1908 Welch Model 4-L

In the late 1890s, A.R. Welch organized the Chelsea Manufacturing Company. In 1901, A.R. Welch and his brother Fred built their first automobile. It had a two-cylinder 20 horsepower engine of the brother's design that featured hemispherical combustion chambers with its valves in small 'cages' and actuated by a single overhead camshaft, driven by a vertical shaft off the crankshaft, and rocker arms to a pair of inclined valves per cylinder. Two spark plugs were used per cylinder, with ignition by trembler coils for starting and by a Bosch magneto, driven by the vertical camshaft drive, once running.

The automobiles were displayed at the Chicago Automobile Show in 1903, and production soon followed in Chelsea, Michigan with the organization of the Chelsea Manufacturing Company, Ltd. J.D. Watson provided some financial backing and the small company produced roughly 15 automobiles per month. By 1904, the firm was in bankruptcy due to insufficient capital and slow sales. What was left of the company was salvaged by A.R. Welch and moved to Pontiac where the company was re-organized as the Welch Motor Car Company. The company was given a healthy infusion of capital and began to prosper.

The 1905 Welch automobile had a 114-inch wheelbase and was equipped with a 36-horsepower four-cylinder engine. Several body styles were offered including a Victoria, Landaulette, Limousine, Side Entrance Tonneau, and a Canopy Top Touring. Pricing was in the neighborhood of $4,000 which made it rather expensive for the period. However, automobiles were still a luxury item and often tailored to those that could afford them.

In 1909, a separate company was formed in Detroit for the production of less-expensive, smaller vehicles known as the Welch-Detroit (Welch-Pontiac). In 1910, the Welch Motor Car Company became part of General Motors. A year later, the final Welch cars were produced by General Motors.


by Daniel Vaughan | May 2019

1908 Welch Model 4-L Vehicle Profiles

1908 Welch Model 4-L vehicle information
Touring

Chassis #: 25

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$250-$4,500
1908 Model 4-L
$4,500-$7,000
1908 Welch Model 4-L Base Price : $4,500

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Related Automotive News

BOSCH TECHNOLOGY POWERS 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE CLEAN TURBO DIESEL

- Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel available now in U.S. and Canada - Bosch predicts more than 60 clean diesel models in N.A. market in 2017 - Vehicle achieves industry-best, EPA-estimated 46 mpg highway FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Bosch, a leading global...

New Study Finds U.S. Diesel Vehicles Have Lower Total Cost Of Ownership Than Gasoline Vehicles

Washington, D.C. – A new study released today found that diesel vehicles saved owners between %242,000 to %246,000 in total ownership costs during a three to five year period when compared to similar gasoline vehicles, according to data compiled by...
Bmw Group Cars And Motorcycles That Talk To Each Other Demonstrate Safer And More Efficient Mobility

Bmw Group Cars And Motorcycles That Talk To Each Other Demonstrate Safer And More Efficient Mobility

simTD research project Frankfurt am Main. Intelligent driving that saves energy and enhances safety always means anticipating what lies ahead as well. Car-to-X communication makes a major contribution to intelligent mobility of the future by...
Italian Racing Classics Lead Gooding & Company's 10th Anniversary

Italian Racing Classics Lead Gooding & Company's 10th Anniversary

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 4, 2013) – Gooding %26 Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance acclaimed for selling the worlds most significant and valuable collector cars, will be hosting the 10th Anniversary sale...
GM FOUNDATION PLEDGES $500,000 TO HELP VICTIMS OF TEXAS TORNADOES

GM FOUNDATION PLEDGES $500,000 TO HELP VICTIMS OF TEXAS TORNADOES

DETROIT – The General Motors Foundation is pledging %24500,000 to Habitat for Humanity to help victims of the recent tornadoes in five Texas counties. The funds will be used to help restore neighborhoods devastated by Wednesdays storms. Helping...

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.