With its Hispano-Suiza-inspired V-8 engine shoehorned neatly beneath the hood, in an otherwise unassuming 1920s runabout, the Wills Sainte Claire offered refined performance and engineering ahead of many of its contemporaries.

In April 1998, when a significant portion of William A. Pettit’s garage was sold at a Christie’s auction in Tarrytown, New York, Stan Lucas was an active participant in the event and secured this Roadster. Described modestly at the time as an older restoration that had been exchanged with a friend for a Cord, this fine example has aged gracefully in Mr. Lucas’ collection, with the paintwork showing crazing in places and a general patination throughout.