1903 Rambler Model D Light Tourer

Thomas Jeffery was in business building bicycles prior to entering the automotive marketplace. The names of the vehicles that he would produce took their name from the brank of his cycles. Jeffery built a single-cylinder car in 1897, and his son Charles built two more, considerably more sophisticated, the following year. By 1900, the Jefferys was advertising and show-casing their cars on the show circuit, visiting Chicago in September and then to the first national auto show in New York in November.

After a position reaction from the public and the press, the Jefferys sold their bicycle business to Colonel Albert Pope's American Bicycle Company and then established a factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin with the intent of building Rambler vehicles. 1902 was the first year of production for the Rambler vehicles, with sales reaching 1,500 cars. Power was from a single-cylinder engine offering 6 horsepower which was sent to the rear wheels via a two-speed planetary transmission. In the front was a solid axle with elliptic leaf springs. The back featured a live axle and full-elliptic leaf springs, along with two-wheel mechanical brakes.

This example has an older restoration with reproduction coachwork on its original chassis. It has a full leather top and leather seating.

In 2010, this Runabout was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $50,000 - $60,000 and was offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $49,500 including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010