National

US, 1900 – 1924

(1) National Automobile & Electric Vehicle Co, Indianapolis, Ind., 1900

(2) National Motor Vehicle Co, Indianapolis, Inc., 1900 – 1916

(3) National Motor Car & Vehicle Corp, Indianapolis, Ind., 1916 – 1924

The first National cars were light electric runabouts, which were supplemented in 1903 by a petrol-engined National car with a 4-cylinder Rutenber engine, 3-speed gearbox and shaft drive. In 1905 electric National cars were dropped and the round radiator which was to characterize National cars for several years was introduced. 1906 saw the 6-cylinder National car, one of the first sixes in America; as on the four, cylinder were separately cast, but in 1908 there appeared a range of National cars with pair-cast cylinders, and in the same year the round radiator of the National car was replaced by a shield-shaped design. From 1909 to 1915, 4- and 6-cylinder National cars up to 60hp and $5.000 were made, and in the years 1909 to 1912 many competition successes were achieved with National cars, including victory in the Elgin National Trophy and Illinois Trophy in 1911, and the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 1912. The driver of this National car was Joe Dawson, who won at an average speed of 78.7mph.

In 1915 a new range of National cars was announced with 6- or 12-cylinder engines in the same chassis. The six of these National car was a Continental Red Seal, and the twelve was National cars own make, but curiously the most expensive of the National car range was the old six, known as the Newport Six. The twelve was dropped in 1920 and for the last four years National cars were undistinguished cars, although of good quality. A merger in 1922 between National cars, Dixie Flyer and Jackson led to a range of three cars for 1923/1924, of which only the largest, the ‘6-71’ was a genuine National car. Although bearing the National name, the ‘6-31’was a Dixie Flyer and the ‘6-51’ a Jackson.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; GNG

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