1930 Ruxton Roadster
This 1930 Ruxton Roadster is an extremely rare automobile, as were all Ruxtons. The Ruxton also had a convoluted history regarding its rather brief production and entry into the automotive world.
Conceived in early 1926 by racing engineer, William Muller, an employee of Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. of Philadelphia the car featured innovative engineering and design. The front-wheel drive Ruxton's lack of running boards and its 19-inch disc wheels aided in its low-slung look. Many Ruxton's featured Woodlite headlights (as shown here), adding to its exotic appearance. In comparison to the Cord L-29 (also front-drive), the Ruxton's were lighter and better balanced. To achieve this balance the transmission is divided into two pieces. The lower and reverse gears are placed in front of the differential, while second and third gears are positioned behind the differential. Front wheel drive allowed the vehicle to sit lower than most cars of its day and lowering its center of gravity made it very stable at higher speed.
Archie Andrews, a member of Budd's board of directors and a Wall Street financier was fascinated by the vehicle and immediately acquired the prototype. He approached Hupmobiles with hopes of having them produce it. When negotiations fell through, Andrews decided to produce the vehicle himself. In 1929, he formed the New Era Motors Inc. He hired Muller as vice-president. Muller handled the engineering aspects while Andrews sought financial backing which he found in a New York stockbroker named William Ruxton. Andrews decided to name the automobile after his prospective financial backer but at the last minute Ruxton backed out. Ironically Andrews never received a cent from the car’s namesake.
Andrews then approached Gardner Motor Co, located in St. Louis. Just like the incident with Hupmobiles, the Gardner Motor Company showed desire but eventually pulled out of the deal. Disappointed but persistent , Andrews next approached Marmon Motor Car Company located in Indianapolis. On the day the agreement was signed, the stock market crashed and Marmon Motor Car Company rescinded the agreement. Next, Jordan, Stutz, and Pierce were approached by Andrews but none wanted to build the Ruxton. Finally, a deal was struck with the Moon Motor Car Company. By the middle of 1930, the Ruxton finally went into production.
What few Ruxton’s were produced were manufactured in part, at the Moon Motor Car facility in St. Louis, Missouri and in part, at the Kisser Motor Company in Hartford, Wisconsin.
The 1930 Ruxton Roadster was powered by a Continental 4.4 liter side-valve, straight-eight cylinder engine capable of producing 100 horsepower.
Despite the Ruxton's innovative and quality engineering and design features, the car was doomed from the start; the demise of the economy due to the Great Depression plus the lack of an established dealer-network meant only a handful would ever be created. It is unknown exactly how many examples were created, though it is believed that around 500 were created. Other estimates put that number much lower, at around 100. In modern times, fewer than ten are known to exist.
Andrew Adler of Millbury, Ohio, owned this example for over 50 years. Several years ago the Adler estate donated the car to the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Automobile Museum were it now resides.
Source (in part): www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13497/Ruxton-Model-C.aspx.aspx
Hope you enjoy........
1930 Ruxton Roadster
This 1930 Ruxton Roadster is an extremely rare automobile, as were all Ruxtons. The Ruxton also had a convoluted history regarding its rather brief production and entry into the automotive world.
Conceived in early 1926 by racing engineer, William Muller, an employee of Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. of Philadelphia the car featured innovative engineering and design. The front-wheel drive Ruxton's lack of running boards and its 19-inch disc wheels aided in its low-slung look. Many Ruxton's featured Woodlite headlights (as shown here), adding to its exotic appearance. In comparison to the Cord L-29 (also front-drive), the Ruxton's were lighter and better balanced. To achieve this balance the transmission is divided into two pieces. The lower and reverse gears are placed in front of the differential, while second and third gears are positioned behind the differential. Front wheel drive allowed the vehicle to sit lower than most cars of its day and lowering its center of gravity made it very stable at higher speed.
Archie Andrews, a member of Budd's board of directors and a Wall Street financier was fascinated by the vehicle and immediately acquired the prototype. He approached Hupmobiles with hopes of having them produce it. When negotiations fell through, Andrews decided to produce the vehicle himself. In 1929, he formed the New Era Motors Inc. He hired Muller as vice-president. Muller handled the engineering aspects while Andrews sought financial backing which he found in a New York stockbroker named William Ruxton. Andrews decided to name the automobile after his prospective financial backer but at the last minute Ruxton backed out. Ironically Andrews never received a cent from the car’s namesake.
Andrews then approached Gardner Motor Co, located in St. Louis. Just like the incident with Hupmobiles, the Gardner Motor Company showed desire but eventually pulled out of the deal. Disappointed but persistent , Andrews next approached Marmon Motor Car Company located in Indianapolis. On the day the agreement was signed, the stock market crashed and Marmon Motor Car Company rescinded the agreement. Next, Jordan, Stutz, and Pierce were approached by Andrews but none wanted to build the Ruxton. Finally, a deal was struck with the Moon Motor Car Company. By the middle of 1930, the Ruxton finally went into production.
What few Ruxton’s were produced were manufactured in part, at the Moon Motor Car facility in St. Louis, Missouri and in part, at the Kisser Motor Company in Hartford, Wisconsin.
The 1930 Ruxton Roadster was powered by a Continental 4.4 liter side-valve, straight-eight cylinder engine capable of producing 100 horsepower.
Despite the Ruxton's innovative and quality engineering and design features, the car was doomed from the start; the demise of the economy due to the Great Depression plus the lack of an established dealer-network meant only a handful would ever be created. It is unknown exactly how many examples were created, though it is believed that around 500 were created. Other estimates put that number much lower, at around 100. In modern times, fewer than ten are known to exist.
Andrew Adler of Millbury, Ohio, owned this example for over 50 years. Several years ago the Adler estate donated the car to the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Automobile Museum were it now resides.
Source (in part): www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13497/Ruxton-Model-C.aspx.aspx
Hope you enjoy........