- National Motor Vehicle Company
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National Motor Vehicle Company 
Former type Automobile Manufacturing Industry Automotive Fate Acquired by Walter Chrysler Successor Chrysler Founded 1900 Founder(s) Arthur C. Newby Defunct 1924 Headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana The National Motor Vehicle Company was an American manufacturer of automobiles in Indianapolis, Indiana between 1900 and 1924. Its president, Arthur C. Newby, was one of the investors who created the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.[1]
The company first concentrated on electric vehicles, making their first one, a runabout with tiller steering called the Style A, in 1900. They moved into internal combustion engined cars in 1903 with two- and four-cylinder models, both using engines made for them by Rutenber.
Contents
History
1905 National - Electric or gasoline
Production models
The 1904 National Tonneau was a tonneau model. It sold for US$2000. The single electric motor was situated at the rear of the car, producing 9 hp (6.7 kW). A 4-speed herring bone transmission was fitted. The armored wood-framed car could reach 15 mph (24 km/h).
For 1905, the two-cylinder model was dropped and a six-cylinder car with a circular radiator took its place. The last electric cars were made in 1906, and in 1907, National starting building its own engines.
Peak production for National was reached in 1915 with over 1,800 cars made. The company changed its name in 1916 to the National Motor and Vehicle Company, and in 1922 became, along with Dixie Flyer and Jackson, part of the Associated Motor Industries group. However, sales dropped in the early 1920s and the company closed in 1924.
1910 National 40 Indianapolis at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009.Sporting success
In 1912, Joe Dawson won the Indianapolis 500 in a National.
Advertisements
National Six - 1907.
A 1910 National Automobile Advertisement - Syracuse Post-Standard, June 11, 1910
A 1920 National Automobile Advertisement - The Syracuse Herald, July 18, 1910References
- ^ Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.109.
Sources
- Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (January, 1904)
- Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925. New York: Bonanza Books, 1950.
See also
- List of automobile manufacturers
- List of defunct automobile manufacturers
Categories:- Companies established in 1900
- Chrysler
- Brass Era vehicles
- Veteran vehicles
- Vintage vehicles
- Battery electric vehicle manufacturers
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
- Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Indiana
- History of Indianapolis, Indiana
- Companies based in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Defunct companies based in Indiana
- Companies disestablished in 1924
- Motor vehicle company stubs
- Veteran auto stubs
- Brass auto stubs
- Vintage auto stubs
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