Due to the widespread use of brass fixtures for things like lighting and radiators in early cars, this period in US history is sometimes referred to as “The Brass Period.” Around this period, these automobiles, otherwise known as “horseless carriages,” stuck around until at least 1915. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and appreciate the coolest classic cars from the Brass Era.
1911 Ford Model T Torpedo Runabout
Ford’s Model T is one of the century’s greatest game-changing innovations. Henry Ford’s moving assembly line allowed him to produce unprecedented quantities of his Model T automobile, with Ford manufacturing nearly 15 million Model Ts after nearly 20 years.
From the beginning, Ford provided many body shapes, including utilitarian and sporty options. Three-passenger and two-passenger runabouts and the torpedo and open runabouts for two passengers were the sportier ends of the market in 1911. The main difference between the Open and Torpedo Runabout was the Torpedo version had doors.
1914 Cadillac Military Sports Roadster
Many manufacturers that understood the benefits of using brass in high-end motorcars from the Brass Age found themselves in a bind once the 1920s came around. Their vehicles became less desirable when new, more cutting-edge car designs became the norm.
Car owners might sell their reliable vehicles and use the money toward a new body to give their existing vehicle a fresher appearance. This often happened with owners of luxury vehicles like Rolls-Royce, Locomotives, and Cadillacs.
Cadillac bolstered its line when the Schutte Body Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, created the Military Sport Roadster body styled for two people. Schutte’s name was synonymous with luxurious automobiles in the United States, and its reputation for excellence spread quickly.
1912 Stoddard-Dayton Fire Chief Car
The Stoddard-Dayton family produced farm machinery and tools before moving on to vehicles. When automobiles flourished in the early 20th century, Charles Stoddard became interested and eventually began constructing his own. He liquidated his farm to finance his endeavor, and in 1904 he produced his first vehicle.
Although facing mass-produced competition from Ford, Stoddard-Dayton kept flourishing. The Stoddard-Dayton was a great option for a fire truck because of its reputation for dependability, durability, and performance.
Prospect Fire Engine Co. built a lovely and intriguing body for this 1912 Types 20 Stratford, making it ideal for a fire chief, given its high quality and the high cost of its equipment.
1913 American Underslung Scout Type 22A
American Motors Corporation of Indianapolis, Indiana, was a company that emerged with a bang but went out of business after just eight years. This version of American Motors is generally known as American Underslung because of its most well-known and distinctive vehicle.
Fred Tone created the Underslung chassis in 1907, which allowed for a much lower riding height by placing the suspension and axles above the frame. Advertising at the time proclaimed the advantages of having a low center of gravity, but Tone was one of the first engineers to realize their importance.
The 1913 Scout is a two-seater runabout roadster with a 30-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The junior model Scout competed with the larger 60 hp touring vehicles by offering a lower starting price and a smaller L-head engine. However, by 1914, it was already too late, and American Motors Corporation ceased operations.
The coolest classic cars from the Brass Era are as beautiful today as they were a century ago. Some may argue that auto manufacturers have greatly improved the sector. But when every car looks the same in today’s world, others would beg to differ.