Best of Show Automotive
7700 Tyler BoulevardMentor Museum of Speed, Mentor, OH, 44060, US
Phone : 440-350-1480
Email : joseph.carroll@bestofshowautomotive.com Rare, National Award Winning 1928 Stearns-Knight F6-85!

This incredibly rare 1928 Stearns-Knight F6-85 2/4-Passenger Roadster was the subject of a no-expense-spared frame-off restoration by noted Stearns-Knight expert Arthur Aseltine and has won an Antique Automobile Club of America Senior Division National 1st Place Prize, a 100-point award from the Classic Car Club of America and 2nd in Class at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours. According to the Willys Overland Knight/Stearns-Knight Registry, just 519 six-cylinder Stearns-Knight automobiles were built that year, while a total of just over a hundred Stearns-built cars exist today. This car may in fact be one-of-one; of the tiny handful of 1928 Stearns-Knight automobiles that have survived, how many are highly desirable 2/4-Passenger Sport Roadsters?

Using the smooth, powerful "silent Knight" engines for which Stearns-Knight was famous, this trophy-winning roadster was sold new by the Stearns Rhode Island Co. of Providence to a Dr. Frost of Edgewood, Rhode Island. It remained in Dr. Frost's family until 1984. Since then, it has had just three owners, including its current owner, a well-regarded Stearns-Knight collector. The current mileage of 23,994 is believed to be authentic.

In 1898, Frank B. Stearns of Cleveland, Ohio, decided to leave college and pursue, in his own words, the "ultimate aim of manufacturing of motor-driven vehicles as [my] business and life work." As his father had already amassed a considerable fortune, this gave Stearns the freedom to build unique cars for the wealthy motorist who wanted something sporty. Since he had no board of directors or stockholders to which to answer, his cars featured the latest engineering advances found in the fledgling automotive industry of the early 1900s. As early as 1901, Stearns motorcars were successfully competing in endurance runs and winning races all over the world.

Originally painted black with a red belt molding, the car was restored in its current authentic Stearns-Knight colors of beige over gray with a red beltline and traditional black fenders and aprons, giving the car a striking and elegant appearance. The interior of both the cockpit and 2-passenger rumble seat are finished in fine grain leather, with a perfectly-fitted and wrinkle-free tan Haartz canvas top that folds neatly into a depressed well behind the front seat. Weather protection is provided by removable side curtains. All exterior trim is highly polished nickel, not chrome, along with the lovely strip of polished aluminum along the tops of the doors and dashboard. The single-piece windshield swings out at the bottom and is framed in German silver, just like Rolls-Royce grilles of the same vintage.

In his quest for ever greater efficiency and power, Stearns sent his chief engineer, James Gilman "Pete" Sterling to England in 1909 to study the Daimler-Knight, with its innovative sleeve valve Knight engine. After rigorous testing, Stearns found that the sleeve valve engine offered increased efficiency, power and smoothness over more common poppet valve engines. By 1912, all Stearns engines used the sleeve valve Knight design.

This 1928 Stearns-Knight F6-85, 2/4-Passenger Roadster was built after the Willys Motor Corporation took over Stearns production in 1926, and reflects the pinnacle of sporting 1920s style and luxury. The original factory price of a F6-85 roadster was $3,250.00. For reference, a 1928 Ford Model A roadster cost $385. The advanced and luxurious Stearns-Knight automobiles were every bit a match for contemporary marques such as Packard, Lincoln, Cadillac, Pierce-Arrow, and Peerless.

The car is full of thoughtful details, from the built-in toolkit in the driver's side door, to the golf bag door on the passenger's side, to the storage boxes mounted in the front fenders; the left side box for tools and the right side box for the 6-volt battery. The white-framed radiator opening is a Stearns styling trademark used since 1909, and the radiator itself is topped with a finely engraved Boyce Moto-Meter temperature gauge.

