1913 Michigan Model R Touring

The Michigan Company was founded by three horseless carriage manufacturers (Victor Palmer, Henry Lane, and George Lay, proprietors of the Michigan Buggy Company), and launched in 1904 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It took seven years of sporadic production for the Michigan Company to finally take off fully in 1911 with the establishment of the Michigan Motor Car Company, which was the builder of a 40-horsepower, four-cylinder car that was designed by industry veteran W.H. Cameron.

The 1913 'Mighty Michigan' was offered up to buyers who were seeking more room, more power, more appearance, and more luxury in 'the middle field' of automobiles. A period ad described the 40-horsepower model as being 'the only actually over-tired car in America.' The ad referred to it as having tires that were larger than were actually needed to carry its weight.

Though they had an amazing product, the Michigan Company was fated - like many other automobiles of the Brass Era - to a swift and unfortunate end that was fueled by its executives. One leader had bankrupted himself at the horse racing track, while another received two years in jail for a stock promotion scheme. Though several valiant efforts were made to save the company, the company came to a close in 1915. It is not clear exactly how many Michigans were produced, but the factory's claim of 6,125 is almost certainly more 'big talk.' One historian, Mr. G Marshall Naul, estimates that fewer than 1,200 Michigans were produced between 1911 and 1913.

This particular Model R Touring car is one of the few survivors. It was discovered in central Iowa in 1991 by the late Dr. Art Burrichter. It had been reportedly purchased new by a farming family for $1,585 and driven sparingly, covering fewer than 5,700 miles in 12 years. After a family disagreement in 1925, it was put into storage, where it remained until Dr. Burrichter acquired it. The car was found to be well preserved and in amazing original condition, with only the patina of nearly seven decades.

Prior to his passing in 2002, Dr. Burrichter sold the Michigan, and it was acquired by noted Michigan collector John McMullen. Mr. McMullen had the Silver Dollar Restoration Shop of Tampa, Florida, restore the car back to its original condition. The car retains an astonishing number of its original trim pieces and components. It was finished in black, with a black leather interior and upholstery, and it made only one showing, at the Cavalcade of Cars in Romeo, Michigan, where it received a First Prize award.

Power is from an L-head, four-cylinder, 298 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine rated at 40/46 BHP. There is a four-speed manual gearbox, semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension, and rear-wheel mechanical drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2014