1911 METZ RUNABOUT 2 PASSENGER ROADSTER, 4 CYLINDER FRICTION DRIVE TRANSMISSION

1911 Other Makes Description

This is a very rare 1911 Metz Runabout. The Metz automobile was made from 1909 until 1921 in Waltham Massachusetts. In 1909 the automobiles came with a 2 cylinder engine and in late 1911 and early 1912 they were supplied with a 4 cylinder engine. This car has the original 4 cylinder engine in it with the name “METZ” cast right into the cylinder head. The car still has its “friction drive” transmission, or as C.H. Metz preferred to call them, a “pressure drive” transmission. The rubber bulb and the conduit are missing from the horn but the trumpet is still under the hood. Also missing is the speedometer and the drive cable, the gear is still on the wheel. In 1911 they made 1,812 automobiles. I have no idea how many of these cars may have survived but you would be hard pressed to find another one. This car came out of a 4 car purchase from a dwindling museum and it has not been started or run in many years. The motor does turn over freely though with the hand crank. I will leave the adventure of starting the car to the new owner. Even though I had to list the car as having a “clear” title to get the ad to go through, the car is being sold with a bill of sale as it does not have a title, and being as old as it is I doubt if it came with one originally. I bought it from the owner of the museum and he had a bill of sale and he has owned it for many years. Email with your questions.