1914 Peerless Model 48 Town Car
Coachwork by Kimball

Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia Auction|7 October 2019, 13:00 EDT|Philadelphia, Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

1914 Peerless Model 48 Town Car
Coachwork by Kimball
Chassis no. 142276

612ci Inline 6-Cylinder Engine (see text)
T-head with Three Valves per-Cylinder
110bhp
4-Speed Transmission
Semi Elliptic Springs Front ¾ Elliptic Rear

*A remarkable early automobile
*Period engine swap
*High quality Coachwork

THE PEERLESS

Peerless started in Cincinnati in 1874 as a manufacturer of clothes wringers, clothespins, and washboards. It was an immediate success. So much so that only fifteen years later it had grown to point where it needed larger facilities and access to shipping that Cincinnati at the time could not offer. Combining with the Mercantile Manufacturing Company in Cleveland, the new organization became the Peerless Manufacturing Company.

Peerless was the world leader in laundry equipment, not only shipping its products from its new base in Cleveland but also licensing its designs and name to manufacturers outside North America. Only two years after moving to Cleveland, Peerless perceived new opportunities in bicycles and expanded into the booming field starting in 1891. Success followed but in 1900 it became obvious to the alert Peerless management, then headed by Lewis H. Kittredge, that the boom in bicycles was over.

The new opportunity was in automobiles. Louis P. Mooers was the man the agile managers at Peerless chose to realize this change. Peerless licensed DeDion Bouton designs, building both tricycles and 4-wheeled motorettes with single cylinder DeDion engines. Mooers quickly moved beyond the lightweight DeDion machines, designing a vertical inline two-cylinder engine with the engine in front of the driver and rear wheel shaft drive.

As the company grew, a refined line of exceptional motor cars in 30, 48 and 60 horse power were offered and helped establish the reputation as one of the finest American automobiles.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This elegant and magnificent motorcar has a secret. Its bone stock exterior hides the fact that lurking under its hood is an Ahrens Fox engine rated at 110hp (more than doubling the original units output). The melding of one of the finest American motorcars with the engine from the greatest of all fire apparatus makes a fascinating machine.

Both companies were the pride of Ohio, and some historians speculate this may have been owned by an Ahrens Fox executive or the company itself. The engine does not have a number consistent with fire engine production giving proof that it may have been supplied new for this Peerless.

The "J" engine is considered by Fox aficionados to be their masterpiece of engineering. Employing the three-valve per-cylinder T-head design Fox was famous for but cast in pairs in this application. These engines are noted for their exceptional smoothness and tremendous power.

The car is bodied by the famed Kimabll Company of Chicago with elegant town car coachwork. Kimball specialized in high quality formal coach work for those clients who could afford it. Perfectly proportioned with the long and low hood of the Peerless. The car survives in largely original condition and has seen maybe a respray some years ago. The interior is all original though showing its age it does give a great feel for the quality of this motorcar.

An imposing and magnificent motor car this Peerless is a joy to behold but one can't help think what great fun it would be back on the road. On a brass car tour imagine the ultimate high powered sleeper that should be able to roll with the best of them.

Additional information

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