Car : Simplex 50 HP
Year : 1912
Engine : 4 cylinders in line
Bore and stroke :146×146 mm
Cylinder capacity : 9772 cc
Gears : 4 forward
Brake horse power : -
Maximum speed : -
Wheelbase : –
Suspension : front and back : semi-floating
Simplex was another American firm which only operated for a short time (1907 to 1917), but which nonetheless left favourable memories because of the very high quality of its cars.
Founded by Herman Broesel, it began by importing foreign cars into the United States, but in 1907 it started making them itself. In 1907 Broesel took over Smith and Mabley, who also imported foreign cars.
The first Simplex was the 1912 model illustrated here. Certain features were new: the aluminium crank case, two side camshafts (the camshaft for the exhaust valves had an axial movement to regulate normal running or, with reduced compression, to facilitate moving off). The gearbox and differential were contained in a box separate from the engine. It had dual ignition, forced cooling, electric generator and gear-change, and removable wheel rims, but no windshield.
The Holbrook (New York) bodywork was deceptive and made the car look smaller than it was (its exceptional cylinder capacity made it a powerful car). In 1914 the 46 HP came out, with 100 bhp, twin-block 6-cylinder engine. Although built exactly along the lines of the more popular Simplex models it had no impact on the fluctuating American market.