the great hero passed away peacefully in Switzerland. The Super Sport is an integral part of his story and we are proud to be offering it for sale.