Priciest pre-WW1 car EVER: 111-year-old Simplex Torpedo Tourer sells for £4m
There are rare cars, and then there are unicorns. And this 1921 motor is certainly the latter.
It’s a Simplex, a US motor brand that only existed between 1906 and 1915. The last time a car from this manufacturer came to auction was in 2006.
That makes this 111-year-old vehicle officially the most expensive pre-First World War car of all time.
The end of January marks the biggest auction week of the year in America, with the major companies hosting sales in Scottsdale, including Bonhams.
The auction house’s prize lot in 2023 was this vintage car, which obliterated its pre-sale estimate of $2.5 to $3.5million.
The winning bid is higher than the previous record for a veteran car held since 2007. That was a 1904 Rolls-Royce 10 hp Two-Seater that was also sold by Bonhams at a London auction for £3,521,500 ($4,339,092).
Not only is the Simplex sold on Friday a one-of-a-kind car, it also has a famous former owner.
The original keeper was Eleonora Randolph Sears, who is renowned as one of the finest American sporting figures of the first half of the 20th century, excelling in international tennis, squash, show jumping, golf and a further 13 disciplines.
Source of data and images: dailymail
