1903 Autocar Type VIII

The Autocar was built in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, from 1901 to 1912. It was a well-built, dependable car and actually advertised itself as a car that 'cannot burn up or blow up.'

This Type VIII Autocar, which has been part of the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum since 1974, is a runabout with a detachable rear entrance tonneau. The two-cylinder, 88.4 cubic-inch motor develops ten horsepower and utilizes a three-speed transmission.

The Autocar was unique among American automobiles since it adopted left-hand drive much earlier than its counterparts. Restored 40 years ago, the car is maintained by the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum volunteers.

The Autocar Company was founded in Ardmore, Pa, in 1901 by the Clark brothers, Lewis, John, and James. They were financially backed by their father, Charles, and additional funding from William Morgan. This was not their first automobile company; they had created the Pittsburgh Motor Vehicle Company in 1897, which stayed in production for only a short time, ending in 1900. The Pittsburgh Motor Vehicle Company created three and four-wheeled vehicles and was one of the earliest producers of automobiles in the country. The brothers moved to Ardmore, PA, and in 1901, had created 27 Autocars. The following year, a two-cylinder unit was introduced featuring a shaft drive in place of the unreliable chain drive.

The company fostered a reputation for producing reliable automobiles that were easy to drive. Improvements were made every year, and by 1906, the Autocar Company was producing a line of vehicles powered by a four-cylinder engine. Their line-up broadened even further in 1907 with their introduction of commercial vehicles and taxicabs. This movement into the commercial vehicle segment was a move that Autocar felt comfortable with, and by 1912 they were no longer producing automobiles and focused on motor trucks.

In 1954 the company was purchased by the White Motor Co. In 1980 Volvo purchased White with Autocar continuing as a division. The Grand Vehicle Works Holdings purchased the brand name in 2001 and continued it on their line of trucks.

Wood was used throughout the body and fenders with the seats being comprised of leather. Dietz oil side-lamps sit in front of the drivers and on either side of the vehicle.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2009