

The Heine-Velox Sporting Victoria in front of the Heine Piano Company

The rich history of the automobile is filled with tales of eccentric inventors and instinctive engineers. One of the most interesting is the story of Gustav Otto Ludolf Heine. Born in Vierkrug, Germany in 1868, his family brought him to Yolo County in northern California in 1873. He left home at the age of sixteen and secured a job sweeping floors at the Bruenn Piano Company in San Francisco. In just a few years he rose to full partner and then sole owner of the company, achieving this despite having left school in the fifth grade.



Sport Touring Model – California Model – The DeLuxe Model

His financial success allowed him to indulge his enthusiasm for early road cars and the fledgling motor racing scene. A chance meeting with E.J. Hall, later of the Hall-Scott Motor Car Company, led to a partnership that resulted in his first automotive venture in 1904, the Heine-Velox Motor Company. As few as three hand-crafted cars are said to have been built between 1904 and 1906 in 35-40 and 50-60 horsepower form. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed the factory and his piano showroom, Heine manufactured a few cars in Milwaukee, but production there ceased in 1908.



The unpainted DeLuxe Model in 1921

Heine himself has been quoted as referring to his varied automotive enterprises as his “hobby.” The continued prosperity of his piano business provided him with sufficient capital to pursue it and pursue it again he did in 1921. Only five of the new luxury model were ever produced. It was the most expensive car in the U.S. at the time, slated to sell for between $17,000 and $25,000, but offered a lot for the money. Its 389 cubic inch, overhead valve V-12 Weidely engine and four wheel external contracting hydraulic brakes were state-of-the-art. Large, high mounted electric headlamps, equipped with vacuum operated high and low beams and a one piece windshield were very unusual features.



The Front Brakes – The Weidely Engine – The Driving Compartment

The instrument panel was mounted at a forty-five degree angle instead vertical as was usual at the time. A unique rear-mounted “Horn Enunciator” incorporated lights and a horn to indicate acceleration, stopping, turning or reversing to motorists following behind. All this rode on an enormous 148 inch wheelbase. Only two complete cars are known to have survived. The Sporting Victoria, seen below, had been in the Harrah Collection for many years and now resides at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. The Shanghai Auto Museum has had another example in its collection. All photos courtesy of the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. Special thanks to Nancy Dewitt.