Presented by GAA Classic Cars – After downing 26 enemy planes in WWI and before leading Eastern Airlines, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker built luxury cars. Aside from owning and operating the Indy Motor Speedway, his time at GM was spent acquiring Allison Engines, North American Aviation, and the launch of the LaSalle division of Cadillac. The world of the big automakers left something to be desired.
Always looking to build a car worthy of his discerning expectations, he developed a matched set of flywheels for the front and rear of each engine. This allowed the Rickenbacker straight-8 to be one of the smoothest cars offered in the 20s. It was the first brand to offer 4-wheel brakes among other innovations. But he couldn’t compete with the prices offered by Chrysler, and the company was sold to Audi in 1927. Over 35,000 cars were built with this being the only surviving Roadster. Recently treated to a frame-off, this piece of American history demands to be preserved.
This 1926 Rickenbacker will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars’ April 2021, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. For more information about the event, click here.
