The White Motor Company was established in Cleveland, Ohio at the turn of the century and originally produced steam cars utilizing an in-house boiler design from the mind of founder Rollin White, who had set about his work in the corner of a building belonging to his father’s White Sewing Machine Company. Brothers Walter and Windsor joined management soon after and by 1901 production rose to 193 units. The company quickly gained a reputation for quality as a White was the only automobile at President Theodore Roosevelt's inauguration; a White steam car was also part of the original White House automobile fleet established by President William Taft in 1909.

The following two years featured a dramatic change in focus for the company with the introduction of its first gasoline-powered car in 1910, while the final steam car rolled out of the factory gates in 1911. Eventually, both four- and six-cylinder internal combustion engines became available within the lineup. 1918 would be the final year of passenger car production; from that point onward, the company would focus on commercial products, thus ensuring the legacy of original, surviving White automobiles, prized by early American automotive enthusiasts for their quality.

The 1913 White Model Forty Seven-Passenger Touring offered here is one example of these rarely seen Brass Era automobiles. A recipient of a comprehensive restoration in the early 1980s, photographs within its history file show the Model Forty in its original state before the project initiated, as well as the subsequent processes of disassembly to bare chassis. This painstaking process covered all aspects of the vehicle and returned this Brass Era collectible to the wonderful condition witnessed today. Under the hood, stampings show that the engine was assembled using components sourced from several White four-cylinders produced in adjacent model years. Distinctly, the crankcase stamped “G.E.C. 97” indicates that this portion of the engine originated from a 1915 model.

In recent times, this Model Forty has been under the care of well-known early American collector Conrad Fletcher. An invoice from this period indicates that the car was wet-sanded and polished in 2014 to maintain its impressive appearance. Meanwhile, a maintenance log indicates that repairs were carried out on the headlights in 2021.

One of the finest automobiles from the Brass Era, expensive factory list prices kept White production low, resulting in few early examples surviving today. This White Model Forty Seven-Passenger Touring is indeed a very rare and desirable early American car, making it a perfect candidate for private collection, museum display, or continued touring use.