1914 Woods

Mobilette

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Stock
21268
Engine Size
4 CYLINDER 12 HP WATER COOLED #4
Transmission
2 SPEED ON THE FLOOR
Exterior Color
Aqua
Stock
21268
Engine Size
4 CYLINDER 12 HP WATER COOLED #4
Transmission
2 SPEED ON THE FLOOR
Exterior Color
Aqua

A RARE EXAMPLE OF CHICAGO'S HISTORY

"BUILT LIKE A WATCH, AND OWNERSHIP WILL NOT CAUSE TUBERCULOSIS OF ONE'S WALLET" READ ONE RATHER ILLADVISED ADVERTISEMENT.  "HERE IS THE CAR THAT GIVES GASOLINE A NEW VALUE, A NEW WORTH, NEW DISTANCES, NEW MILEAGES".  THE CAR WAS THE WOODS MOBILETTE, AND IT WAS WIDELY TOUTED AS AMERICA'S FIRST CYCLECAR.  IT WAS THAT, AT LEAST IN PROTOTYPE, MOBILETTE NO. 1 HAVING BEEN BUILT BY CHICAGO INVENTOR FRANCIS A. WOODS IN 1910.  HE TINKERED WITH IT FOR 18 MONTHS THEREAFTER, BEFORE BUILDING NO. 2, WHICH LIKE THE FIRST WAS POWERED BY A FOUR-CYLINDER 12 HP AIR-COOLED ENGINE.  MOBILETTE NO. 3, WITH A WATERCOOLED 12 HP FOUR, WAS THE FIRST WOODS PRODUCED.  IT ARRIVED IN THE FALL OF 1913, FOLLOWING FINANCIAL HELP FROM CHICAGO INVESTMENT BANKER W.M. SHERIDAN AND INCORPORATION  OF THE WOODS MOBILEETE COMPANY ON JULY 8TH THAT YEAR.  THE FIRM'S OFFICES WERE AT 1509 MICHIGAN BOULEVARD IN CHICAGO, THE FACTORY WAS ON 147TH STREET IN NEARBY HARVEY.  INTIALLY THE WOODS MOBILETTE WAS DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CYCLECAR AND ACCESSORIES COMPANY IN CHICAGO, THOUGH BY OCTOBER OF 1915, WOODS HAD BOUGHT OUT THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MOVED IT TO HARVEY, TOO.  MOBILETTE NO. 3 FEATURED SHAFT DRIVE AND A SELECTIVE SLIDING GEAR TRANSMISSION.  ITS WHEELBASE WAS 102", ITS TREAD 36, WITH TWO PASSENGERS SITTING TANDEM.  THE PRICE TAG THROUGHOUT REMAINED AT $380, WITH MOBILETTE MPH AND MPG BOTH IN THE 35-40 RANGE.  ACCORDING TO THE HARVEY TRIBUNE OF AUGUST 21, 1914, PRODUCTION THEN STOOD AT 1,000 CARS A MONTH.  IT DECREASED STEADILY THEREAFTER.  ALTHOUGH 1917 MODELS WERE ANNOUNCED, THEY WERE NEVER PRODUCED.  THE WOODS MOBILETTE COMPANY HAD FADED FROM THE SCENE BY THE END OF 1916.  "A RARE EXAMPLE OF CHICAGO'S HISTORY".  THIS LITTLE ROADSTER WAS RESTORED OVER 30 YEARS AGO AND LOOKS PRESENTABLE.  BODY CLAD WITH CANARY YELLOW BODY, BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR AND BLACK HARTS TOP, WITH SPORTY WIRE WHEELS.  CAR IS ALL SURVIVOR ORIGINAL AND INCLUDES ORIGINAL STOCK CERTIFICATE AND AD FROM 1914 "CYCLE CAR AGE".  COMPLETE VIDEO OF THIS VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR $50, REFUNDED WITH VEHICLE PURCHASE, AND INCLUDES OVERNIGHT SHIPPING OF VIDEO.  CALL OUR CLASSIC CAR DIVISION AT 815-385-8408 FOR VIDEO AND/OR VEHICLE INFORMATION.
Options and Accessories
  • NICKEL GAS HEADLIGHT
  • WIRE WHEELS
  • SLANTED STEER COLUMN
  • AND WOODS AD FROM 1914
  • NICKEL WINDSHIELD
  • KEROSENE SIDELIGHTS
  • INCLUDED ORIGINAL STOCK CERTIFICATE
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