Kline Kar
The Kline Kar was an American automobile that was built in York (Pennsylvania) and from 1912 to 1924 in Richmond (Virginia) from 1910 to 1912. Sometimes the car is even called Kline.
James A. Kline came to York to work on a car that initially called York and later became known as Pullman. After leaving this company, he teamed up with a former colleague, Samuel E. Baily, and Joseph C. Carrell and founded the BCK Motor Company. The new company produced the Kline Kar, from 1910, in a building here, the Baily belonged and for use in his wheelwright operation. Soon after its release, the Kline Kar were used with six-cylinder engine in the race There were two rally cars that have been called after their chief designer and his son "Jimmy" and " Jimmy Jr.". This racing car brought the company a USA -wide attention. The latter received 1914einen Duesenberg engine with 4 cylinders, 16 valves and 4918 cc. Thus he won to 1919 19 victories on Runkdkursen.
Also, a group of businessmen in Richmond ( Virginia) was interested. They noted how well the Kline Kar sold in Virginia, bought the company and moved it on to Richmond. They named them in Kline Motor Car Corporation and built a new factory, where the cars were manufactured. As of November 1912, the Kline Kar was completely manufactured in Richmond, came up with the exception of the motor, from the Kirkham Machine Company in Bath (New York). This outsourcing of engine production enabled the new company an early series production.
The Kline was an inexpensive car and was touted as a quality product. The model 6-50, a runabout, U.S. $ 2585, - cost, was advertised as " one of the best roadsters, the (...) came out for a doctor or a young man with sense of speed for many years." The car was also with government officials in Washington DC and popular people who had to do with equestrian sport, such as jockeys and horse trainers. 1915 bankruptcy proceedings were opened about the company, but she survived and made two years later, again almost 500 cars per year. The company was now economically safer on the feet, but the world economic crisis weakened them again. The Kline has now become a fully assembled car, what James A. Kline did not like. From 1919, all Kline had a wheelbase of 3,073 mm. From 1920, a Continental engine with 3672 cc capacity was offered. In 1923, the engine capacity increased to 3,959 cm ³. The selling prices were at this time between U.S. $ 1865, - and $ 2,790 -. The company closed its doors early in 1924, after James Kline had said about his beloved Kline Kar: "I would rather see my children dead exposed as the Billigmacherei and poor craftsmanship. "
Models
Swell
- Georgano, Nick (Editor): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn MI (2000), ISBN 1-57958-293-1
- Kimes, Beverly Rae and Clark Jr, Henry Austin: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 ( 3rd edition ), Krause Publications, Iola WI (1996 ), ISBN 0-87341-428-4