Cole Automobiles

Cole Automobiles - Picture Gallery

1911 Cole Model 30 Torpedo Roadster	1911 Cole Model 30 Torpedo Roadster 1911 Cole Model 30 Torpedo Roadster Engine 4-Cylinder, L-Head, 286.3 cid, 36 hp Wheelbase: 118 inches Price New: $1,600 The Series 30 Cole was very successful in racing events both on the East coast and Western United States. The Massapequa Trophy was won in the Venderbilt Cup Race of 1910 and, with Bill Endicott driving, won the 24-hour Marathon at Brighton Beach, New York. A Cole engine was installed in a Wright airplane and flown from San Francisco in a cross-country race in 1911 becoming the first to fly from the West to the East. After 1915, only V-8 engines were offered and Cole pioneered in the use of balloon tires. Joseph Cole refused an opportunity to become a part of General Motors and continued to produce high quality cars assembled from carefully chosen components. Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana by Douglas
1913 Cole Model 50 4-Door Touring Car	1913 Cole Model 50 4-Door Touring Car 1913 Cole Model 50 4-Door Touring Car Cole automobiles were built in Indianapolis from 1909 to 1924. The rivaled Cadillac with America's highest-priced cars. Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: Kokomo Automotive Heritage Museum, Kokomo, Indiana by Douglas
1917 Cole 863 Tourcoupe	1917 Cole 863 Tourcoupe 1917 Cole 863 Tourcoupe Cole Motorcar Company, Indianapolis, IN National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. Photos By: Douglas Wilkinson by Douglas
1919 Aero-Eight Cole Model 885 Toursedan	1919 Aero-Eight Cole Model 885 Toursedan 1919 Aero-Eight Cole Model 885 Toursedan Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: The Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum (A-C-D) in Auburn, Indiana. by Douglas
1924 Cole Royal Master 890 4-Door Sedan	1924 Cole Royal Master 890 4-Door Sedan 1924 Cole Royal Master 890 4-Door Sedan Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: Kokomo Automotive Heritage Museum, Kokomo, Indiana by Douglas
1915 Cole Touring	1915 Cole Touring 1915 Cole Touring Location: 2009 Concours d'Elegance Amelia Island, Florida Date: March 15, 2009 Photos By: Douglas Wilkinson by Douglas

Cole Motor Car Company History

Cole Motor Car Company
Indianapolis, Indiana
1909 - 1924

Joseph J. Cole established the Cole Carriage Company in December, 1905, and produced horsedrawn carriages. In 1908, Cole built an experimental motor buggy that used many carriage components. A 4-cylinder touring car design was developed and in July, 1909, the Cole Motor Car Company was formed and horsedrawn carriage manufacturing ended. These 4-cylinder cars were joined by a 6-cylinder model in 1913, and a V-8 engine in 1915. The V-8´s became so popular that it was the only model offered after 1917.

In 1919, Cole sales in the luxury field were surpassed only by Cadillac, but after 1921, Cole encountered a rough period. A proposal to merge with other auto firms collapsed and Cole was confronted with a decision to mass-produce cars or go out of business. Cole decided to quit and his last car left the factory in October, 1924. J.J. Cole died in 1925.

Related Pages

• Remarkable Cars Home Page

Thanks