Beschreibung:

1907 PREMIER MODEL 24 RUNABOUT Chassis No. D1194 Engine No. 1019 Cream with black fenders and running gear and black leather upholstery. Engine: four cylinder, T-head, water-cooled, 24cu. in; Gearbox: three speed manual; Suspension: full elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: two wheel rear. Right hand drive. The Premier Motor Manufacturing Company was founded in December 1902 by George A. Weidely and Harold O. Smith to produce cars designed by the former. The company established premises at Georgia Street, Indianapolis, and stated its policy to be to: produce a high class car adapted for touring over American roads, with an engine designed to produce sufficient power to carry the vehicle wherever an automobile could reasonably be expected to go. Weidely had some understanding of American roads since he had test-driven his car from Indianapolis to Louisville before selling it. One car left the works in March 1903, five more by early May and once production got into its stride these two-cylinder Premiers rapidly gained a reputation for reliability, performance and the smoothness of their ride. For 1904 a change was made from water-cooled to air-cooled engines, a doubling of the number of cylinders, and these units were placed transversely in the frame, giving the vehicles an appearance not unlike that of a Franklin of the period although the Premier used a pressed-steel chassis. In 1905 Premier advertising carried the slogan The Quality Car and to publicize both the virtues of the product and the effectiveness of air-cooling, Weidely built a huge 4-cylinder 850 cubic inch '100 horsepower' racing car for the Vanderbilt Cup. It was over the weight limit and therefore could not compete, but it worked well enough and won a number of other prestigious events. Although the transverse-engined models continued to be offered, for 1906 the new Model L followed the layout of the racing car with an in-line 4-cylinder engine and shaft drive. The following year saw the continuation of the air-cooled cars but a water-cooled engine was re-introduced. Air and water-cooled models ran in parallel, using the same layout and sharing a 106" wheelbase chassis and equipped with either a touring body or a two-seater with a single rear jump seat as an option. This rare example is the only 1907 Premier listed in the Horseless Carriage Club and has many advanced features for its day including a five main bearing T-head engine, multiple disc clutch and a honeycomb radiator. The Premier has a lovely patina of age and appears to be highly original throughout. The very sporty and handsome runabout style body is complemented by the factory optional mother-in-law seat at the rear. Mr. Rothschild purchased this car from the Wells Automotive Museum in Wells, Maine and it was used on a few New England Brass and Gas Tours. Although not as well known as the famous three-Ps - Peerless, Pierce-Arrow and Packard - there is no doubt from the opinions of the time that the Premier lived up to its Quality Car claims.