Cadillac Rollston from 19130 as 3D large model

The Rollston Company was an American manufacturer of automobile bodies. The company, based in New York City, manufactured exclusive superstructures for chassis of North American and European top-class manufacturers in the period between the world wars. The closest business relationship was with Packard.

The Rollston Company was founded in 1921 by Harry Lonschein, Sam Blotkin and Julius Veghso. Lonschein and Veghso already had experience in body construction at this time: The Romanian-born Lonschein (1886–1977) had worked at the renowned coach and body manufacturer Brewster from 1903 and had worked for many years on bodies for chassis from Rolls-Royce. Veghso (1874-1964) had been the owner of the Perfect Body Company until 1920, which at times had made bodies for Singer. With the choice of the name, the company founders established a connection to Rolls-Royce.

Rollston was initially a repair shop for motor vehicles, but switched to body construction in the first year. From the very beginning, the company produced individual superstructures on customer request, which Veghso initially designed before Rudy Creteur (1904–1978) took over the role of designer in 1927. In the 1920s, Packard chassis in particular were dressed. Rollston's specialty were so-called town cars, i.e. vehicles with an open chauffeur compartment and a closed passenger area. Stylistically, Rollston's designs were considered very conservative; in terms of craftsmanship, observers believed that they were exceptionally complex and of high quality. Rollard's Packards were regularly $ 2,000-2,500 more expensive in the 1920s than comparable models with LeBaron bodies. The late 1920s was the most successful era for Rollston: during this time, more than 50 bodies were produced annually. In addition to Packard, still the most important customer of Rollstons, individual bodies for chassis from Bugatti, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Cord, Hispano-Suiza, Lancia, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Minerva, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, Rolls-Royce were created and support.

In 1931 Rollston took over the material and a large part of the staff of the previous, now insolvent competitor Holbrook. In this way, Rollston came into contact with Duesenberg, whose chassis had previously been dressed by Holbrook. In the 1930s, Rollston manufactured a total of 57 bodies for the Duesenberg Model J and JN. Rollston's best-known creation for Duesenberg was the Arlington Torpedo Sedan based on a Model J chassis, also known as the Twenty Grand. The vehicle designed by Gordon Buehrig was considered the most beautiful car of its time. It was sold in 1933 for $ 20,000. In 2015, the Twenty Grand, which has now been extensively restored, fetched almost $ 1.6 million at an auction in the United States.

As a result of the global economic crisis, the demand for high-priced vehicles decreased significantly from 1931 onwards. Rollston's annual output fell by two thirds in the following years: from May 1931 to 1938, only 142 vehicles were built. To sell them, Rollston had to cut prices significantly. A finished vehicle that was sold to the wholesaler in 1931 for $ 4,600 cost only $ 2,700 two years later with the same equipment.

In 1938, Rollston went bankrupt. The company was dissolved. The previous management founded a successor company under the direction of Lonscheins and the designer Creteur, which operated as Rollson (without "t"). Rollson is still active as a metal processing company on Long Island, but has no relationship with the automotive industry.

Our model made of wood, which you will create yourself with the illustrated instructions from 259 parts, is a Rollsten from 1930 which is built on a Caddilac chassis.

Please note that this kit is not a toy and can only be used to a limited extent. Please keep the items away from small children under 6 years old. It involves breaking off small parts and being swallowed. We declare the model as a puzzle or decoration

Item Description:

Material:  4mm wood
Dimensions approx.: 57 x 23 x 14 cm (LxWxH)
Weight approx: 2.0 kg
Content: 1 x lasered kit with 259 parts / assembly instructions

Supplied as a lasered kit. This must be assembled by yourself.
No tools needed. The parts must be glued.