1913 Lozier Type 72

Just like many other individuals of the period, Henry Abram Lozier was first a bicycle manufacturer before moving to the production of automobiles. After building up a very successful bicycle company, he sold it for $4 million. With this new fortune, Lozier began experimenting with gasoline engines. By 1900 he had established the Lozier Motor Company at Plattsburgh, New York, and was producing marine engines and launches. Two years later, the company was moving towards automobile engine production and performing experiments with steam and gasoline power. By 1905, the Lozier car was first introduced and offered horsepower in the 30 to 35 BHP range. The four-cylinder vehicle sold for $4,500, a sizeable sum in the early 1900s. A six-cylinder car was introduced in 1908. By 1913, six-cylinder engine, offered in two different sizes, were the only units powering Lozier vehicles.

Joseph M. Gilbert became the company's next president and was responsible for the introduction of the Type 84 in 1914. It was a four-cylinder model designed by British-born engineer John Perrin. It was positioned to compete with Cadillac's four-cylinder cars. The base price of the Type 84 was under $2,000, and its wheelbase measured 120 inches which were the same as Cadillac's. The engine was a departure from the prior Lozier engines. Instead of using a T-head design, the new unit was an L-head, cast en block. It had a displacement size similar to Cadillac's but produced more horsepower, at 56 bhp. It could outperform the Cadillac while selling for about the same price.

Though the Type 84 and the Cadillac were comparable vehicles in 1914, the story was different in 1915. Cadillac introduced a 314 cubic-inch V8 that offered 70 horsepower and sold for just under $2,000. Lozier could not compete and was struggling to stay in business. In August 1914, the company was forced into bankruptcy. New ownership followed, and in February 1915, the production of sixes and the Type 84 resumed, albeit in small quantities, until 1918.

Racing was another hallmark of the Lozier Company. The first company victory was scored in 1907 by Ralph Mulford. Several important stages such as the Vanderbilt Cup and the inaugural Indy 500 were also contended by the Lozier Company. Lozier would achieve more victories in road races in 1910 and 1911 than any other single automaker.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2008