218Ci six-cylinder side-valve, twin flywheel engine
58bhp at 2,800 rpm
Single updraft Stromberg carburetor
Three-speed transmission
Four-wheel mechanical brakes

*The car designed by the legendary Eddie Rickenbacker
*First four-wheel brake car in its price class
*High quality restoration
*Excellent history file

RICKENBACKER

The Edward Vernon Rickenbacker story is perhaps one of the most remarkable of the twentieth century. Born in extreme poverty, educated to only the fifth grade when he needed to work to support his family. A brilliant intuitive engineer his skills were discovered when he began sweeping the floor of the Frayer-Miller Automobile Company. By age fifteen he was the leading engineer and the riding mechanic in the companies Vanderbilt Cup entry becoming one of the top racing drivers in the US finishing second in the AAA standings.

Just prior to the outbreak of WWI his skills were recognized by Henri Coatalen of the Sunbeam Motorcar Company in Wolverhampton, England. Coatalen hired him as an engineer and whilst sailing to England, war was declared, ending Sunbeams civilian production. Rickenbacker returned to the US and volunteered himself and a group of top racing drivers to the Army as potential flyers. Rickenbacker felt the skills of racing drivers would make them perfectly suited for air combat but the Army disagreed and pretentiously dismissed the drivers for their lack of college educations. An appointment as General Pershing's driver got Eddie to Europe and after much finagling eventually in the air. Though only reluctantly given flying instruction Eddie would become the top ace of the Great War and America's most famous and beloved hero, eventually receiving the Medal of Honor. After the War, he would achieve unprecedented success in nearly everything he undertook. In peace time, he devoted his efforts to business not racing and began to lay the ground work for the Automobile that bore his name.

The Rickenbacker car was unfortunately one of Eddies only business failures. The competition was not happy about a beloved American hero producing cars in a lucrative part of the market. His competitors wanted to restrain Rickenbacker but they could not attack an American hero. When Rickenbacker announced, his car would feature four wheel brakes – a first in this price range – the competition pounced. Ads touting the danger of four wheel brakes spread through auto publications. The Rickenbacker car was labeled as a lethal machine that would go out of control at the press of its brake pedal. This sounds like foolishness today but a public accustomed to rear brakes was easily convinced of this imaginary danger. This dealt a strong blow to Eddie's company that had begun with a strong demand for his product.

Rickenbacker cars however, were an excellent product. Combining both fine engineering and exceptional build quality the cars were truly one of the finest cars on the market at their price range. The frames were boxed and highly rigid - the engines exceptionally smooth and quiet. It is little wonder the competition was so concerned about this new brand.

The Rickenbacker Company ended with its sale to J.S. Rasmussen in Germany and would the design would live on as two models of the AUDI brand in 1928.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This fine example of the quintessential Rickenbacker car from the peak of the company popularity. This sporty coupe style was both fun for the driver and practical with a roomy back seat with a small folding companion seat next to the driver, appealing to the family man who also wanted to have something a bit more fun than the average four-door sedan.

Of course, featuring the innovative though controversial four-wheel braking system. The engine is a six-cylinder design sporting some Rickenbacker innovations. The radiator proudly features the "Hat in the Ring" logo of his 94th Aero Squadron and is one of the great automobile logos of all time.

Well restored and sporting some great documentation this was once owned by a former President of the Rickenbacker Club. The file features original registration documents going back to the 1930s.

Rickenbackers are rare automobiles and seldom come on the open market. This fine example of the archetype model is an excellent chance to own a piece of one of the greatest stories of the twentieth century. Few cars carry with them such an aura of the man who created them as a Rickenbacker.