Looking back on automotive history, the Roaring Twenties brought many of the greatest, most forward-looking design and engineering achievements to the world. Today, the brilliant and briefly produced Ruxton continues to stand as one of the rarest and most unique automobiles of the entire 1925-1948 Classic Era, combining advanced front-wheel drive engineering with bold, ultra-modern styling. Produced by the appropriately named New Era Motors, an offshoot of the former Moon Motor Car company, the Ruxton story ended almost as soon as it had begun with development in 1929 and final production by 1930-31. As few as 96 examples were ultimately produced. Credit for the Ruxton’s innovative front-wheel drivetrain, arguably better in execution than that of the better-known Cord L-29, goes to William J. Mueller, a veteran motorcycle and automobile racer who piloted the famous front-drive Gila Monster race car in 1913, which likely influenced the rest of his automotive career along with the success of Harry A. Miller’s victorious front-drive racing cars. Further significant influences include his stint as an experimental engineer through much of the 1920s with Edward G. Budd Manufacturing of Philadelphia, the class-leading builder of rail cars and automobile bodies. Joseph Ledwinka, an American relative of renowned Austrian engineer Hans Ledwinka, penned the basic body designs for the Ruxton. Only about 96 Ruxtons were built in all, placing them among the rarest high-end automobiles of the era. The least expensive Ruxton sold for $4,500, or nine times the price of a new Ford and 40% higher than a competing Cord L-29. Sadly, New Era Motors collapsed—almost before the venture began Ruxton production—in the wake of ongoing managerial and investment drama that was only compounded by the worsening Great Depression. According to marque collectors, credible estimates and the Blackhawk Collection, as few as 19 examples are known to survive today. Extremely rare as one of only seven Ruxton Roadsters in existence with daring coachwork by Baker-Raulang, this example carries Chassis No. 10C72. The Continental-supplied 4.4L inline Continental straight 8-cylinder engine is numbered 18S-1031 and delivers power via the Ruxton front-wheel drivetrain including a 3-speed manual transmission, and the Ruxton utilizes semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension. Desirable features include a jaunty rumble seat, dual side-mounted spares, a folding top and rear luggage rack, and full-size wheel covers mounting wide whitewall tires. Part of the Cliff Ernst Collection since July 1995, when it was purchased from the renowned Blackhawk Collection, this dashing Ruxton was previously under the care of a succession of other illustrious collectors including SCCA co-founder D. Cameron Peck, Robert and Herbert Horn, Walter Bellm, Leo Gephardt, Bill Lassiter and Noel Thompson. Its restoration was completed under Lassiter in the 1980s, culminating in top-level awards and appearances. Among them are AACA National First Prize and CCCA Senior Premier awards, and an invitation to be displayed at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
