Marion (automobile)

The Marion was an automobile produced by the Marion Motor Car Company in Indianapolis (Marion County), Indiana from 1904 to 1915.[1][2]

Marion Motor Car Company
IndustryAutomobile Manufacturing
Founded1904 (1904)
Defunct1915 (1915)
FateMerger
SuccessorMutual Motors Corporation
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana
Key people
John N. Willys, Fred Tone, Robert Hassler, Harry C. Stutz
ProductsAutomobiles
Production output
7,158 (1904-1915)

Marion was also used for prototype automobiles in 1901 by the Marion Automobile Company of Marion, Ohio, which later operated as a garage.[2] A Marion Flyer was listed in 1910 by the Marion Automobile & Manufacturing Company in Marion, Indiana, but no production was reported.[2]

History

In 1904 the Marion Motor Car Company, based in Indianapolis,entered automobile production building mid-priced to high-priced automobiles.[1]

Early versions of the Marion car had transversely-mounted 16-hp Reeves air-cooled engines, and double chain drive. The appearance of the Marion car was very similar to the contemporary Premier (also an Indianapolis car).[2][1] 1906 Marion cars had conventionally-placed 16 and 28-hp 4-cylinder Reeves engines, while later Marion cars used water-cooled engines by Continental and other firms of up to 48-hp.[2][1]

Automotive engineers and designers, Robert Hassler, Fred Tone, George Schebler and Harry C. Stutz produced or designed models for Marion.[2] Motor car racing was actively undertaken to provide recognition for Marion. Beginning in 1907 Harry Stutz was chief engineer for Marion. He designed a roadster named the Bobcat Speedster, which bore a close resemblance to the contemporaneous Stutz Bearcat Speedster.[1][2]

John N. Willys, President of Overland Automobile Company, bought controlling interest in Marion in October, 1908. The Marion Motor Car Company remained under-capitalized until 1912, when capital stock was raised from $100,000 to $1,125,0000. J. I. Handley, president of American Motor Car Company became President of Marion Motor Car Company and combined their sales organizations.

In 1914 J.I. Handley purchased the assets of the Marion Company for $120,000.[2] In December 1914, J.I. Handley's Mutual Motors Company resulted from a merger between Marion Motor Car Company and Imperial Automobile Company of Jackson, Michigan. Marion production was moved to Jackson, but ended in 1915. In 1916, the Marion-Handley became the automobile offered by Mutual Motors.[2]

The Marion Motor Car Company manufactured 7,158 automobiles in all.[2]

Models

A prototype Marion roadster with a 9,455cc V12 engine was designed by George Schebler of carburetor fame, and built in the Marion factory in 1908.[2][1]

In 1910, Harry C. Stutz developed his idea for a factory-built speedster called the Bobcat. They were designed as minimalist, stripped down vehicles that were fitted with the most powerful engine offered by Marion. The wheelbase measured 111-inches, had two-wheel mechanical brakes, and sold for $1,475, (equivalent to $46,326 in 2022). The Marion Bobcat Speedster was produced from 1911 through 1914.[2][1]

Marions were available as touring cars or roadsters, and from 1911 as sedans and coupes.[2]

Marion Models:[2]

Model Model Years Engine Horsepower Wheelbase (inches) Factory Price (US$)
Four 1904–1905 4-cylinder 16 hp (11,8 kW) 96" (2438 mm) 1,500
2 1906 4-cylinder 16 hp (11,8 kW) 96" (2438 mm) 1,500
5 1906 4-cylinder 28 hp (20,6 kW) 108" (2743 mm) 2.500
7 1907 4-cylinder 24 hp (17,6 kW) 100" (2540 mm) 2,000 to 3,000
8 1908–1909 4-cylinder 24 hp (17,6 kW) 102"-104" (2591–2642 mm) 2,250
9 1908–1909 6-cylinder 35 hp (26 kW) 102"-112" (2642–2845 mm) 1,850 to 2,750
10 1910 4-cylinder 35 hp (26 kW) 112" (2845 mm) 1,850
30 1911 4-cylinder 30 hp (22 kW) 110" (2794 mm) 1,000 to 1,200
40 1911 4-cylinder 40 hp (29 kW) 115" (2921 mm) 1,600 to 1,650
Four-30 1912 4-cylinder 30 hp (22 kW) 111" (2819 mm) 1,150 to 1,285
Four-45 1912 4-cylinder 45 hp (33 kW) 120" (3048 mm) 1,750
37-A 1913 4-cylinder 40 hp (29 kW) 112" (2845 mm) 1,475
48-A 1913 4-cylinder 48 hp (35 kW) 120" (3048 mm) 1,850
B 1914 4-cylinder 25 hp (18,4 kW) 117" (2972 mm) 1,650 to 2,150
G 1914–1915 6-cylinder 33 hp (24 kW) 124" (3150 mm) 2,150 to 2,950

See also

References

  1. Georgano, Nick (2001). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (3 vol. ed.). Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
  2. Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
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