The Liberty Motor Car Company was a vintage era United States automobile maker based in Detroit, Michigan from 1916 to 1923.[1]
| Liberty Motor Car Company | |
|---|---|
 Liberty Motor Car Company 1st Factory | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1916-1923 |
History
editLiberty Motor Car Company was started in February 1916 with capital stock of $400,000 to produce medium-priced cars. Percy Owen, vice-president of Saxon was president and R. E. Cole was Engineer. The R.C.H. automobile factory was purchased for production. The Liberty car was introduced at the Hotel Pontchartrain in Detroit in the summer of 1916.[1]
A total of 733 cars were produced in its first year increasing to 11,217 cars in 1921.[2] A new factory was built in 1921 but the expansion along with the Depression of 1920-1921 caused financial issues. Reorganization while under Receivership failed and in September 1923, it was acquired by Columbia Motors. Columbia failed the following year and the plant was sold to Budd Wheel Company.[1]
Models
editOnly one model named Liberty Six was offered, propelled by a monobloc 3394 cc Continental Motors 6-cylinder engine. In 1921 Liberty began using a new six-cylinder engine of their own design. Open and closed body styles were used. Total production of Liberty Six's was nearly 37,000.[2] Factory prices ranged from $1,095 in 1919 to $2,095 in 1923, equivalent to $37,464 in 2023.[1]
| Model (year) | Engine | HP | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-A (1916) | 6-cylinder | 23 | 115 in (2,921 mm) |
| 10-B (1917-1920) | 6-cylinder | 25 | 123 in (3,124 mm) (115 in (2,921 mm) 18–20) |
| 10-C;D (1921-1923) | 6-cylinder | 56 | 117 in (2,972 mm) |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
- ^ a b Georgano, Nick (2001). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (3 vol. ed.). Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
See also
edit- Former Liberty Motor Car Company headquarters building (photograph and information)
- 1920 Liberty Model 10-C (photograph and information)
