This 1911 Rambler Model 65 Seven-Passenger Touring, Lot 67, sold for $275,000, including buyer’s premium, at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island, FL, sale on March 9, 2012.
Cars like this Rambler are very hard to come by. Why? Because although this one is now 101 years old, it’s also still pretty original throughout. And it was fairly rare in its own time as well. It’s thought to possibly be the only wide-track Rambler Model 65 ever built.
Desired option or Achilles’ heel?
This striking Rambler was originally equipped with massive 40-inch-by-5-inch tires necessary for traveling the heavily rutted rural Texas roads of its day. In many cases, these were little more than trails beaten down by horse-drawn wagons, which happened to generally have wide tracks. So the large wheels and wide stance were perfect for the first buyer’s needs — these features kept the car from getting stuck, and it likely made things a little more comfortable than they might have been with smaller-diameter rims or more narrow axles.
But those wheels ultimately caused this Rambler to be parked relatively early in its life. The lack of availability of 40-inch replacement tires was a real problem — so much so that it necessitated the early retirement of the car. But in retrospect, that was a saving grace here, as when the car was uncovered many decades later, it was very complete, even retaining its original Laredo license plate.
Perfection in restoration
The restoration of the Rambler was complicated by the initial shop closing its doors. The subsequent restorer realized that the original (and quite rare) brass headlamps were missing. Fortunately, they were discovered in an unmarked box in the initial restorer’s now-closed facility. The Rambler was then restored to perfection, with every component disassembled and precisely restored. The acetylene headlamps and kerosene/electric running lights are in proper working order, and the original coil box was rebuilt in Europe.
The convertible top has never been lowered, which resulted in a deduction when the car was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2008. The judges noted that the leather straps used for securing the lowered top did not have perforations for buckling the top, as the owner had never intended for it to be lowered. The Rambler did, however, go on to win a coveted class award.
Today, the Rambler Model 65 rides on smaller, more conventional wheels, although the original 40-inch wheels, which are marked “Coca-Cola,” were included with the sale.
Custom tires were sourced in Germany, and the wood wheels currently fitted have been restored. The radiator has also been slightly modified, and a 12-volt starter was installed.
A frequent auction flier
Since the Rambler was restored in 2008, it has been heavily marketed. It was frequently listed on eBay, with one seller looking for close to seven figures. It was reported as sold at Kruse International’s January 2009 Phoenix sale for $1,620,000. This was at the time, however, when the Kruse Auction empire was imploding, and few put much credence in their reports. In May of 2010, it was again offered by Worldwide Auctioneers at their Houston Classic sale, where it was a no-sale at $210,000. It was subsequently sold privately and was displayed at the LeMay Museum’s Club Auto in Denver.
Interest in higher-horsepower Brass Era cars continues unabated, as tours and other related activities fuel the market. A seven-figure price for this Rambler Model 65 is certainly not realistic in this market — that’s Duesenberg money — but the price realized at the Gooding and Company sale is. After all, it’s the only known example of a top-level early Rambler, it’s had a stunning restoration, and the Coca-Cola history makes the car a wonderful concours entrant. And at its core, it’s still a great touring car, just like it was back when it was new. At $275k, call it both well bought and sold
