1901 Winton Bullet

Loan courtesy of Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Brookline, MA

·    This is one of the most important and well preserved 1901 American racing car in existence

·    In 1901 cost nearly $18,000 (approximately $660,000 today)

·    Anderson nickname and motto for this car was “Buckeye”, “Catch Who  Catch Can”

With a 40-horsepower, 2-cylinder opposed gas engine, the Winton Bullet (also known in 1901 as a Winton Heavy Racer) was the first production race car offered to the public, in 1901. Only four of this particular Winton model were produced; one of these automobiles was purchased by Larz and Isabel Anderson and is the last surviving example still in existence.

 In the early years of the automobile, races were held to test their strength and resilience. Often match races between gentlemen. Alexander Winton raced his Bullet against Henry Ford’s “Sweepstakes Ford” in the World Champion Sweepstakes on October 10, 1901. In the end, this ten-lap race proved that Ford’s automobile was the better car, beginning his fledgling legacy in the automotive industry.

Larz himself used this car to compete in the first race meeting of the Massachusetts Auto Club in 1901. Completely original from the time of the Andersons, the Winton Bullet is an amazing example of automotive engineering and ingenuity during the early 20th century.