Re: Off topic, but neat pic of Eddie Cantor with his Locomobile

Posted by 58L8134 On 2017/3/11 14:38:14

Hi Garrett

The Locomobile Junior Eight was an effort by Billy Durant to fill out the price gaps for his Durant Motors modeled on the Sloan ladder. He had purchased control of Locomobile in 1922 to be his corporate luxury marque. While its prestige reputation had been made by the gigantic Model 48 priced from $7,500 to $11,000, the Junior Eight was an 'assembled' car as were Durant's other makes: Star, Durant and Flint. Key to the being identified as an 'assembled' car was if its engine was bought from a proprietary engine maker such as Continental, Lycoming, Ansted, or Wiedeley.

The Junior Eight, though generally priced versus Packard Six class cars ($2,000 to $3,000), had a tiny 198.8 cu. in. ohv straight eight. Locomobile claimed the engine to be their own manufacture but was actually sourced from Continental; it wasn't a great engine for a car its size. The Locomobile line also gained a Lycoming-engined Model 8-80 to fill out the price spectrum. It was all for naught, sales fell every year until Locomobile ended production with the 1929 models. Durants lasted for a few more years until the Depression did it in in 1932.

Eddie Cantor was a rising entertainment star then, one which Billy Durant would have been delighted to have promote his Junior Eight that became the 1927 8-66; 1928 8-70. As we know, he became a frequent Packard owner later on. When Eddie traded his Locomobile Junior Eight roadster for a real luxury car at the Packard dealer, the dealer no doubt promoted its resale with "Previous Owner - The Great Eddie Cantor!". But, at a good low price that would move that 'dog' off the lot before it became worthless.

Steve