- Fastidiously restored by Robinson Restorations in Pennsylvania
- Multiple Concours d'Elegance award winner
- 340-cubic-inch overhead valve inline six engine
- An outstanding CCCA Full Classic®
LOT 663
Selling on Saturday Evening
1922 Marmon Model 34B Four-Passenger Speedster
At the dawn of the 20th century, Howard Marmon, the son of founder Daniel W. Marmon, joined the company after earning an engineering degree. He began working on his first automobile as a side project in a corner of his father's workshop. Howard Marmon, a meticulous engineer, spent considerable time perfecting details such as an efficient lubrication system, which enabled his engines to sustain higher speeds than any other car of that era. His first car was successful, prompting him to continually refine and evolve his designs as he sold more automobiles.
As the automotive side of the business expanded, so did Marmon's involvement in motorsport, using it as a platform to improve their vehicles. Ray Harroun, a Marmon engineer, developed and drove their most famous racing car, the Wasp. Harroun piloted the Wasp to victory in the first Indianapolis 500 Race, setting the stage for a series of exceptional automobiles that included sporting roadsters, touring cars, and speedsters, culminating in the magnificent sixteen-cylinder cars of the 1930s.
Unfortunately, Marmon's pioneering role was short-lived, as their automobile production did not survive the Great Depression. However, the company did not disappear entirely; it evolved into Marmon-Herrington, a supplier of automotive and truck parts, as well as four-wheel-drive conversions. Today, enthusiasts recognize Marmon for its engineering brilliance, and these remarkable automobiles are highly prized collector pieces.
Inspired by the historic Wasp and equipped with a highly advanced 340-cubic-inch overhead valve inline six-cylinder engine, is this 1922 Marmon Model 34B Four-Passenger Speedster. Riding on a 135-inch wheelbase, this example wears a sporting and elegant four-door speedster body with a rakish phaeton-style folding top and laid-back windscreen. An extensive restoration was completed in 2005 by Bob Robinson of Robinson Restorations in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, who had actually owned this very car in 1956.
The subtle gray body is adorned with beautifully polished and factory-correct nickel plating on the bumpers, wheel nuts, wheel trims, mirrors, windscreen, lamps, and fittings. Also enhancing its appearance are six dark blue wheels with period-correct blackwall tires, which add an unmistakable sporting touch to the coachwork. A pair of drum-type cowl lamps echoes the large drum headlamps, all of which have been meticulously restored. Mounted to the driver's running board is a huge, fantastic vintage Spreadlight search lamp and a correct Marmon-branded Moto-Meter adorns the top of the radiator. The engine even features an on-board air compressor which can be manually engaged in an emergency, a thoughtful and brilliant touch courtesy of Howard Marmon.
Charming gray leather and carpets have been inlaid in the luxurious '20s cabin, which is accented with gorgeous wood and nickel work, all of which is reported to appear fresh. Rounding out this 34B is a dark gray canvas top, trunk cover, and side mount spare wheel covers. A winner of multiple awards at various Concours d'Elegance events, which include Hilton Head, Greenwich, and Radnor Hunt, this CCCA Full Classic® is a rare and highly desirable Marmon example that will likely be a welcomed addition to more tours and concours fields in its future.
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