1918 Scripps-Booth C Roadster

This Scripps-Booth is known to the Scripps-Booth Register as a 1917-built Type C Roadster and is thought to be one of approximately 36 still in existence worldwide – just two of which live in the UK. Its rarity is not only down to its age, but also its parent firm’s short life. The Scripps-Booth automotive dream only lasted for a decade and this model was produced for just three years from 1915-1917. A relatively advanced machine for the time, this Type C Roadster features an electric starter, automatic timing advance and an easy to enter ‘step down’ floor design.

This Roadster spent the majority of its 104 years in its native USA. A previous owner reports that once it left the federal highways in 1937, it eventually found its way into the hands of collector and museum owner Frank Kleptz from Terre Haute, Indiana. He commissioned the car’s restoration but sadly died before it was completed. The car was then purchased by a UK enthusiast in 2011, and since then, it’s been registered, recommissioned and restored right her in the UK.

With the unmistakable ‘torpedo’ shape of an inter-war era roadster, this Scripps-Booth is an evocative gem to behold. The adornments from the early years of motoring include wire wheels (relatively rare in this era) a split folding windscreen and those prominent headlights plus a beautiful German Silver radiator surround. The little touches really make this roadster stand out from the crowd, as much today as they did in period. Did you notice those beautifully ornate single wheel nuts with Scripps-Booth embossed logos? Gorgeous. We could get lost in this car’s details for hours but let’s get to the nitty gritty instead.

Generally, this 104-year-old seems to present very well. Its paint has been restored to a high standard, yet enough of the vehicle remains under-restored to give a hint of its considerable age. There are also a few post-restoration marks that have helped add patina. There’s a small chip in the paint on the offside rear wheel arch for example and a deep yet small scratch on the inner edge of the nearside front wing (just behind the headlamp). We can also forgive said headlights for being a bit wonky, as precision machining wasn’t really a thing in 1917 – the driver’s side lamp is a bit higher than passenger side. There’s a little tarnishing to the offside of that German Silver (copper, zinc & nickel alloy) radiator surround plus some pitting on the nearside but it doesn’t appear to anything serious.

Despite the paint’s overall sound appearance, we did find some cracks on the bonnet, either side of the central hinge. Panels line up surprisingly well for a car from this era. It was touted as a ‘premium light vehicle’ according to its creator so perhaps a greater attention to detail is to be expected. Other marks we noted, yet still classed as patina, include a close-fitting passenger door that’s left a few marks in the slam area and carries tape on its trailing edge.

The hood fit is pretty good without too much stretching or pinching. There are a few marks on it but it’s still very much serviceable and its headlining appears to be excellent. Its frame also appears to be in great shape, barring the odd scratch to its paint. There’s also a small drill hole in the nearside running board, yet nothing’s been fitted... Oh, and there’s also some light bubbling under the paint on the rear deck. Though it feels churlish to point out these minor faults in a car this old – would you even want it to be perfect?

One major draw of these unusual machines is the curious seating arrangement. The driver sits about a foot further forward than the passenger, with a swing-out third seat that sits under the dashboard when not in use. Another innovation of this Model C Roadster should be an electric horn push on its steering wheel, though sadly that’s now fitted to the dashboard. The central boss for the steering wheel also seems to be missing. The stainless-steel highlights and switches in this cabin were a big deal when new and still look fantastic. We particularly like the oddly named ‘Starting Strangler’ button.

Looking at a previous sale of this car from 2018 the listing images show an oddly garish gear knob fitted. That’s clearly still present, but has been painted over with black paint, though that’s now wearing off. Despite its relatively advanced electric starter and automatic advance, there’s still a sight gauge in front of the driver in order to (literally) keep an eye on the lubrication level.

Other than some light creases to the seat cover material (most on the swivel seat) the trim appears to be in excellent shape throughout. Lifting the slightly worn carpets, we noted that the floor boards appear to be in tip-top condition. We even found a cubby storage box, just to the left of the passenger seat – who said vintage cars aren’t be practical?

We know from the history that this Scripps-Booth has had some engine work. Its cylinder head developed a crack that’s since been fixed. The 1798cc four-cylinder engine was introduced in 1916 after a merger with the Sterling Motor Company. Later Chevrolet era Model Cs were powered by a V8. A new battery has been fitted, and in the video you can see the engine running. It starts "on the button" and runs very well indeed. The vendor tells us that it is a joy to drive.

Evocative period touches continue under the bonnet with those lovely brass carburettor and intake components. Slightly less in-keeping is the new fuse box and loom wiring, but at least it’s been semi-hidden on the front bulkhead. We did see some light oil leaks from the engine block and further evidence on the inside of the engine lid, but we’ve yet to see a 100-plus-year-old vehicle that isn’t a little incontinent.

Sliding underneath proper; the floors, running boards, front and rear ends all look nice and clean. It’s clear that not many miles have been covered since this car’s restoration. We spotted plenty of new nuts, bolts, washers and wiring everywhere. The paint underneath still has great coverage and seems to be protecting things admirably, though we did spot some surface corrosion to the bottom of the back panel, just above the rear axle. There’s another light patch of surface corrosion starting on the bottom of the front axle, but it seems very minor.

As is often the case with imports, there’s sadly very few documents to charter this car’s former life in the States. There are some interesting copies of the S-B Register newsletter, including details of this car and its sale into the UK. There’s also a US registration (or title) from Indiana, but that’s about it.

As for bills, there’s only really one significant invoice and it’s for that previously mentioned work to fix the cylinder head. That was carried out in 2018, in the UK, by well-known vintage and veteran specialist JSWL at a cost of £674.27.

The vehicle also comes with a V5C and a non-transferable registration document. There’s also a good deal of history, printed from the internet, regarding the Scripps-Booth company and this model in particular, which makes for an interesting read.

The vendor bought this car in order to use it to take his daughter to her wedding, which sadly didn’t happen due to the pandemic. He nevertheless enjoyed a few drives out in it and loved the reaction from passers-by upon clocking this unusual motoring sight. A rare and largely forgotten (even in America) though no less important footnote in motoring history, this machine has been preserved against all the odds.

The fact so few remain, especially in Europe, surely makes it worthy of a vintage car collector’s attention. Its surprisingly advanced, electrically-operated controls and unusual, yet comfortable seating arrangement, make it an unexpectedly usable vehicle. It would therefore be a shame to see it disappear once again into a museum collection, never to turn a wheel again. Though whatever its fate, we expect this rare slice of American automotive history to make between £12,000 and £16,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, so to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.