Marion
The Marion (automobile) is a name that has been applied to at least four different automobile companies:
- Marion, Marion, Ohio (1901)
- Marion, Indianapolis, Indiana (1904-1915)
- Marion-Handley, Jackson, Michigan (1916-1919)
- Marion Flyer, Marion, Indiana (1910)
The Marion was an automobile produced in Marion, Ohio, in 1901 by the Marion Automobile Company. Fred S. Titus was the proprietor. In 1907, he sold the concern to H.T. Love. The company produced two different models of steam-powered cars, two different electric cars, and a gasoline-powered version.
Mutual Motors Company
Mutual Motors Company resulted from a merger between Marion of Indianapolis and Imperial Automobile Company in 1916. The Marion-Handley was a product of this new company.
History of Marion Motor Car Company
The Marion Motor Car Company was founded in 1904 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It initially produced mid-priced to high-priced automobiles. Early versions of the Marion car had transversely-mounted 16-hp Reeves air-cooled engines and double chain drive. The appearance of the Marion car was very similar to the contemporary Premier (also an Indianapolis car). By 1906, Marion cars had conventionally-placed 16 and 28-hp four-cylinder Reeves engines, while later models used water-cooled engines by Continental and other firms of up to 48 hp.
Automotive engineers and designers Robert Hassler, Fred Tone, George Schebler, and Harry C. Stutz produced or designed models for Marion. Motor car racing was actively undertaken to provide recognition for Marion. Beginning in 1907, Harry Stutz was chief engineer for Marion and designed a roadster named the Bobcat Speedster, which bore a close resemblance to the contemporaneous Stutz Bearcat Speedster.
John N. Willys, President of Overland Automobile Company, bought controlling interest in Marion in October 1908. The company remained under-capitalized until 1912 when capital stock was raised from $100,000 to $1,125,000. J.I. Handley, president of American Motor Car Company became President of Marion Motor Car Company and combined their sales organizations.
In 1914 J.I. Handley purchased the assets of the Marion Company for $120,000. In December 1914, Handley's Mutual Motors Company resulted from a merger between the Marion Motor Car Company and Imperial Automobile Company of Jackson, Michigan. Production was moved to Jackson but ended in 1915. In 1916, the Marion-Handley became the automobile offered by Mutual Motors.
Models Produced
- Model Four:
- Years: 1904–1905
- Engine: 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 16 hp (11.8 kW)
- Wheelbase: 96 inches (2438 mm)
- Price: $1,500
- Model Two:
- Year: 1906
- Engine: 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 16 hp (11.8 kW)
- Wheelbase: 96 inches (2438 mm)
- Price: $1,500
- Model Five:
- Year: 1906
- Engine: 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 28 hp (20.6 kW)
- Wheelbase: 108 inches (2743 mm)
- Price: $2,500
- Model Seven:
- Year: 1907
- Engine: 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 24 hp (17.6 kW)
- Wheelbase: 100 inches (2540 mm)
- Price Range: $2,000 to $3,000
- Model Eight:
- Years: 1908–1909
- Engine: 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 24 hp (17.6 kW)
- Wheelbase: 102"-104" (2591–2642 mm)
- Price: $2,250
- Model Nine:
- Years: 1908–1909
- Engine: 6-cylinder
- Horsepower: 35 hp (26 kW)
- Wheelbase: 102"-112" (2642–2845 mm)
- Price Range: $1,850 to $2,750
- The Bobcat Speedster:
Designed by Harry C. Stutz; produced from 1911 through 1914. Features included: - Wheelbase measuring approximately 111 inches - Two-wheel mechanical brakes - Price at launch was $1,475Cultural Impact and Legacy
The legacy of the Marion automobile companies is reflected in their contributions to early automotive design and manufacturing practices in the United States during the brass era of motoring. Despite their eventual decline and closure in the early years of the Great Depression, their vehicles remain notable examples of innovation from that period.
The last known surviving examples of various models are preserved in museums and private collections across the United States.
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