Mike Martin

Our good clients are moving to Little Rock. We had done a good bit of work on their 1966 Ford Fairlane. They will need a good shop in the Little Rock area to service this fine Ford. Eventually they will want it painted. Can anyone recommend a shop there? Thanks for any help Mike Martin Madison, Ms

I have little to report. Dr Bill is 91 as I have said and is in a bit of a health decline. How to go forward is the question. I think that we just need to say that Dr Bill will sell the Model 48 and that the asking price is $50000. He has a clear Mississippi Title. Anyone with questions could call me at 601-906-1196 or email me at mikeamartin02349@gmail.com. I have a classic car restoration shop that can be Googled at Classic Restorations, LLC (Ridgeland, Ms) and I have a Facebook page with that same name. We are pretty active in the classic car hobby. Thanks Mike Martin

Al: We don not have any earlier photos. I'll look for the original paint color. Tks

So is the engine a 12 cyd? (I hate to show my ignorance!)

Here are some more photos. Forgive me if I repeat some.

I'll have to go back to look for any body tags. But I believe the French firm did the work. There are several letters from people that would have known saying that it was shipped to France. I don't have any early photos of the car. There is a a original owners manual as well a an original 'Parts List for a Model 48 Serial Number 19000 and Up'. Both published in 1924. Also "The Locomobile Book" published in 1912. I hope that the right person will come along and buy the car and then restore it. It truly is special.

I have some paper work on the car now. It shows that the body work is by the French company Kellner Body Number 17871. The paperwork states that the car was shipped there for the body work. Then back to Pittsburg where it was owned by a steel company magnate there. It was driven to Pascagoula, Ms in 1942 by the owner then Robert Wellwood (nephew of the magnate?). From there there were several owners before Dr Bill bought it in 2004.

I tried to get the tire size off the back. It was hard to read. Here is a photo of the rear wheel. I am going back fairly soon.

A few more:

I saw the Model 48 Locomobile again today. I took 100+ photos. Some are attached. I'm going to try to get these where all 100+ can be seen by you AACA folks. We will be trying to determine a sales price. The Serial Number is shown. It matches the engine number. He has a parts manual and a new owner manual, both published in 1924.

Al: It is not his health. Another issue. I'll see him on 11/18. I'm going to take 100+ photos. He has a lot of information in that file on the car he said. Mike

My visit with Dr Bill has been postponed until 11/18 (next Thursday). I'll report back after that. A good guy in Germany is helping with the places to look for the serial numbers on engine/etc. He said take 200 photos and I will try to take a bunch.

I am to go see the car on 11/11. I'll verify some of the numbers. I am to get to see the file that Dr Bill has on the car at that time. I'll post photos here when I return. Tks Mike

Ok. I see it now. The car was for years in a basement garage of the third owner in the Belhaven subdivision in Jackson, Ms along with an old, fine Cadillac and some model T's the owner had. The car was moved to a building in Rankin Cty just E of Jxn and I think was there when Dr Bill bought it. The third owner died. I will talk with his brother this next week and get a little more info about the Locomobile. One of the pictures shows lots of parts. Hopefully Dr Bill has all of those.

Bubba: Advise again where to look for those photos. I know little about the site. Tks Mike

Here is the good Doc and the old mechanic (now deceased). Better folks there never were.

Al: I am in the NCRS. We worked on this '57, 2 x 4, 3 speed, 2 top Corvette for a guy from Batesville Ms. We are doing some work so it would score higher with the NCRS (where they gave him a full deduction for paint - because it was too nice!). He wants to sell it. It is a Second Flight NCRS now but will be Top Flight after the next Regional in March in NOLA.

I think you are correct. There have been 4 owners. Mike

This is the car Mr Wurke speaks of. It was damaged in a hurricane in Pascagoula. Coachwork by Kellner per what Dr Bill said.

Dr Bill (age 91) said he has a pretty good file on the Locomobile. I'll get this in the next several weeks. He said Kellner Body Works in Paris did the body. I am just repeating what he said. Body # may be 1299. I will verify all of this when I see that file. We will have to look at the mileage. He also has a 1955 Buick Special 2 door HT and a 1980 IH Scout Traveler. Both original owner cars.

The good Doc said that he understood that the car was shipped to France to have the body put on. I have no idea if that is correct or not. He also said that the purchase price was $17000+/-. Both those statements may be incorrect but the Doc is just repeating what was told him (and it has been almost 100 years!). I will get the serial number and photos of any ID tags, mileage and more info and photos but it may be some weeks before that can be done. Thanks for the interest.

I do not have enough 'content' to allow me to send personal messages. Anyone interested could contact me at 601-906-1196 or at mikeamartin02349@gmail.com. Tks Mike Martin I have a '65 Corvette coupe that is a First Sr car but I have not posted any previously on this forum.

Thanks for the responses. The good Doc paid $30000 he told me at least 10 years ago (maybe more than that.) He had drooled over a 2 page advertisement in National Geographic 'back in the day' that showed a similar vehicle. The nephew of the Pittsburg industrialist drove the car to Pascagoula Ms during WW2 as he was working for Ingalls Shipbuilding there. It ended up in the basement of a dwelling in Jackson, Ms with a guy well known for his Model T's. It was moved to a shed out in Rankin County. The owner was bush hogging on a tractor out there and had a heart attack and died (he had time to put it in Neutral and was found deceased with the engine still running!)The good Doc bought it from his estate. I will have the chance to take plenty of more photos and answer as best I can any questions. The old mechanic is now deceased. He cranked it for me back in 2015 when I last saw it and these photos were made. The Doc has a clear Title. It would be terrible if this fine vehicle was not restored. I will answer all questions as best I can. The good Doc told me understood that the car was shipped to France where the body was put on. Who knows if that is factual. He said the purchase price was $17000+/- and that too may not be correct. After all, it has been nearly 100 years! Thanks. Mike Martin

My friend is a retired Physician living in Gallman, Ms. A number of years ago he bought this Model 48 (I think that correct) Locomobile. It was initially built for and owned by a industrialist in Pittsburg, Pa. In the 1940's his nephew brought it South and it ended up in Pascagoula, Ms. A hurricane damaged the garage in which it was housed and the interior suffered because of that. It made it to Jackson, Ms and the Doc bought it some years ago. An old time mechanic worked on it and it cranks, starts, drives. The old Doc's health is poor and he is now 90+. He does not want to but he needs to sell the Locomobile. We have no idea what it might be worth or where to start in selling it. Any advice would be welcome. The car has been garage kept for the last number of decades and is now. Thanks Mike Martin Madison, Ms

I am a new AACA member from Madison, Ms. My '65 Corvette Coupe is entered in the Mobile Meet held this month. I know nothing about the AACA rules. As respects license plate tags: I have a 1965 Lafayette County Mississippi tag that has been approved by the State as my permanent tag. Is that would be on the car when it is judged? This car was originally sold In Ca. by Lew Williams Chevrolet in Hollywood, Ca. I have had the original black Ca. tag along with a Lew William's Chevrolet tag holder on the front of this car. I guess that does need to come off? Thanks for any help. I'll have some more questions. This is a two time NCRS Top Flight car. Thanks. '