The sleeve-valve principle, patented by Charles Y. Knight, entails each cylinder fitted with two concentric, precision-ground cast iron sleeves with .0023" clearance between them, sliding within one another. The outer sleeves were positioned against the engine block, with the inner sleeves encircling the pistons. Both sets of sleeves are operated by short connecting rods working on an eccentric rod (a sleeve valve engine's camshaft) driven from the crankshaft. At appropriate points in the piston stroke, the rectangular ports, cut in the upper ends of the sleeves, are aligned with ports in the cylinders, allowing the intake of the air/fuel charge and expulsion of the exhaust. Because the sleeves are sliding in a film of lubricating oil instead of hammering open and closed on springs like traditional poppet valves, the Knight engines operate with unparalleled smoothness and silence. The design also provides straight intake and exhaust ports for superior efficiency and a domed combustion chamber with a centrally-located spark plug for improved power.

The engine in this car is a fully rebuilt Model D double-sleeve valve six cylinder Knight engine displacing 288.6 cubic inches and conservatively rated at 85 horsepower. It features a 7-main-bearing crankshaft, pressure lubrication, and the unique Knight sleeve-valves, providing overall endurance and reliability far beyond conventional engines of the vintage. In addition to increased efficiency and power, the Knight engines were also famous for their near-silent operation (hence the "silent Knight" nickname), and this car is no exception. The entire engine compartment is detailed to an exceptionally high standard and all equipment is fully functional.

Underneath, the chassis is as well finished as the body, showcasing Stearns' durability and quality, as well as the impeccable restoration work performed. From the immaculately painted steel ladder frame with 7 tubular cross members, to the rear semi-elliptic springs encased in snug-fitting leather dust covers, every inch of this car is superbly detailed and finished. The car features 4-wheel mechanical drum brakes behind optional Dayton chrome spoke wire wheels with red rims and hubs (wooden artillery wheels were standard equipment on 1928 Stearns-Knight automobiles), sitting on authentic reproduction 7.00 x 20, 6-ply wide whitewall tube-type balloon tires. It is a very big, very impressive car at just over 204 inches in length and weighing a substantial 4700 pounds.

Having the designation of Full Classic by the Classic Car Club of America ensures this car is welcome at concours events worldwide, and its condition will take home trophies anywhere. Truly rare when new, nearly unheard of today, and perfectly preserved for generations to come, this piece of automotive history is not to be missed. A trophy at Pebble Beach, a display car at the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA and restored by arguably the most knowledgeable and thorough Stearns-Knight collector on the planet, this is the nicest of its kind, period.

FACTS & FIGURES Year:1928 Mileage:23995 VIN: Transmission Type:Manual Type of Vehicle Title:Clear Number of Cylinders:6 Primary Color:Black Interior Color:Other About this auction & Best of Show Automotive

Convinced that collector car values are plummeting? Don't be fooled! While the value of mediocre cars has been steadily sliding with the economy over the past two years, the value of incredible cars has stayed level and, is rising. In times of economic uncertainty, capital flows to the highest quality assets which contain the least amount of risk and the classic car market is no exception. The lesson is simple: buy the very best you can find!

Please note that all sales are binding and final. Our cars are sold "as-is" with no warranty expressed or implied. Please carefully read the terms & conditions of the sale before bidding. Winning this auction does not entitle you to come inspect the car and decide if you want to buy it, but obligates you to complete the purchase! A $1000.00 deposit via PayPal is due within 24 hours of the auction close ... NO EXCEPTIONS.

We do not release our reserve prices, as this would be unfair to the other bidders, so please don't ask!

Note that our cars are on display in our showroom in Mentor, Ohio, in national print advertisements, listed for sale on our website, and listed for sale in multiple, nationally known, online dealer showrooms at all times. Since our cars are for sale in a number of other mediums, we reserve the right to cancel the auction at any time.

Best of Show Automotive sells approximately 40 cars each and every month to collectors worldwide. Each and every one of these cars is listed on Ebay, but only one sale, on average per month, actually occurs on Ebay. Accordingly, if you see a car you like, don't wait! Call us! When you see it disappear, it means that it sold to someone who saw it somewhere else. Lastly, note that we do not change our pricing on any car based on Ebay auction activity. Ebay is a wholesale marketing platform, which we use primarily for marketing purposes.

