1913 SIMPLEX 75 RUNABOUT

In 1907, textile importer Herman Broesel, Sr., bought the Smith & Mabley Company, importers of Mercedes, Renault, Fiat and Panhard cars. The company also produced the S&M Simplex. At the time of purchase, the company's designer Edward Franquist had just designed a powerful 4-cylinder 50 horsepower T-head engine. This Simplex 50 would become one of the most renowned racing cars in America curing the pre-World War I period.

The best materials were used in the production of Simplex autos. All motors were block tested and every complete chassis was given a 500 mile test in drives over dirt roads. The best coach firms such as Quinby, Holbrook, Brewster and Healey were used. An elite Clientele purchased the Simplex autos.

These cars also became formidable road, beach, board and dirt track race cars. In 1911, a Simplex finished 6th in the first Indianapolis 500. But it was their wins during the 1908, 1909 and 1910 24-hour endurances races for stock chassis at Brighton Beach, New York that made them famous. The 1908 race set a world record of 1,177 miles.

A special race car called the Simplex Zip was assembled from stock parts using their 90-horsepower engine. The chassis was lighter, shorter and lower than their stock chassis racing cars. In 1910, at the Play del Rey circular board speedway near Los Angeles, California, it broke the world record of 6 minutes and 11 seconds for a 10 lap, 1 mile track at a standing start. Race car driver George Robertson recalled that they "rode the high banks at 120 mph or more."

This particular car was delivered new to a gentleman who lived on the Kona Coast of Hawaii.