One of the most recognizable automobiles of this era and arguably the most important of all the pioneering brands, the Thomas was the car that conquered the globe and put the American industry on the map.
For the 1906 season, all Thomas cars were built on a 118-inch wheelbase and powered by 4-cylinder, 50-horsepower engines. These were massive by comparison with many of their American contemporaries, with a huge 5½-inch bore and stroke making 522 cubic inches. Power was relayed to the road via a 4-speed gearbox and twin-sprocket-chain drive. As such, it was probably one of the most high-performance American cars available that year.
Thomas Flyers soon gained notoriety among the faster and more flamboyant touring cars of their day. They were often finished in bright colors and loaded with many ornate brass accessories. The 1907 sales catalog boasted, “You can’t go by a Thomas Flyer, so go buy one.”
The Thomas name endures and is most readily remembered for its astounding victory in one of the greatest automotive competition events, the 1908 “Great Race.” The route went from New York City (in the dead of winter), across the U.S. to San Francisco, then by ship to Alaska and across the Bering Strait to Siberia. Some 13,341 miles and 171 days later, the victorious Thomas rolled into Paris and forever cemented its place in history.
This Thomas Flyer can pride itself with some 60 years spent in its last two ownerships. The previous is one of the best-known collections ever amassed, that of William Fisk Harrah of Reno, NV. It is believed that the car was purchased by Harrah in the early 1960s. Although refurbishment was contemplated by the Harrah team, it seems that this extended to no more than a “lick” of paint in the uniform burgundy color that we see today. It is the holy grail of its brethren and believed to be one of only two 1906 examples to retain its original coachwork.
It might be common practice to state that an auction offering is a rare opportunity, but it cannot be understated when considering this wonderful automobile, not least since 4-cylinder Thomas cars are considerably rarer than other contemporary icons such as Mercers or even Simplexes.
