09/24/2025
1912 Rambler Country Club Touring
A marvelous, very original 50-hp Brass Era touring car, ex-Barney Pollard, in fine running order.
This Country Club boasts distinguished provenance as part of the famed Barney Pollard collection. Pollard, a Detroit trucking magnate, was among America’s first and most prolific collectors, filling warehouses with cars—often stored vertically—beginning in 1938. By the 1970s his holdings numbered about 1,000, earning him the title “Mr. Antique Automobile.”
A handwritten note signed by Pollard records his purchase of this Rambler in 1944. It remained in his family until 1984, when the present owner acquired it from Barney Jr. The car was refinished decades ago, likely in the 1950s during its display at Michigan’s Temrowski Museum, but never fully restored. It retains original leather upholstery and wood, both remarkably sound. In nearly forty years of careful ownership, the current caretaker has fitted aluminum pistons and toured extensively; the car still starts easily on its hand-crank and is described as “a real woofer that will run with anything.”
Only three 50 hp 1912 Ramblers survive, and this is the sole example of the desirable close-coupled five-passenger style. Never before publicly offered, it comes with Pollard’s document, a period price list, and instruction book—a true Brass Era powerhouse with unmatched history and exceptional preservation.
$98,500 or reasonable offer.