If you have ZERO feedback on Ebay, please call or email us to request our authority to bid on our vehicles. And, for you con-men and women out there, while you may think it's cute to create a user account and click the Buy It Now on a high dollar car you can't afford, note that we will track you down and we will recoup our costs for fraudulent bidding activity.

This car can be inspected at our 60,000 square foot office complex and showroom facility, operated as the Mentor Museum of Speed, located at 7700 Tyler Boulevard, in Mentor, Ohio, six days per week. Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm Saturdays. You may stop in at any time during museum hours to view our collection. If you would like to make a sales appointment (and avoid paying the ten buck admission fee), we would be happy to schedule a personal appointment with you. To do so, contact Joseph Carroll below. For those of you who need to fly in, we can provide transportation to and from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. We can also provide accommodations within walking distance of our facility.

We can transport your new vehicle to you in one of our enclosed car haulers. Cost depends on mileage and location. Our Transportation Manager, Ron Meek, stands ready to help you with your transport needs. For a quote, call Ron at: (440)350-1480. Ron's direct email address is: class="wmatterbold">For those international buyers, note that we've shipped cars to collectors and classic car fans world-wide for years. You can feel confident in our representations, and post-sale service. Our Transportation Manager, Ron Meek, stands ready to help your transport & shipping needs.

A common question we receive is: "do you accept trades"? We do accept trades, but will only consider #1 or #2 condition vehicles. If you would like us to review a trade, please send detailed pictures of the entire car, including the underside. Also send a detailed description which includes all specifications, facts, figures, history and documentation present with the car. Lastly, give us a clear idea of what you are seeking in trade value. Email information on your trade directly to Joseph Carroll. Joe's email address is: class="wmatterbold">Best of Show Automotive, LLC has a valid Ohio Used Car Dealer's License. Our showroom, located at 7700 Tyler Boulevard, in Mentor, Ohio, is open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, with viewing by appointment only Monday through Friday. We 100-140 incredible cars on display, and there's always something new. Feel free to stop in and meet our staff, and, more importantly, see the Greatest Showroom on Earth! Each and every one of our 25 member staff is an absolute car nut and we do this because we love cars!

In addition to our main showroom in Mentor, Ohio, we own two secondary facilities, including a restoration mechanical/assembly facility and a restoration body/paint shop. We perform complete restorations for classic car fans around the globe. Best of Show car have won numerous national weekends and our cars won their classes at both the 2009 Mopar Nationals and 2009 Pontiac Nationals. We own all of our facilities and have a significant investment in our business. We stand behind our work and value long-term relationships with our customers! For information on your restoration project, our Restoration Manager, Tim Wilhelm, can be reached at: (440)354-3279. Tim's direct email address is: class="wmatterbold">Do you want your car customized? New wheels? Air conditioning? We have a full service shop staffed with veterans who have been there and done that …we can give you what you want! For a quote on customizing or add-on products, contact our Inventory Manager, Doug Croxford, at: (440)350-1480. Doug's direct email address is: class="wmatterbold">Check out our feedback from other customers who have purchased cars from us in the past. Here's what some of customers have to say: We pride ourselves on describing our cars accurately, and, our cars really do look better in person than in the pictures! Bid with confidence!

For general information, call us at: (440)350-1480. You can send an email directly to our President, Joseph Carroll, at: Joseph M. Carroll
President/Sales/Purchasing

5782 Heisley Road
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : (440)350-1480 Fax : (440)350-1638 Mobile : (440)313-8091 /> www.bestofshowautomotive.com Greg Chismar
Transportation Manager

7700 Tyler Boulevard
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : 440-350-1480 Fax : 440-350-1336 Mobile : 440-840-4081 /> www.bestofshowautomotive.com Tim Wilhelm
Restoration Manager

5782 Heisley Rd.
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : 440-354-3279 tim.wilhelm@bestofshowautomotive.com
www.bestofshowautomotive.com G. K. Kerr
Vice President of Sales

7700 Tyler Boulevard
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : 440-350-1480 Fax : 440-350-1336 Mobile : 440-413-5149 george.kerr@bestofshowautomotive.com
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