1910 Pope-Hartford Model W 50 HP

Col. Albert Pope created a highly successful bicycle empire that benefitted from the enormous bike craze of the late 1800s. As the decade came to a close, Pope consolidated over 40 bicycle manufacturers into his American Bicycle Company. As the horseless carriage grew in popularity, Pope was suitably positioned to capitalize, having the financial resources, a skilled workforce, a dealer network, and production facilities. Pope began the Columbia automobile in the 1890s. Primarily an electric car it gave Pope a toehold in the new market. The Pope automobile empire would eventually include numerous brands including Pope-Tribune, Pope-Toledo, Pope-Robinson, Pope-Waverley, and Pope-Hartford. The Pope-Hartford was the most enduring and the only Pope brand built in the city of the company's headquarters Hartford Ct.

Pope-Hartford was founded in 1903 and its vehicles initially used single-cylinder power. A prototype single-cylinder car was running in the summer of 1903 and soon entered production, the Model A designation representing the runabout body style and the Model B a tonneau tourer. The Model D was a two-cylinder vehicle introduced in 1905 and designed by chief engineer Lindley D. Hubbell. Its 88-inch wheelbase received a five-passenger touring body style, and one example was driven by Charles Walker, the company's sales manager, on the 1905 Glidden Tour, earning a First Class Certificate.

Wilbur C. Walker, Charles's brother, took part in the 1906 Glidden Tour with a four-cylinder Model F. Bettering his sibling's result from 1905, he received a Silver Medal for being among the 13 contestants with perfect scores.

The brand built its first four in 1906 and four-cylinder power would be the foundation for the brand's reputation. It was well made, reliable, and employed sound engineering. The capabilities and performance were demonstrated in racing, and among the accolades they achieved was winning the San Francisco 'free for all' in 1909 with a 40hp model. Driven by employee Jack Fleming, the car won the race at an average speed of 64.51 mph on local roads. The event celebrated the 300th anniversary of Don Gaspar de Portola's discovery of the bay. The success of this event gave a name to the body style Pope is most famous for the 'Portola Roadster'.

A Model F had won its class at the 1906 Dead Horse Hill Climb in Worcester, Massachusetts, and E.H. Hotchkiss won a four-mile handicap race at Ormond Beach in Florida in 1908. Two Pope-Toledos automobiles were entered in the 1904 and 1905 Vanderbilt Cup races. Their best effort was a third-place finish in 1904. Two factory cars, with a new 50 horsepower engine, entered the 1910 Vanderbilt, driven by Jack Fleming and Bert Dingley. A Pope also competed in the 1913 Indianapolis 500. Entered by Frank Fox, a local competitor, it was driven by Howdy Wilcox, another local individual who had driven a National in both the 1911 and 1912 500s. The Pope finished sixth.

When Colonel Albert A. Pope passed away on August 10th of 1909, and his brother George took over. By 1914, Pope-Hartford production continued under receivership and the following year the Pope-Hartford plant was sold.

The Pope-Hartford Model W was a four-cylinder model with 50 horsepower installed in a 124-inch wheelbase chassis. Body styles included a 5- and 7-passenger tourer, pony tonneau, roadster, landaulet, and limousine. Prices ranged from $3,000 to $4,150. Approximately 514 Pope-Hartford vehicles were built in 1910.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022