1916 simplex Crane Model 5 Touring by Kimball

The Crane Motor Company of Bayonne, New Jersey, built automobiles from 1912 to 1915. The Crane Model 3 was a six-cylinder car offered only as a chassis. The chassis was priced...

The Crane Motor Company of Bayonne, New Jersey, built automobiles from 1912 to 1915. The Crane Model 3 was a six-cylinder car offered only as a chassis. The chassis was priced at $8,000 (equivalent to $219,340 in 2021), the highest priced American chassis on the market. Crane favored Brewster & Company as a coachbuilder and most Crane automobiles were bodied by that firm. Only about 20 Crane Model 3s were made in 1912 and 1913. By 1914 a Model 4 was produced by Crane. It differed in having the six cylinders cast in two blocks of three instead of three pairs. In late 1914, the Simplex Automobile Company of New Brunswick, New Jersey bought Crane Motor Car Company to acquire his engineering advances. Simplex was the maker of "one of the finest and most exclusive luxury cars built in the USA before World War I." Crane became vice president and engineer for Simplex. Although never official, the Simplex Crane Model 5 would often be referred to as the Crane-Simplex.

The Model 5 was "fitted with a six-cylinder motor of 563 cubic inches piston displacement, developing a maximum of 110 h.p. The cylinders are of the L-head type and are cast in blocks of three, with the value springs fully enclosed." This 5,300-pound car was fast. Owners also expected a smooth ride and effortless performance.

Each engine went through the equivalent of 1,000 miles of road travel on a belt test that took 36 hours, as well as a block test of 48 hours. The engines were tested for speed on the Vanderbilt track in Long Island. Other road tests included driving on bumpy surfaces, in sand, and in the mountains. In total, each engine was tested for the equivalent of 5,000 miles of travel before going to the customer. "The car had to be right or Mr. Crane would not send it out," according to Walter B. Reynolds who was chief of the final road testing department for Simplex-Crane.

Each Crane-Simplex was custom-built and high-priced for its era; the chassis was introduced at $5,000 (equivalent to $133,931 in 2021) in 1915, increased to $6,000 in 1917, and to $7,000 (equivalent to $148,055 in 2021) in 1918. The Model 5 chassis included a complete dashboard with instrumentation, front fenders, trimmed running boards, Goodrich Silvertown cord tires, an electric horn, headlamps, a reel-mounted trouble lamp, taillamp, a jack, and tools.

In October,1915, the Wright Company of Garwood, New Jersey entered into an agreement to purchase Crane-Simplex. Car production at New Brunswick ceased in October 1917 as Wright began making airplane engines for World War I.

In all, 467 Simplex Crane Model 5s were produced.

This exceptional example has an interesting history having been a part of the legendary Barney Pollard Collection in Detroit for most of its life. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Mr. Pollard collected-some say saved-around 1200 early cars starting in the '30's. As the salvage drives for WWII got underway he was under tremendous pressure from the Government to turn the cars in for the war effort. Initially he devised a method for hanging the cars from their rear bumpers for maximum space efficiency and then built thin skinned buildings around them to hide them from passing aircraft or drivers. The Government still kept coming by though and he eventually reached a settlement that required him to deliver one car per month to the Ford River Rouge plant for recycling. He only brought Fords and eventually Henry Ford's employees stopped enquiring about when to expect his next delivery.

After the War when the car collecting hobby got going, many of the cars were passed on to collectors, but a core group was retained, and a Museum established, complete with in house restoration shop. Research indicates this car was restored by that shop at some point. Conversations with relatives has indicated this was a decent car prior to restoration. It was displayed in the Museum and taken to local shows, until in 2000 it was one of the last cars sold out of the collection. The car remained with that buyer until 2021 and it has been displayed and exercised occasionally in a private collection since.

This car is really in very nice condition and while an older restoration. many people would advocate leaving it alone. The paint is overall in very good to excellent condition, as is the interior, brightwork, and top. Its custom built C P Kimball Sport Touring or Phaeton body work is in excellent condition, with an honest patina that speaks to you. Of particular note is the extensive nicely finished wood trim which makes the car look lower and more sporting, and the lovely wood and brass auxiliary rear windshield. Featuring Wire Wheels and a single Rear Mount this is one of the most sporting Crane Simplex Model 5's we have seen. Finished in a tasteful period correct color, this car has a presence that can't be denied.

In Excellent running and driving condition the car is a thrill to drive and is a certain candidate for one of the many vintage tours and prestigious events for which it is eligible, and will be welcomed at.