1910 Garford Model G-7 Runabout

The Garford Company of Elyria, Ohio grew out of Federal Mfg. Company that began to manufacture automobile components in 1903. Companies using the Garford chassis included Ardsley, Gaeth, Cleveland, Royal, Rainier, and Studebaker. Garford supplied all chassis components for Studebaker from 1905-1910. The Studebaker brothers of South Bend, Indiana had a long history in commercial vehicle manufacture which began long before the arrival of the 'horseless carriage.'

In 1902, the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company built its first automobile. It was an 'electric' designed by Thomas Alva Edison. They made their first gasoline-powered motor car - an 8hp twin - late in 1903. In 1904 a twin-cylinder 16 horsepower chain-driven model was added. This was followed by a 20hp 'four' with shaft drive in 1905, both of which featured chassis supplied by A.L. Garford of Elyria, Ohio. Up to 1911, the cars were marketed under the Studebaker-Garford name.

In 1908, Studebaker began an association with the E-M-F company, whose cars it marketed. In 1910, the Detroit-based manufacturer was overtaken to form the Studebaker Corporation on January 1, 1911, and also brought an end to the association with Garford.

This particular example, a Garford Model G-7, dates from the latter part of the Studebaker-Garford production. It has a Runabout-style body and is powered by a 372 cubic-inch T-head four-cylinder engine fitted with a single Updraft carburetor. The 40 horsepower produced by the engine is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission.

The early history of this car is not known. It is believed to have been imported to Japan in the 1990s, where the car was part of a museum collection until recently. It is also believed that the car was on display at the 60th Anniversary of the German racetrack, Nürburgring.

The car has an older restoration that is finished in cream paint with a red interior.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2016