Cole Motor Car Company

The Cole Motor Car Company was an American automobile manufacturer that was established from 1908 to 1925 in Indianapolis (Indiana). The Cole automobiles were luxury cars. The company was among the first to use V8 engines.

History

The Early Years

Joseph J. Cole made ​​his first attempt to build an automobile, 1903 in Rockford (Illinois ). Together with his son, he ran a shop where you could buy wheels, automobiles, motorcycles and even lawnmowers, and he also carried out repairs. The two worked on its own touring car with four-cylinder engine, which was to be sold as Rockford. However, the project did not show the desired result; Instead, they opened a representative office for Rambler automobiles.

1904 bought Cole on the Gates - Osborne Carriage Company and renamed it to Cole Carriage Company. There he built his first automobile. It was a hochrädriger buggy with two-cylinder engine. A legend tells that he forgot to bring brakes on the car. So he had to drive in a circle on its first test run until the tank was empty ...

At this time the Cole Carriage Company had already built 3,000 wagons per year. Automobile production began in the same year under the supervision of the engineer Charles S. Crawford, who was busy later in Stutz. The new car was offered as " Cole Solid Tire Automobile". Approx. 170 copies were sold before Cole rightly held that this type of car has no future.

In June 1909 he founded the Cole Motor Car Company, and developed a conventional small car, which he had Cole 30, beginning a two-cylinder engine ( 10.3 kW ) delivered 14 bhp and a frame with 2286 mm wheelbase. Only available building was a runabout which he offered with 2, 2/ 4 or 4 seats. The prices were U.S. $ 725, U.S. $ 750 or U.S. $ 775. Also the Cole Solid Tire Automobiles there was to buy. It is located about 100 were built.

Four -cylinder engines

Late 1909 appeared a completely new car as a model 1910th For general confusion, it was also named Series 30. But after these numbers on the engine power of 30 bhp (22 kW) moved, they did not lack logic. The wheelbase was 2743 mm. There were four different open structures. The cheapest was the tour About 1,400 U.S. $; the other, two touring car and a runabout, the flyer was called, each costing U.S. $ 1.500, -. Cole sold by the end of 783 cars.

The flyer was quite successful in motor racing. A car won the 1909 Brighton Beach Marathon, a 24 -hour race with 16 participants. Also two Cole took 30 flyer with William " Wild Bill " Endicott and Louis Edwards at the wheel in 1910 participated in the Massapequa Sweepstakes. Endicott when the prestigious competition with a speed of 203.38 km / h in 2 h 18 min 4.32 sec

The Cole Series 30 was 1911, a significantly longer chassis ( with a wheelbase of 2997 mm ) and new constructions. Were offered a roadster and a touring car with 2 or 5, seats for each U.S. $ 1,600 - and a Fore -door Touring ( This meant that he front and rear doors had ) and a Toy Tonneau (This was a sporty, close structure, which was then very popular) for 4 passengers at a price of U.S. $ 1.650, -.

A Series 40 replaced the 1912 30 This car was bigger and had 3,099 mm wheelbase. ³ He had a stronger four-cylinder engine with 40 bhp (29 kW) and a displacement of 4,692 cm. The price list starting at U.S. $ 1885, - for one of four open bodies. There was also a Colonial Coupe for U.S. $ 2.250, - and two limousines for U.S. $ 3.000, - or U.S. $ 3.250, -. These prices were the Cole as a luxury car.

The new six-cylinder engine

1913 Cole offered no fewer than three model series at: The Series 40, now with 2,946 mm wheelbase, a Series 50 with 50 bhp (37 kW) to the chassis of the previous 40 series and the first six -cylinder car. This was the series 60, but only 40 bhp (29 kW) delivered. The wheelbase was 3353 mm and the enormous price list called U.S. $ 2485, - for each of the two open bodies, U.S. $ 3.000, - for the Coupé and astronomical U.S. $ 4.250, - for the 7 - seater sedan on. From the series 40, it was only open bodies, a roadster and a touring car for every U.S. $ 1685, -. In the series 50, it was the same structures and also a Toy Tonneau for each U.S. $ 1,985, -. In addition, all first time Cole got a battery ignition and electric lighting.

