A rare piece of early American automotive history will headline Mecum’s Larry’s Legacy 2025 sale, as a 1906 American Tourist designed by industry pioneer Harry C. Stutz crosses the block on September 20.
The late Larry Klairmont spent more than a decade collecting rare and coveted classic and collector cars, along with thousands of items of Road Art and memorabilia to complete the look and feel of his Chicago-based museum. A long-time dedicated customer of Mecum Auctions, Klairmont had full faith in the company’s proven ability to draw the best audiences in the world, which is why the museum has selected Mecum to handle the upcoming sale of his treasured collection. Mecum Auctions has spent more than 38 years building trust among the collector car community, offering more than 2,000 collections of varying types in that time. For the company’s lucky bidders, such collections often offer rare buying opportunities for vehicles that have long been tucked away or that have never changed hands at all, along with the peace of mind that the cars were held in the attentive care of a true-blue collector car enthusiast. Click here to register for the Larry’s Legacy auction, to be held on-site at the museum’s downtown Chicago location this Sept. 19-21.
The open-top touring car is notable as the first production automobile created by Stutz, years before he founded the Stutz Motor Company. Powered by a 336-cubic-inch inline-four engine, the car was advanced for its time, delivering an advertised 35 to 40 horsepower through a three-speed manual transmission.
Finished in red with contrasting black fenders and a black cloth convertible top, the car carries a host of period-correct accessories. Among them are Rushmore acetylene headlights, Gray and Davis kerosene sidelights, a Stewart speedometer, and a swivel-mounted acetylene searchlight. Inside, pleated red leather seats highlight a carefully restored cabin, while an American eagle radiator mascot adds a distinctive flourish to the front end.
This particular example is already well recognized in collector circles, having earned an Antique Automobile Club of America National First Prize award. Its condition reflects decades of preservation and careful restoration, with red-painted wheels wrapped in Firestone tires completing the period-correct presentation.
The American Motors Company, based in Indianapolis, was among several Indiana automakers in the early 20th century. Though the brand built approximately 45,000 vehicles between 1906 and 1914, only a small number remain today. The Tourist represents not only the company’s inaugural year but also a pivotal step in Stutz’s career before he went on to influence performance and racing cars.
For collectors, the offering combines rarity, provenance, and award-winning quality. As the earliest known Stutz design, the 1906 Tourist stands as a rolling landmark of America’s formative automotive years. See it here.
