The Big Car Database

Ross

The Ross was a "Brass era" gasoline automobile manufactured in Detroit, Michigan from 1915 to 1918.

It had a Herschell-Spillman V-8 engine with body styles including sedans and town cars. The vehicles are now considered antiques.

Louis Ross

Company founder Louis S. Ross (1877–1927) gained national fame in the early 1900s racing a Stanley Steamer-powered "Wogglebug" race car at Ormond-Daytona Beach. He was one of the first American drivers to complete a mile course in under one minute. In 1906 he gave up racing to turn his attention full-time to automobile manufacturing. Ross closed his steam car business in 1911 and focused on the manufacture of torpedo signals used by railroads. On June 10, 1927 he was killed in an explosion while testing a new torpedo of his own design.

Ross Steamer

The company produced a 25 hp two-cylinder, shaft-driven model that was the first steam-powered car to have the boiler, engine, and tanks all up front under the hood. The five-passenger touring car weighed 2800 pounds and cost $2800.