The year 1914 brought many changes. The Series 40 and 50 were the new model Four, a four-cylinder car with 28.9 bhp ( 21.25 kW) and a wheelbase of 3,048 mm replaced. Were offered roadster, touring cars and Toy Tonneau each U.S. $ 1,925, - and a coupe with 3 seats for U.S. $ 2.350, -. The six-cylinder was also renamed and now called Six. He gave 43.8 bhp ( 32.2 kW ) and had an even bigger chassis with 3,454 mm wheelbase. There was a large touring car with 7 seats and the usual constructions Roadster and Toy Tonneau. All cost of U.S. $ 2.600, -. The coupe had for U.S. $ 3.000, - and the sedan for U.S. $ 4.000, -.

Sales were low in 1914 and so Cole reduced prices in the model year 1915. Again there were new names. The Four was now called Standard 4-40. It gave him no more Toy Tonneau and other structures were significantly cheaper: U.S. $ 1,485 - for the two open variants and U.S. $ 1885, - for the Coupé. The Six was divided into two model lines. The smaller model 6-50 had a 29 bhp ( 21.3 kW ) engine and a wheelbase of 3,200 mm. As a 4 - or 7- seater touring car, it cost U.S. $ 1865, - ( still less than before the Four), as Roadster U.S. $ 2465, - and as Coupé U.S. $ 2.250, -. Although the large 6-60 on the chassis of the previous model with six 3,454 mm Wheelbase got a strong 40 bhp ( 29 kW ) engine, the prices were lower than in the previous model year. Roadster and touring car with 7 seats cost U.S. $ 2465, - the Coupé U.S. $ 2.750, - and the sedan U.S. $ 3.750, -. Joseph Cole negotiated with William C. Durant about a takeover of his company by General Motors, but eventually rejected from Cole.

Ready-made automobiles

Cole was able to juggle with models and engines, as he wanted for two reasons: The first was that the company refused until 1915 to carry out an annual model change, but is moved to series that have been modified, if the management is necessary held. Many of the early cars were built in this way, for example, Packard remained until the end of the 1930s in this system.

The second reason was that the Cole was a Kofektionsautomobil, which means that all the important parts, such as engine, clutch, gearbox, axles, etc., were purchased from other companies. Car manufacturers, who worked in this way, had a slightly lower reputation than those with greater vertical integration. For Cole but this was not just the easier way to build cars, but Joseph Cole thought that specialized suppliers 'd better pay attention to the quality of their products. Therefore, he preferred the term "standardized car" (German: standardized automotive) compared to the usual "assembled car" (German: Clothing automobile ).

The Cole V8

. Big news there was in mid 1915 just one year after Cadillac had introduced the first V8 engine of a U.S. manufacturer and was introduced around the same time to the powerful V8 Cunningham, Cole brought his own V8 model out - and he should remain until the closure of his company, which from 1916 were dropped, the four-and six -cylinder engines. This engine had a displacement of 5,675 cc and made 39.2 bhp ( 28.8 kW). It was built by the Northway division of GM, which produced also the V8 for Cadillac. The car was called Model 8-50. It had a wheelbase of 3,226 mm. There were five different structures at prices ranging from U.S. $ 1,785 - and $ 3.250, -. The goal was the competition of course Cadillac to Stearns -Knight, who brought out their V8 - sleeve valve engine in 1916 and Lozier, significantly lowered their prices to the level of Cole in the last year of its existence.

Settled were priced higher, for example, Mercer, or McFarlan Packard, whose prices at U.S. $ 3.000, - or Kissel began with three large model series of four-and six -cylinder cars that were only slightly cheaper.

1917 there was little change. The car was now called the Model 860 There were five different structures and about the same price level as the previous year. Some bodies were adventurous names such as "Tuxedo Roadster ", " tour Coupe " or "touring Sedan " from which a " Foredoor Tour Sedan " existed (probably a 2 -door sedan ). 4193 Cole - cars have been built this year.

Aggressive Marketing

The new way of marketing in 1918 even clearer. The advertising slogans denominated, for example, " There's a touch of Tomorrow In All Cole Does Today" (English: In everything that Cole is doing today, there is a trace of tomorrow) or " Did You Ever Go Balloning in a Cole? " ( Eng.: Have you ever been in a hot air balloon rides Cole? ). The latter slogan was referring to the balloon tires, which were first offered this year surcharge and 1925 were standard equipment. The car was advertised as Aero -Eight ( abroad as model 870). There were only three kinds of bodywork, a roadster, a " Sportster" and the obligatory touring cars. They cost per U.S. $ 2395, - and had room for 2, 4, or 7 passengers. The car also got a fashion appropriate design.

