This 1933 Essex Terraplane Six Roadster was purchased new in 1933 at Hudson Motor Sales in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. It has been owned from new by the same family (sold from father to son in the 1960s) until being acquired by Fox Motorsports from the son.

This Essex Terraplane was used regularly in Pennsylvania until the 1950s when a minor accident took it off the road. The car then sat in a garage on family property in Pennsylvania. Sometime in the 1960s, the son (who was living in Michigan) heard from family members that the Terraplane really should be sold or “it might get stolen”. Not wanting to see the car disappear and with a desire to put it back on the road, the son purchased the car from his dad (the original owner), rented a U-Haul truck, and picked up the car from the barn in Pennsylvania.

Once in Michigan, the Terraplane sat for a few more years. Then, in the early 1970s, the son delivered the Terraplane to famed restoration specialist, Bob Anzalone in Manchester, Michigan. The Terraplane stayed with Bob for 8 years—until a full restoration was finally completed. Note: This restoration was prior to Bob Anzalone finally retiring from Kelsey-Hayes to work full-time at his R&A Engineering business in 1987 (where he and his team would go on to win many prestigious awards)—hence the lengthy restoration process for the Terraplane.

In the late 1970s, with the Terraplane finally completed, the son and Bob Anzalone showed the car at a car show in Petoskey, Michigan—where it won first prize. The son showed the Terraplane at other car shows over the years but, otherwise, the car was used minimally. He was cautious to drive the car or put the convertible top down—which Bob Anzalone warned him never to do “or else you’ll crease the top”. So, the son never drove the car with the top down (the top was only recently put down by Fox Motorsports—for photographing the car).

Fast forward to 2020. The Terraplane had always been carefully stored and covered inside by the son, but he didn’t like seeing the old car sit and was in the process of selling his long-running business in Michigan. So, Fox Motorsports purchased the car from the son in 2020.

This is one of the nicest Essex Terraplane Six examples you’ll find. Over the last 4 years, the Terraplane has always been stored in a climate-controlled environment at Fox Motorsports. It’s been taken care of and serviced to a high level, despite minimal use. The current condition of the car is excellent—a testament to the quality of the restoration by Bob Anzalone and the care given to the car since.  The paint finish is outstanding, with excellent chrome, and the attention to detail of a perfectionist is seen throughout. The leather seats and interior leather are in exceptional condition, with a matching rear rumble seat. The car runs and drives very well—with a smooth, quiet idle that makes you wonder if the engine is actually running. The only faults are a cracked headlight trim ring (driver’s side) and some missing paint on the hood/bonnet where three of the four bonnet latches attach (see photos).

Included in the sale is the original 1933 Pennsylvania title (void) along with a second cowl vent door.

Under the care of Fox Motorsports, the following work/service has been done:

-Oil change and coolant flush

-Rebuild of driver’s door latch mechanism

-Relining of the brake shoes

-Install, test, adjust, tune, and retest the braking system

-Rebuild of the fuel pump

-Rebuild and tune of the carburetor

-Regular Detailing & Waxing

SOLD