
Louis Frankel
Specialist
LOT 553
1910 Overland Model 46 Roadster Registration no. BF 7057 Chassis no. 46366
Rescued from bankruptcy in 1907 by John North Willys, Overland was re-established in a new factory by the summer of 1908. Building four-cylinder models only from 1910, the revitalised firm went from strength to strength; by the start of WWI only Ford could claim a higher output. Sliding-gear transmissions had replaced the previous epicyclic type in 1909, co-incidentally the same year that Ford introduced the Model T that would use the latter form of transmission for the next 17 years! Newly introduced for 1911, the Overland Model 46 was one of four 20hp models on offer that year.
This Model 46 two-seat roadster has right-hand drive, as did all Overlands before 1915. Little is known of the car's history, though the preceding owner was told it was imported into Norway from the USA in 1969 and then to Sweden by the family he purchased it from. When sold to the current vendor at Bonhams' Beaulieu sale in 2021 (Lot 456) the Overland was said to have a very nice patina (though not concours) and was described as an excellent, all original car that starts on the button and drives really well. It benefits from an electric starter, the installation of which has not affected any other components. Other notable features include a foot-operated warning bell and a foot-operated 'town/country' flap-valve in the exhaust system.
Since acquisition, the vendors have cleaned the car throughout, including the engine bay, and all the brass. They have given it a good service, changing oil and plugs and some damaged pipes and hoses. The undercarriage was repainted as it was badly damaged, while the brass padlock was changed for a new one. The vendors also replaced the flooding carburettor. Accompanying paperwork consists of a V5C document and copies of the Norwegian registration documents and FIVA Identity Card.
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