1931 Essex Super Six Boattail Speedabout

1931 Essex Super Six Boattail Speedabout
Coachwork by Murray
Chassis no. 1267966
175ci L-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Carburetor
60bhp at 3,300rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes

*One of only a handful surviving Speedabouts
*Previously part of the renowned Bill Harrah Collection
*Sleek, sporting boattail coachwork
*Powerful six-cylinder power plant

THE SUPER SIX

Introduced as a lower-priced companion to the parent Hudson marque in 1919, the Essex soon became synonymous with both high performance and reliability when an example averaged over 60mph for 50 hours in December 1919, a stunt which the company followed up by a successful four-car transcontinental trek in 1920. Essex's big news for 1924 was the switch from four to six cylinders. Renamed 'Super Six' for 1927, the Essex gained a larger and more powerful engine that year and four-wheel Bendix mechanical brakes the year after. Also new for '27 was a sleek, boattail speedster branded a 'Speedabout. Continually improving, by 1931 the styling had been modernized slight, the engine punched out an additionally 20 cubic inches, and power increasing proportionally.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Of the Essex lineup in 1931 the most exciting model available was unquestionable the Speedabout. A boattailed roadster body with a leather trimmed cockpit by Detroit coachbuilder Murray—which had just started building bodies for Essex and bodied many of more limited-production bodies for the major manufacturers—it was sleek and fast. Few Speedabouts were made, and the number that still exist amounts to all but a handful.

This Speedabout was once part of the legendary Bill Harrah Collection and was noted at the time to be in rather original condition. Following Harrah's passing, the car went up to an Oregonian collector in 1984. During his tenure, the Essex was restored to concours-standards in the beige and brown with green accent colors it still wears today. In keeping with its status as the biggest draw in the Essex line-up, this example is handsomely appointed with numerous options including green-painted wire wheels wrapped in whitewall tires, twin taillights and dual side-mounted spares. The Essex traded hands around 2007, followed by the purchase by the penultimate owner four years later. Carefully kept in California collections for the past years, this rare Essex is an opportunity to enter the rarified air of boattail speedsters for less than the price many sedans. The car was recently treated to a service, starter rebuild, and new battery. A perfect car for the AACA and Hudson Car Club, you're all but assured not to see another one anytime soon.