1910 Chalmers Detroit Model 30

In 1907, Hugh Chalmers was recruited by Roy Chapin and Howard Coffin to join the Thomas-Detroit Motor Company. The name of the company was changed to Chalmers-Detroit and new cars were soon introduced. Two examples managed a 1st and 2nd place finishes at the Jericho Sweepstakes race on Long Island in 1908. The following year, four wins, three seconds and three thirds in seven races were won by the three-team cars called the 'Chalmers Bluebirds.'

Chapin and Coffin later left the Chalmers Company; by this point, the 'Detroit' part of the name had been dropped. They had formed Hudson in 1909 with financial support from a Detroit merchant. The Chalmers continued with their line of four-cylinder cars; by 1912, a six-cylinder version had been created.

In 1909, a Chalmers car earned a trophy on the 1909 Glidden Tour and won the event outright in 1910. To promote the cars even further, Chalmers presented cars to the baseball players in each major league with the highest batting average. The most valuable player, as chosen by sportswriters, was also given a car.

There were five models on four wheelbases offered for sale in 1912 by Chalmers. To add even more variety to the mix, there were four different engines with the smallest being the 30-horsepower four-cylinder unit. This engine came with either the Model 11 Tourer or the Model 9 Coupe or Roadster. The Model 9 had a short 104-inch wheelbase and the Model 11 had a 115-inch wheelbase. The Model 10 had a 40-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a 122-inch wheelbase. The top-of-the-line model was the Model 12, fitted with a 54-horsepower six-cylinder engine and resting on a wheelbase that measured 130 inches.

By 1917, the Chalmers had sent new marks for 10 miles, 100 miles, and a 24-hour average in speed-record activity. Even with these impressive accomplishments, the company struggled in the post-WWI recession. In 1922 the company merged with Maxwell and later, the combined company became part of Chrysler in 1924.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2008