A duo with a lot of class.
There is nothing like turn of the century American engineering. When people talk about how well-made items, especially cars, were built back in the day, what they fail to consider is that more than one hundred years later, the cars are still kicking and showing up, and also appreciating in value. Talk about aging well.
Gooding & Company’s new offerings are no exception. This August, at their Pebble Beach Auctions, a duo of beautiful yellow automobiles will steal the hearts of many. Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, will offer two cars from the Jerry S. Foley III Estate. Consignments are also still welcome for a limited amount of time to showcase your own vehicle alongside this beautiful collection.
We probably can’t put it much better than Gooding & Company founder and president David Gooding, who remarked, “The phenomenal Jerry S. Foley II Estate features the absolute pinnacle of the Brass Era with the Mercer Raceabout and the Lozier Meadowbrook, a treasure that has not been offered for sale in over six decades. These cars represent the crème de la crème of the early automotive world.” That’s quite a statement coming from someone who views a lot of cars for a living.
So if you’re not a bonafide Brass Era fanatic, let us walk you through this dynamic duo.
1913 Lozier Type 72 Meadowbrook Runabout (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000)
Way back in the 1880s, Henry Abram Lozier started the Lozier Manufacturing Company, which found monumental gain in an investment in the Cleveland bicycle. With the $4 million success, he was able to turn his attention towards motoring in the early 1900s, founding his company in Plattsburg, NY, before moving it to New York City.
The automobiles themselves were gorgeously engineered, with unprecedented stamina and styling inspired by French automakers. Not only were they exquisitely made, but also strong and enduring, unlike many of their contemporaries. In 1912, the company introduced the Type 72, which boasted left-hand drive and multi-point ignition with a 131” wheelbase. If you weren’t already aware of how exceptional this car is, allow us to remind you it’s also scarce– it hasn’t been offered for sale since 1959, when Jerry Foley himself bought it, somehow prophesying that it would be the buy of a lifetime.
1914 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $4,000,000)
Now that we’ve broken the ice with Lozier, we’ve got to include Mercer. The two go hand in hand as sumptuous American icons. To be a little reductive, the Mercer Raceabout was the brainchild of Finley Robertson Porter and industrial manufacturers who built the Brooklyn Bridge. That’s how old and cool this car is. Once they crafted the T-head Raceabout, the rest was history.
The Mercer obliterated the competition in the racing scene, going on to win the American Grand Prix.The Raceabout Mercer boasted a top speed between 70 and 80 mph. That’s pretty fast for 1914. This was no accident: it has a deliberate power-to-weight ratio, precise gear ratios, and agile handling. Though incredibly elegant, you look at it and have to admit it’s pretty minimalistic– just pure, unbridled American power. This 1914 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout is one of four known 1914 Raceabouts that survives to this day. A rare, stunning yellow bird. It’s fast, gorgeous, and has been held by Mr. Foley for over 50 years. Just hear one roar of that engine, and you would want to keep it for that long, too.
If you’re clamoring to know more about these wildly beautiful cars, the adventure does not have to end here. You can check out the Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auctions catalogue, or even register to bid here.
