The 1914 Cartercar is a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of automobile history. The vehicle has run approx. 5000 km and is in absolutely original condition. According to the American Cartercar expert, John Carter, it is one of the best-preserved vehicles of the brand worldwide.
The vehicle was built in Pontiac/Michigan in 1914. The car was sold to a dealer in Colerado. After Cartercar ceased production in 1915, the vehicle remained in the dealer's possession and was only used for annual holiday parades. It was not until 2018, 104 years later, that they parted with the vehicle. The reason was the advanced age and health restrictions of the owner at the time. After being imported to Europe, it came into the possession of a German buyer. He was not prepared to repair the vehicle. In the meantime, the water pump was broken, and the Delco ignition system was defective.
After I bought the car, I was very happy. The car was still in absolutely original condition. The leather looks like it did when it was delivered. The rubber mat in the driver's area still shows the original Cartercar logo. In the storage compartment under the rear seat were unused and originally packed snow chains from 1914.
After extensive research and acquisition of the original literature, the recommissioning was started. All visible parts (body, leather and surfaces) were carefully cleaned and conserved. This was done in collaboration with the well-known Dipl.-Restaurator Matthias Farke. The vehicle now has a wonderful patina that is superior to any new paint job. All chassis, drive and engine parts were disassembled, cleaned and freed from gummy grease and oil residues. All seals were replaced. The entire mechanics were checked for wear. Due to the mileage, the mechanics are in mint condition. All operating fluids, greases and oils have been refilled. A large part of the car is protected by a huge pan underneath the chassis. This prevents dirt from getting to the engine and the mechanics. In return, there are also none of the usual oil stains on the road.
The engine can be started by starter or crank. It starts immediately. This is also ensured by the original double ignition system. The car has a powerful 4-cylinder engine with 3150 cc capacity and 31 hp. With this, speeds of up to 90 km/h can be reached and all mountains can be climbed without any problems. The installed Northway engine was one of the most modern on the market in 1914. It already had a removable cylinder head. The originally defective water pump was rebuilt. For this purpose, the existing parts were assembled, and the missing parts were created in the 3D printer. The complete water pump was cast in bronze from the patterns produced in this way. The shaft and all fittings were newly turned. The result is perfect and works perfectly.
The continuously variable friction gear is unique. The Cartercar is easy to drive. The usual creaking when changing gears in pre-war cars does not exist. Simply select the desired speed with the lever, press the clutch and regulate the speed with the accelerator. The Cartercar drives much like a ride-on lawnmower with automatic transmission. The patented transmission is an early version of today's modern CVT transmissions. This makes the car easy to move even for inexperienced people. The entire reworking of the mechanics took about 300 hours.
Special features on the car are an exhaust cut out. This allows the exhaust to be opened with a foot pedal. This leads to a louder exhaust sound and an increase in performance. Another highlight is a whistle that is connected to the exhaust. This is also operated by a foot pedal. When passing by, the Cartercar sounds like a Mississippi steamship.
An almost invisible LED lighting system (parking lights, brake lights and turn signals with hazard warning lights) was developed especially for the vehicle. Everything is attached to the sheet metal with high-performance magnets. The result is almost invisible mounted lighting with bright signal lights without drilling a hole in the sheet metal. If desired, the lighting can be dismantled without leaving any traces.
Included in the sale are various original documents from the USA, copies of original manuals and catalogues, various special tools made and the original snow chains.
I would like to part with the Cartercar. Due to my height of 2 m, I am not able to sit straight behind the steering wheel. A safe and relaxed driving is therefore not possible.
The future buyer receives a beautiful and reliable almost 110-year-old car in absolutely original condition. With the friction gearbox, the car can be moved without the usual problems when changing gears. Thanks to the powerful engine, participation in all classic car events is possible.
The Cartercar won 1. prize in the class "Vehicles up to 1918" with 100 points at the National Classic Car Day in the Netherlands on 18 June 2023.
Serious offers are welcome!
