597ci T-Head Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
50bhp
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Dual-Chain Final-Drive
Rear-Wheel Mechanical Brakes

*One of the ultimate big horse-power American sportscar
*An original and authentic 50hp Simplex, with known history since 1943
*Formerly owned by Alec Ulmann and Richard C. Paine
*A legendary machine to drive that has to be experienced to be believed

THE GREAT SIMPLEX

Created by the former U.S. Mercedes importer and manufacturer Smith and Mabeley in 1907, the Simplex was one of the most beautiful and potent American luxury cars of the Brass Era, and one of the few U.S. automobiles specifically and robustly built for fast highway travel. The design is heavily derived from Mercedes with the engine scaled up to an even more massive capacity. The 50HP model could easily run at 75 mph thanks to its T-head four-cylinder engine, which was a sophisticated design employing internal timing gears, pressurized lubrication, and a massive crankshaft with one ball bearing in front and two babbit bearings aft. After 1913, the firm adopted a new engine design with a longer stroke, smoothing the engine while maintaining its level of outstanding performance.

Similar to other great automobiles of this period such as the Lozier Model 51 and Mercer Raceabout, examples of the Simplex are scarce and sought-after; those who own them tend to be long-term caretakers, and they are seldom available, especially at public sale. Examples figure into the famous Collier Collection at the REVS Institute and, significantly, the Smithsonian Institution – a nod to the importance of this design to American automobile history.

No other time period has cars like this and the experience of driving one is amazing. Barreling down and open road at 65mph with a 600ci four-cylinder engine barely ticking over, drive-chains wiring, and the engine producing an exhaust sound like no other car. The Simplex encapsulates everything exciting and heroic about this era of motoring.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The "long-stroke" 50HP Simplex offered here has been owned by a "who's who" of early performance automobile enthusiasts. Photographs on file show the car back to September 18, 1943, when it was acquired from H. Jewett Orth, Jr., of Frederick, Maryland, by Alec Ulmann, the famed sportsman best-remembered as the founder of the 12-hour race at Sebring. These photos show the car to retain the cowl and fabric windshield of its original body.

New York mechanic Charlie Stich and Smith Hempstone Oliver, future curator of the Smithsonian's transportation collection, then drove the car to Washington, D.C., after which Stich continued on with it to Ulmann's in New York City. From Ulmann the chassis then passed to Colonel Ralph Earle of Haverford, Pennsylvania, from whom it was acquired by the early collector Richard C. Paine of Mount Desert Island, Maine, joining his fabulous assemblage at Seal Cove.

From Mr. Paine the car passed through the hands of a noted East Coast collector, who commissioned from restorer Temple Baldwin its present speed car body, a beautifully built to a Holbrook design with handsome curved seating that full surrounds the passengers with a deep torpedo-type cowl. It was then advertised in the pages of Hemmings Motor News. There Mr. Boulton spotted it and immediately made the phone call to buy it for his collection, some 20 years ago.

Today the car's quality restoration is well-preserved, in a rich dark plum with a matching button-tufted leather interior and beautiful maroon wheels. Unusual for a body of modern construction, this one is beautifully designed and exquisitely proportioned, emphasizing the power of the massive engine while also providing a jaunty appearance with its dual rear-mounted spares, secured by massive leather straps, aft of an oval tank and the two curved bucket seats. The overall presentation is dramatic and flamboyant, and makes this one of the true showstoppers in the Boulton fleet. It is accented by large and beautifully wrought Badger Brass Solarclypse headlamps, fed by a Prestolite acetylene tank. An original electric self-starting system negates the need to hand start this nearly 600 cubic inch beast. The engine is fed by an original and scarce Simplex carburetor. There are few other accessories; this is a purposeful machine, built for a purpose of high-speed travel.

A recent recommissioning buy Bonhams specialist found the car to be exceptionally powerful. With a taller set of final drive gears this Simplex is very comfortable at the highest legal road speeds. It was found that fourth gear was not used until 45 mph at which point it was barely at idle speed. The chassis and steering are particularly nimble and light. The brakes, never a Simplex strong point are highly effective and well sorted.

In its time, acquisition of a 50HP Simplex marked its owner as being at the peak of American automobile connoisseurship. Today the same is still true.