Playboy

The Jordan Motor Car Company of Cleveland, Ohio was founded in 1916, and produced 'assembled' cars until 1931 using components from a variety of manufacturers. Founder Ned Jordan was of the opinion that cars were too 'dull and drab,' and that people would prefer 'smart-looking' cars. The Jordan Playboy, his smart-looking two-seat roadster, debuted in 1919 and has become the most celebrated Jordan car.

The Series MX Playboy debuted in 1922 equipped with a 246 cubic-inch Continental six-cylinder engine topped by Stromberg Model 02 updraft carburetor fed by a Stewart vacuum tank. The new flathead six-cylinder engine had the intake and exhaust manifolds on the opposite side of the block.

The 1923 Jordan MX Playboy differed from earlier models by its one-piece windshield which replaced the 1922's horizontally split, venting windshield. The car's top and frame were removable, ensuring that a folded stack wouldn't spoil the car's lines, and a rumble seat could add room for two more passengers. It was available in a wide array of colors - prospective owners could choose colors like Venetian Green, Chinese Blue or even Egyptian Bronze.

With its rakish good-looks, and advertisements that played off of them to sell a lifestyle more than a car, the Playboy offers a fascinating look into the history of American automobile culture.