The sole surviving 1926 Rickenbacker Super Sport, a historic New York Auto Show car, will headline Mecum’s Larry’s Legacy sale.
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.
A piece of American motoring and aviation-inspired history is headed to auction this fall. Mecum Auctions announced that a 1926 Rickenbacker Eight Super Sport, the only known surviving example of its kind, will cross the block during Larry’s Legacy 2025 in Indianapolis on Saturday, September 20.
The car, chassis No. 7 of just 17 Super Sports built, debuted at the 1926 New York Auto Show and reflects the innovation and daring of its namesake, World War I ace and automotive pioneer Eddie Rickenbacker. The coupe is powered by a 315-cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine producing 105 horsepower, paired with a three-speed manual transmission. Its aviation-inspired design includes cycle fenders that turn with the front wheels, laminated mahogany airfoil bumpers, copper-plated trim, and distinctive Edmund & Jones headlamps.
The Rickenbacker’s story is as compelling as its engineering. Originally purchased by Michigan businessman Richard Mellin for a reported $10,000—an extraordinary sum at the time—the car was later gifted to his grandson before joining Harrah’s Automobile Collection in the 1970s. It underwent a full restoration by Eric and Vivian LaVine’s Indiana workshop and has since passed through the hands of notable collectors, including Bob Pond, who displayed it at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Recognized as a CCCA Full Classic, the car has appeared at top concours events and been featured in publications including Road & Track and Automobile Quarterly. Its appearance at Mecum marks a rare chance for collectors to acquire a one-off piece of Rickenbacker and American automotive history. See it here.
