1911 Kelsey Model M

The Ford Model T was truly an inspiring automobile that was within reach of most individuals. Cadwallader Washburn Kelsey set about designing and building an automobile that would be less expensive than the Model T. His vehicle was a Motorette with three wheels. It was rear-wheel driven by a two-stroke, twin-cylinder engine which was air-cooled on early models. Later models were water-cooled, with the radiator mounted behind the engine. Rather than mixing oil with gasoline, as on later two-stroke engines, the Kelsey's oil and gasoline were supplied separately, with the oil supplied by a tank in the armrest to a four-way distribution center at the front of the driver's seat.

The three-wheel design was unique, but it was not stable. In order to make the vehicle safer, Kelsey designed one of the first anti-sway torsion bars.

To help promote his vehicle, Kelsey was active in early endurance events. In 1909, he drove an air-cooled model up Mount Washington in New Hampshire. After the car overheated and Kelsey had to spend the night in a halfway house, he changed to a water-cooled engine, but this time with the radiator mounted behind the seat.

In 1911, Kelsey's brother-in-law and a mechanic drove a Motorette from the factory in Hartford, Connecticut, across the country, and to San Francisco, CA. The trip lasted from February until August.

by Dan Vaughan

Motorette
Chassis number: 290

Cadwallader Washburn Kelsey had his first ride in an automobile in 1897; a banker named Robert Glendenning took him for a ride in a new Pnahard. This ride and vehicle was the inspiration for Kelsey's first car, a two-cycle, single-cylinder vehicle which would prove to be a failure. He kept many of the parts from that first vehicle and would later use them to build a three-wheel car called the Autotri, in similar fashion to the Leon Bollee tricycle. He became an agent for Autocar in Pennsylvania and continued to build cars of his own design before selling Maxwells. He later became sales manager for Columbia in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1910, he created the Spartan car at Hartford, which never made it past a single prototype. Instead, he returned to the Motorette, embracing the three-wheel formula, and giving a two-stroke 10-horsepower engine. Air-cooling prove insufficent, so he switched to thermo-syphon water cooling. The Motorette was priced at $385 and it had an 74-inch wheelbase and weighed just 700 pounds.

In 1912, in hopes to cut costs, he outsourced engine production. These engines proved to be very poorly built. By the time the problems were solved, the Kelsey Manufacturing Company was in receivership. Around 200 examples of the Kelsey Motorette were produced. A concept for an automobile drivetrain with enclosed friction discs failed to gain traction, although he endeavored to produce it in an otherwise conventional Kelsey car in 1920/21.

Much of the remainder of Carl Kelsey's career was with the Rototiller Company in Troy, New York. In the 1960s, he patented the Skycar, a two-passenger vertical-takeoff helicopter. He died in 1970, aged 89.

This Motorette has been given a meticulous restoration. In 1997, it received an AACA National Senior honors.

This Motorette is finished in black with gold coach lines. It has a radiator mounted behind the seat, the seats are upholstered in black buttoned leather, and it has right-hand tiller steering. The engine is a 72.2 cubic-inch two-cylinder two-cycle water-cooled engine offering 10 horsepower. There is a two-speed planetary transmission and rear-wheel drum brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Motorette

This particular example is a Model M Motorette. Of the few that remain, this example may be the best restored and most famous example of the Kelsey Motor Company. The Motorette was acquired in the early 1960s by Robert Zlotoff, of New Hyde Park, New York, who began a restoration. The completed project won its AACA First Junior and Senior at Hershey in 1964 and 1965.

The car has black leather interior, a red exterior, and bright metal trim. There are numerous badges attesting to the winning ways of the Model M. There is a 72 cubic-inch, water-cooled opposed twin-cylinder, two-stroke engine offering 10 horsepower. There is a two-speed and reverse planetary transmission with chain drive with mechanical brakes on both the driveshaft and rear wheel.

by Dan Vaughan

Motorette
Chassis number: AC122589MD

Cadwallader Washburn Kelsey produced some very interesting machines. His first car was powered by a two-cycle, single-cylinder engine that ultimately proved to be a failure, but he kept many of the parts. Inspired by the Léon Bollée tricycle, he joined with Sheldon Tilney, to build a three-wheel car called the Autotri. Later, he became an agent for Autocar in Pennsylvania and continued to build his own cars before selling Maxwells and then becoming sales manager for Columbia in Hartford, Connecticut.

The Motorette was put into production in 1911. It had a three-wheel design with a single rear wheel and a two-stroke 10 horsepower engine. Initially it was air-cooled but this proved insufficient. He later switched to thermo-syphon water cooling. The wheelbase measured 74 inches and it weighed 700 pounds. Dubbed the Motorette, it was priced at $385 F.O.B. Hartford.

This particular Model M was acquired in 2007 by the Merrick Auto Museum. It has been given a restoration and finished in a yellow-over-orange motif. The seat is upholstered by buttoned black leather. The car has Solar brass kerosene sidelamps and taillight. Power is from a water-cooled 10 horsepower engine that drives through a two-speed planetary gearbox to the rear wheel via a Whitney roller chain. The radiator is mounted behind the seat.

During its production lifespan, Kelsey Motorette produced nearly 200 cars.

by Dan Vaughan