• An older restoration
• Formerly part of a UK museum collection
• Sold from an Austrian collection in 2007
• Last participated in the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run in 2013

The Waltham Manufacturing Company of Waltham, Massachusetts, commenced manufacture of Orient bicycles in 1893. Its first venture into automobile making saw an electric car exhibited in 1899, though this was soon discarded in favour of imported De Dion tricycles and quadricycles. Waltham then offered its own De Dion or Aster-engined trikes and quads under the Autogo name, before starting to manufacture its own engines in 1902. The Orient name first appeared on a car that same year; the famous Buckboard following in 1903. Priced at $375, the latter was hailed by its makers as "The Cheapest Automobile in the World". There have certainly been few simpler. Essentially a tiller-steered wooden platform powered by a rear-mounted 4hp single-cylinder air-cooled engine, this austere two-seater relied for suspension movement on the flexibility of its chassis. Transmission was by means of variable-ratio friction drive.
By the summer of 1904 Waltham were offering four Orient models: the Buckboard (now priced at $425), the Tonneau car, the Surrey, and the Runabout (a 'deluxe' Buckboard). All except the Buckboard now enjoyed the benefits of leaf spring suspension all round. The steering wheel began to feature on the Orient Runabout around this time, though this example retains tiller steering.
This Orient Buckboard was restored in the 1970s and formerly belonged to a UK museum, which participated with it twice in the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run, it is believed towards the end of the 1990s (the accompanying VCC Dating Certificate was issued in 1993). In October 2007 the vehicle was sold by the Dorotheum in Salzburg, Austria at the Classic Expo event. The Orient last participated in the London-to-Brighton Run in 2013. The machine is offered with a history file containing invoices and correspondence; technical articles and drawings; copy instruction book; a selection of b/w photographs; Science Museum dating certificate; and an old UK V5 registration document.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.