1910 Premier Model 4-40

The Premiere Motor Company of Indianapolis, Indiana was in business from 1903 until 1926. Their vehicles were among the finest automobiles produced in the Hoosier State and are best remembered for introducing a number of technical advancements, which aided in achieving perfect scores in three Glidden Tours. In 1905, they had ambitions of contesting the Vanderbilt Cup, but their air-cooled prototype was disqualified for being 60 pounds overweight. In 1916, they entered three road-going cars in the 1916 Indianapolis 500, achieving excellent results.

The first Premier, introduced in 1903, employed an overhead valve four-cylinder engine backed by a sliding gear transmission. This was a departure from the traditional configuration of the era, which often included a single-cylinder planetary-transmission setup. Air-cooling engine designs were used early on, with water-cooled engines becoming available in 1907 and being featured on all models by 1908. By 1910, the Premier automobiles were available in two models powered by a 60 horsepower six-cylinder and a 40 horsepower four. The 40 HP engine featured a T-head setup with a four-speed transmission and a shaft drive rear axle. Body styles available on the Model 40 included a roadster and tourer, with prices beginning at $2,500.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020