1903 National Electric

The National Automobile & Electric Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, started out with an electric runabout in 1900, switching to building increasingly large and expensive gasoline-powered cars by 1906. Gasoline models, a light twin, and a 16-horsepower four were added in 1903, and by 1905, a 23/30-horsepower (Rutenber engine) model with a three-speed gearbox and shaft drive arrived. Electric car production ended after 1906.

In 1905, a National won a 100-mile endurance race at the State Fairgrounds. In 1909, Nationals raced, and placed well, on the dirt at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Arthur C. Newby, the company president, was one of the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway). During the inaugural handicap races in May 1910, 26-year-old amateur driver Arthur Greiner competed with a stripped-down and modified National Model 40. During a series of races ranging in length from five to 200 miles long, Greiner and his National earned the 'best amateur trophy'. National also fielded three cars for the inaugural 500-mile race at the newly brick-paved Indy track in 1911, one of them finishing seventh. The following year, Joe Dawson drove a National to victory at the second annual Indy 500, averaging 78.22mph during the race. This would be the final time that a fully stock car would earn such an achievement, and it was the end of National's competition, too. Management pulled out of racing at the end of the year.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2024