The 870 Aero Eight corresponded to 1919 technically the most part the previous model, but there were now seven different structures with prices ranging from U.S. $ 2,595 - U.S. $ 3,795 and, - for the new Town Car and the tour coupe. Some closed bodies had an octagonal third side window as plenty dubious beauty detail. This year, 6,225 originated Cole.

The Aero -Eight Model 880 for 1920 (English: " The anticipation of future modes " ) as "The Forecast of Future Fashions " announced. The advertisement also claimed that 15,000 miles ( 24,000 miles) without changing the tire was possible. There were only three different structures, all of them open. A roadster with two seats and a Speedster with 4 seats each for U.S. $ 2.750, - and a tour Ster ( = touring car ) for U.S. $ 2.850, -. But the imaginative product names went even further: Sport Sedan and Sport Coupe may have sounded quite ordinary, " Sportosine " and " Tourosine " for some closed structures not do without today but a certain humor. These cars were adjustable " storm -tested " windshields, which were slightly tilted backwards. Cole now put a Johnson carburetor and led a one-piece rear axles and brake adjuster. The rear axle (up to 1922) was 4.45: 1 A new performance measure was introduced and replaced the old NACC The Cole V8 now had 80 bhp (59 kW ), where it remained until the cessation of automotive engineering at Cole. The rates were increased slightly and were now at U.S. $ 2.750, - 3.995, -.

The Cole from 1921 were only slightly changed. Thank God disappeared most of the peculiar structure of names, but " Sportosine " and " Tourosine " remained. There were eight different bodies and they were significantly more expensive: U.S. $ 3.250, - for the open carriage and between U.S. $ 4,250 - and $ 4,450 - for the closed.

The end

1922 Cole took a larger factory in operation. The sales figures, however, crashed, mainly due to a short but massive economic recession. Although there were more models and the prices were drastically reduced ( to a level below that of 1918/1919 in most cases) were only 1,722 units will be manufactured by Aero Eight Model 890, as it was this year. The wheelbase has been increased by ¼ " (26 mm) and split the frame ends. The sports coupe weighed 1882 kilograms and cost, equipped with a 75 mph - Speedometer U.S. $ 3385, -.

The changes to the Cole 890 Series in 1923 were limited to modern headlights in cylindrical housings, air intakes on the bulkhead and a new windshield with adjustable upper half in the open car. Also at the elegant details included the wire spoke wheels, which replaced the old wooden spoke wheels in the series. Fashionable disc wheels could be had on request. Only this year, there were some cars a sporty touch, which was that the running boards did not extend over the entire length of the vehicle, but were interrupted in the region of the chassis -mounted spare wheels. There were eight different bodies again. The open versions were slightly more expensive, while prices for the closed variants remained the same. The most expensive version from 1922, the " Tourosine " for U.S. $ 4185, - was no longer offered, and also the strange name - with the exception of the "Sport Sedan " - had disappeared. Only 1,522 cars left the factory this year.

Given this situation, and because he had no debts, JJ Cole decided in 1924 to close his company, rather than jeopardize his fortune through a continuation of uneconomic production. Thus, it is no wonder that the old model 890 little changed migrated as Master series in the exhibition rooms. All models were again running boards over the full length of the vehicle. There were seven different structures and the prices were once again dropped significantly: open bodies cost U.S. $ 2175, - the Coupé U.S. $ 2.750, - and the other closed versions of U.S. $ 3075, -. This year, a Cole was given the honor, as pace car to start the Indy 500 race.

Before the curtain finally fell, there were five models in 1925. Balloon tires of size 34 "x 7.3 " were now a thing of the standard equipment and the cars were new, two-piece rear bumper, which were called " Bumperettes ". Although Joseph Cole began with the liquidation of his company in early 1925, still leaving 607 cars the factory. Cole died unexpectedly on August 8, 1925, of an infection, just before he could complete the dissolution of his company can.

Models

Company building

The former headquarters of the Cole Motor Car Company, East Washington Street 730-738 in Indianapolis, was admitted to the U.S. Register of Historic Places in 1983.