Beschreibung:

1910 THOMAS FLYER MODEL M 6-40 TOURING Chassis No. 559 Engine No. 573 Two-tone Thomas red with black molding and tan leather interior Engine: six cylinder, bore and stroke 4 x 5, 439.92ci., 64hp at 1500rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual; Suspension: front, semi-elliptic leaf springs, rear three quarter leaf springs; Brakes: two wheel drum. Right hand drive. Like so many of his pioneering contemporaries, Erwin Ross (E. R.) Thomas was in the bicycle business prior to manufacturing automobiles. During the 1890s, E. R. was the managing director for H. A. Lozier & Co. who produced the famous Cleveland bicycle. However, he recognized the huge potential in the newly evolving automobile business and left Lozier to take over the Buffalo Automobile and Auto-Bi company, which was known for its production of bicycles and motorcycle engines. In 1990 E. R. changed the company name to Thomas Auto-Bi, and by 1901 Thomas claimed to build more air cooled motors than anyone else. E.R. had bigger things in mind though, and the first Thomas automobiles were introduced in 1903 and were small runabouts described in the catalogue as the happy medium between the cheaper and more expensive cars . By 1905 the Thomas company was building bigger four cylinder cars dubbed 'Thomas Flyers'. Thomas Flyers soon gained notoriety among the faster and more flamboyant Touring cars of their day. E. R. had an eye for flair and his huge powerful cars showed it - they were often finished in bright colors and loaded with many ornate brass accessories. The 1907 sales catalogue boasted You can't go by a Thomas Flyer, so go buy one. However, what Thomas will be remembered for most is its astounding victory of the greatest automotive competition ever to take place. In 1908 the French newspaper Le Matin sponsored 'The Great Race' from New York to Paris. The route went from New York in the dead of winter across the U.S. to San Francisco, then by ship to Alaska, down the Yukon and across the Bering Strait, either by ship or by ice to Siberia. To be sure the Yukon and the Bering Strait would be covered in ice, the race began in the winter. Many of the covered dirt trails had never been traveled by a motor car. E. R. Thomas made a last minute decision to enter a car and three days prior to the start, a stock 1907 model was selected from the factory lot. 13,341 miles and 171 days later the victorious Thomas rolled into Paris and forever cemented its place in history. The incredible performance of the Thomas boosted sales and in September of 1909, the light six Model M was introduced for the 1910 model year. The Model M was a much improved development from the previous year's Model L and shared its shaft drive layout. While sales literature called the Model M a 40 horsepower, factory charts showed these engines developed a maximum of 64 horsepower at 1,500rpm. To demonstrate the incredible flexibilty and reliabilty of the newly designed six cylinder, a Model M was taken on a demonstration run after all of its gears except high and reverse were removed from the transmission. The car was driven from Buffalo over the Berkshires, the White Mountains, the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks and back to Buffalo - all in top gear! Raymond Brown purchased this Thomas Flyer in the 1960s from David Tunnick, who had a marvellous collection himself; the car was in a very complete, yet totally unrestored condition. From photos that were taken at the time, it appears that the only major items missing were the top, fenders, head and side lamps. The body was complete and even had its original upholstery intact. Similarly the chassis retained what appears to be its original paint and lavish striping. These important details would be used as references during the restoration. Mr. Brown commissioned specialist, Larry Amesley of Chambersberg, Pennsylvania to undertake the job and an exhaustive nut and bolt restoration resulted in a National First Prize Award from the Antique Automobile Club of America.