ABC Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Company

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The ABC Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Company , previously car Buggy Manufacturing Company and ABC Motor Vehicle Company was an American automobile manufacturer in St. Louis , Missouri and active in the years 1905 to 1910. It was founded after Amedee B. Cole some Highwheeler own Had built a structure he could sell.

1905 to 1907

The only model that Cole initially offered was a two-seater runabout in the style of a buggy with an air-cooled single-cylinder engine of 10 hp built across the seat according to the method of calculation at the time. The rear axle was split in two. The power was transmitted via a 2-speed friction gear and a chain, and the suspension consisted of four full-optic springs. It was steered with a lever. Initially, 40 inch (1.016 mm) diameter rims were used. The tires were made of rubber. The wheelbase was 72 inches (1829 mm). The body was made of wood.

The ABC was light and particularly easy to use. Logically, Cole advertised with the slogan As simple as you can guess to operate . The vehicle cost a comparatively modest US $ 300; the popular Oldsmobile Curved Dash had a base price of US $ 650 and was considered a cheap car.

In 1907 the vehicle was revised. It now looked much more elegant, the rims still measured 36 inches (914 mm). Nothing changed in the price. The car is likely to have been offered in this form well into 1908.

ABC Motor Vehicle Company

1908

The company was reorganized as the ABC Motor Vehicle Company in 1908 .

At the end of the year, a significantly improved highwheeler was presented with the 16/18 PS . It now had a two-cylinder engine , water cooling and made a respectable 18 hp according to the method of calculation at the time. The wheelbase grew to 90 inches (2286 mm). 2-Seat Runabout (US $ 600), 3-Seat Runabout (US $ 650), Surrey 4-Seat (US $ 850) and Delivery Wagon (US $ 700). Variants of this vehicle remained on offer until the end of the company.

183 vehicles were built this year.

1909

The company started optimistically in 1909. The name was changed to ABC Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Company and the product range expanded. The 16/18 PS received a first revision. The delivery van was dropped from the program and the three-seater runabout was now called the Roadster . Each 16/18 hp was optionally available with air or water cooling. At Runabout and Surrey , tires or rubber tires were available, which had a not inconsiderable influence on the price.

Cole had also correctly recognized that the future did not belong to the archaic highwheeler . Logically, he developed a completely new car for the 1909 model year. The 30/35 hp was a contemporary design with a front engine and a 112 inch (2845 mm) wheelbase. The conventional four-cylinder developed 35 hp and was comparatively cheap with prices between US $ 1,100 and 1,250. It was available as a runabout, roadster and touring. There is no reference to cooling and tires, but it can be assumed that these cars had tires and water cooling.

model model series body engine cooling Tires Price US $
PD 16/18 hp Roadster 3 pl. 2 cyl. air Tire 725.00
PD 16/18 hp Roadster 3 pl. 2 cyl. water Tire 775.00
C. 16/18 hp Runabout 2 pl. 2 cyl. air rubber 600.00
C. 16/18 hp Runabout 2 pl. 2 cyl. water rubber 650.00
Pc 16/18 hp Runabout 2 pl. 2 cyl. air Tire 690.00
Pc 16/18 hp Runabout 2 pl. 2 cyl. water Tire 740.00
E. 16/18 hp Surrey 4 pl. 2 cyl. air rubber 700.00
E. 16/18 hp Surrey 4 pl. 2 cyl. water rubber 750.00
PE 16/18 hp Surrey 4 pl. 2 cyl. air Tire 775.00
PE 16/18 hp Surrey 4 pl. 2 cyl. water Tire 825.00
G 30/35 hp Runabout 2 pl. 4 cyl. 1,100.00
H 30/35 hp Roadster 3 pl. 4 cyl. 1,200.00
I. 30/35 hp Touring 4 pl. 4 cyl. 1,250.00

1910

There were few changes for 1910. The confusing program for the 16/18 PS was simplified, there were only three body variants. It can be assumed that rubber tires were withdrawn from the range because the model names PC, PD and PE were omitted and it is unlikely that the pneumatic tires, which had already established themselves as the standard in the industry, were deleted. The roadster was a little cheaper, the runabout a little more expensive. The E Surrey model was written at the price of the previous year's water-cooled version. From this price development, it is not possible to deduce which cooling was used and whether this happened exclusively. The prices for the 30/35 hp have been increased slightly.

model model series body engine Price US $
C. 16/18 hp Runabout 2 pl. 2 cyl. 690.00
D. 16/18 hp Roadster 3 pl. 2 cyl. 690.00
E. 16/18 hp Surrey 4 pl. 2 cyl. 750.00
G 30/35 hp Runabout 2 pl. 4 cyl. 1,250.00
H 30/35 hp Roadster 3 pl. 4 cyl. 1,400.00
I. 30/35 hp Touring 4 pl. 4 cyl. 1,400.00

bankruptcy

Shortly before Christmas 1910, ABC Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Company filed for bankruptcy because of outstanding claims by various creditors totaling US $ 1070.

literature

  • George Nick Georgano (Ed.): Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885 to the Present ; Dutton Press, New York, 2nd edition (hardcover) 1973, ISBN 0-525-08351-0 (English)
  • Kimes, Beverly Rae (editor) and Clark, Henry Austin, jr .: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 2nd edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI 54990, USA (1985), ISBN 0-87341-111-0 (English)
  • Kimes, Beverly Rae: Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels: The Dawn of the Automobile in America ; Editor SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Permissions, Warrendale PA (2005), ISBN 0-7680-1431-X (English)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kimes (1985), p. 1545
  2. ↑ Kimes (1985), pp. 12-13
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g Kimes (1985), p. 13
  4. ↑ "As easy to use as you can imagine"
  5. ↑ Kimes (1985), pp. 1019-1020
  6. ↑ american-automobiles.com: ABC Automobile & ABC Motor Vehicle Co.