Lot 151

Hershey 2013

1909 Schacht Model K Runabout

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$41,250 USD | Sold

United States | Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Engine No.
U54K
  • Well-maintained restoration in beautiful colors
  • Currently in fully functioning condition
  • The “Invincible Schacht”

18 bhp, 183 cu. in. two-cylinder engine with single carburetor, friction-drive transmission, front and rear suspension with Concord 72-inch springs, and four-wheel mechanical brakes. Wheelbase: 74 in.

Addendum: Please note this vehicle will be sold on a Bill of Sale only.

Founded by brothers William and Gustav A. Schacht in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Schacht Manufacturing Company produced wagons and horse-drawn carriages before the brothers decided to outfit their high-wheeled buggies with a chain driven, two-cylinder engine in 1904. Priced at $680 when new, the founders thought so highly of their product that they nicknamed and marketed the car as the “Invincible Schacht.” Their cars initially sold well before the company transitioned away from automobile production.

Schacht’s Model K was introduced as the replacement for their 10-horsepower Model H. Utilizing a steering wheel instead of a tiller, which was atypical of early motor cars, Schachts were easy to maneuver, especially when considering the vehicle’s large wheels. As a result, these vehicles were much appreciated by those living in rural areas, as they could easily maneuver the vehicles over poorly maintained and muddy dirt roads.

Regardless of its age of 104 years, this 1909 Schacht Model K is in fantastic condition and is reported to run and drive as well as it did when it first left the factory. Last restored in the early 1990s, the car is still in incredible condition, which attests to the high quality of the workmanship behind both the Schacht itself and its restoration. As such, this Schacht is an excellent example of an early American automobile. Finished in a spectacular shade of dark green with lighter green pinstriping throughout, the beauty of this car lies in the restoration’s fine attention to detail.

When the company’s name was changed to G.A. Schacht Motor Truck Co., as production focused on trucks for commercial use, their first automobiles quickly became an afterthought, even though over 8,000 were built between 1904 and 1914. The company would go on to produce trucks until the last Schacht was built in 1940. Schachts are becoming more difficult to find, and discovering a functional example is even more challenging. Considering the exceptional mechanical and cosmetic condition of this particular Schacht, it would be safe to say that this automobile lived up to its original marketing promise.

This vehicle is sold on a Bill of Sale only.