Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 92 ¤
1921 Velie Model 34 Touring Chassis no. 74133 Engine no. 1347R15719
Sold for US$12,320 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 92¤
From the Minden Automotive Museum
1921 Velie Model 34 Touring
1921 Velie Model 34 Touring
1921 Velie Model 34 Touring
Chassis no. 74133
Engine no. 1347R15719
Chassis no. 74133
Engine no. 1347R15719
195.6ci Continental L-Head Straight-Six
Single Updraft Carburetor
37bhp at 2400rpm
Three-Speed Sliding Gear Manual Gearbox
Live Axles with Front and Rear Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Rear Wheel Externally Contracting Drum Brakes
*One of only 230 Velies believed to survive today
*Acquired by the Minden Automobile Museum nearly 60 years ago
*Believed to have been sold new in Denver
*A unique and rare machine
THE VELIE MOTOR COMPANY
The Velie Motor Company, hailing from Molline, Illinois, was founded in 1908 by a grandson of John Deere: Willard Velie. In 1911 Velie would also go on to build commercial trucks. Part of Velie's mission statement was to not just be an assembler, like many brands of the day, but to "produce every important part". By 1910 Velie had hit the significant mark of 1000 cars produced. The Velie Motor Company would also compete in early motorsport with a Velie achieving 17th overall at the inaugural Indy 500. By 1920 a new model for Velie was introduced: a Model 34 five-passenger touring, on a short 112-inch wheelbase and powered by a 37-hp Falls six-cylinder engine and fitted with a price tag of $1,385. Velie's peak production year was 1920, during which they made about 9000 vehicles, nearly double their average of about 5,000 cars a year. Quite sadly both the founder and his son died, in October 1928 and March 1929 respectively, and the company was out of business. Today, it is believed only a scarce 230 Velie's are known to survive.
THE CAR OFFERED
This 1921 Velie Model 34 Touring has been a part of The Minden Automotive Museum since 1967. Ted Bacon acquired the Velie for the museum from a Parke-Bernet Galleries car auction along with, a 1916 Chalmers, a 1917 Liberty, and a 1917 Reo. Dealer plates affixed to the dashboard indicate that the car may have been sold new by H. H. Heiser of Denver Colorado. H. H. Heiser were the most eminent saddle and holster makers of the American West. If Colt won the West, Heiser holstered the West. In 1915, H.H. Heiser won the contract to sell both Velie Automobiles and Trucks, perhaps reading the writing on the wall for the adoption of the automobile from horses and saddles. Curiously, the H. H. Heiser Automobile Company offered every Velie Purchaser free service on their Velie, only if brought to their service garage. Additionally, affixed to the dash is a Motor Club of Colorado license from 1926, further lending credence to this Velie having early history in Colorado. The Velie wears a 60-year-old restoration dating from before Mr. Bacon's acquisition that still holds up remarkably well, likely the carefully kept lacquer paint. Fitted with a compliment of foul weather gear, likely to brace against the winter snows of Colorado and Nevada, as well as many other original fixtures such as its octagonal headlights and distinctive angular grill. This Velie has a lovely presented Continental 6 that is as clean and honest as the rest of the car, lending to the belief that this is likely a straightforward recommissioning project. Sure to bring miles of smiles to its next custodian, hopefully to even find itself turning a wheel down Denver's Wynkoop Street once again.
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| ¤ | No Reserve |
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