Beschreibung:

389ci OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine Single Pope Hartford Carburetor - Bosch "Twin Spark" Magneto 50bhp 3-Speed Sliding-Gear Transmission 2-Wheel mechanical Brakes (see text) THE POPE-HARTFORD Col. Albert Pope was one of the celebrated industrialists of the post civil war era, having created a highly successful bicycle empire that benefitted from the enormous bike craze of the late 1800s. By the end of the decade, Pope had consolidated over 40 bicycle manufacturers into his American Bicycle Company. The skill set and manufacturing capability of these companies gave Pope a strong basis to enter automobile manufacturing. Having seen that the bicycle craze would be supplanted by Automobiles, Pope began in the 1890s with the Columbia automobile. Primarily an electric car, it gave Pope a toehold in the new market. The Pope automobile empire would eventually include numerous brands including Pope-Tribune, Pope-Toledo, Pope-Robinson, Pope-Waverley and the most enduring, Pope-Hartford. The Pope-Hartford would be the only Pope brand built in the city of the company's headquarters in Hartford, Ct. Begun in 1904 with a single cylinder car, the brand built its first four in 1906 and the fours would be the engine that ultimately built the brands reputation. Pope-Hartford gained a reputation for being a reliable, well made and soundly engineered automobile. With the exception of the unusual-for-the-time overhead valve engine the cars were conservatively designed and that was no doubt a key to their reputation for durability. Pope-Hartford did participate in racing and most famously won the San Francisco "free for all" in 1909 with a 40hp model. The event celebrated the 300th anniversary of Don Gaspar de Portola's discovery of the bay. The success at this event gave name to the body style Pope is most famous for the "Portola Roadster". Today few brass car brands enjoy the status Pope-Hartford does, coveted by brass car enthusiasts for their wonderful touring abilities. They are reliable, powerful, good –looking, and not too big. The late cars have the benefit of a four-speed transmissions and electric starting. Pope-Hartford is one of the only brass era marques that enjoys its own exclusive tour – the Pope Tour. THE MOTORCAR OFFERED A well-known long time member of the Bothwell collection and clearly one of the favorite cars, this Pope is pictured over and over in early car magazines. A favorite of contemporary racing drivers who all wanted a chance to drive this potent machine. More than likely a converted road car – though Popes like this one were raced with good success in California, it has been in this configuration since well before WWII. Mechanically the car is quite proper and unmolested. The impossibly rare Pope Carburetor is present as is the highly desirable twin-spark Bosch magneto. The original carburetor chimney system also seems to be present, and the radiator sports its distinctive original core. Wearing what is likely a 1960s paint job and earlier upholstery the Pope has a pleasing amount of age that give the car a real feel of authenticity. Whether this Pope started life this way there is no disputing the cars good looks and sporting character. The phrase it looks fast standing still applies in this case. Certainly, one of the stars of the Bothwell racer collection seldom do you find a car of this configuration with such a potent engine from a pedigree brand. It would certainly prove a tremendously exciting machine to tear down a country road with the boom of that big four echoing off the road.