Dyke W. Ridgley, of the Marmon Sixteen Roster, estimates that between 370 and 375 of these outstanding Classics were built. Of the 70 known survivors, 14 are five-passenger sedans, of which four are the most developed 1933 models retaining their original bodywork. The car offered here is one of the fortunate four and, as researched by Mr. Ridgley, has known ownership history since 1949.

According to early Marmon roster keepers, the car’s original owner is understood to have been a Mr. Schreiber. Its next owner is recorded in 1949 as R.V. Mancini, of Detroit, from whom it was purchased in 1950 by Russell A. Worthy, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It next passed in 1952 to Frederick Von Mering, of Boston, Massachusetts, and in 1953 to Marvin B. Hembel, a captain with Piedmont Airlines living in South Carolina.

Mr. Hembel relocated the following year to Marysville, Tennessee, and brought his Marmon with him, describing in a 1957 letter to the next owner that “the car drives beautifully, steers well, and coasting down [the Smokey Mountains] I let the speed get up to 60 at times with no vibration of any kind.” According to Hembel, the car had 31,000 miles on it at the time.

Harold H. Frye, of Hereford, Texas, purchased the car from Mr. Hembel in January of 1958. It remained alongside many other interesting automobiles in Mr. Frye’s dry Texas barn until his passing at the age of 92 in December of 2009, at which point the car was bequeathed to his son. The current owner acquired the car from an associate of the family two years ago and notes that today it records 32,250 miles—just 1,250 miles in its 56 years of Frye Family ownership. (Not coincidentally, that is about the same mileage between Marysville and Hereford!)

This car represents everything that one seeks in a Classic: a powerful engine and an advanced chassis; one of four complete examples of this body style on the most developed 1933 chassis, with vacuum-assisted brakes; and one of only four known late Marmon Sixteens with skirted fenders. With documented history and well-preserved originality, it is an excellent candidate for Preservation Class awards at major shows or as the best possible basis for restoration—the choice is for a new owner to make.