1902 Rambler Model C

The Chicago-based Rambler Company was owned and operated by Thomas B. Jeffery and R. Philip Gormully. Like many early automobile manufacturers, their specialty had been in the manufacturing of bicycles. The Rambler Company was one of the very first automobile producers with their first automobile produced in 1897. Thomas Jeffery and his son Charles were responsible for the inspiration and creation of the Rambler automobile. The first Rambler was a single-cylinder vehicle with wire-spoke wheels that did not receive much attention from the public. A year later Charles had created two more machines, both still passing mostly unnoticed by the motoring community. In 1900 the Jefferys brought their creations to the Chicago and New York Auto Show where they finally received attention. Gormully had since passed away so the Jeffery's sold their bicycling business to the American Bicycle Company to focus on the production of automobiles.

The 1902 Rambler Model C Runabout was truly a horseless carriage, with its design inspired by the carriages of its day. The 1902 Model C did not have a steering wheel; rather a steering lever was used to point the vehicle in the intended direction. By 1904, Rambler had equipped their vehicles with a steering wheel. Powered by a single-cylinder engine, the horsepower was low but adequate. By 1904, the figures had improved greatly. The price to own a 1902 Model C was $750, a figure that was fair at the time. Production from the Kenosha, Wisconsin factories was respectable in 1902, with a total production of about 1500 Model C Runabouts. This made the Rambler company one of the largest automobile producers in the world at the time.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2005