1917 Chandler Type 17

The Chandler Motor Car Company was organized in 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio by founder Frederic C. Chandler, who had worked for Lozier and brought with him four other Lozier employees. John V. Whitbeck of Lozier became Chandler's chief engineer and took charge of designing the new car. Power was from a 268.3 cubic-inch L-head six-cylinder engine which was cast in pairs of three, with integral cylinder heads and fully enclosed valve trains. Their medium-priced six-cylinder models were immediately popular, with notoriety gained from a 2,000-mile trek from Mexico to British Columbia without stopping. In 1923 Ralph Mulford won the 'Climb to the Clouds' hill climb at Mt. Washington, New Hampshire in a Chandler.

For 1917, Chandler sold 3,515 vehicles, a slight decrease from the 3,910 vehicles they sold the prior years. By the early 1920s, they were producing over 10,000 vehicles per year, and over 20,200 vehicles by 1926.

The Chandler Company remained in business until 1929 and was absorbed by the Hupp Motor Car Corporation.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020