Elcar
Encyclopedia
The Elcar was an American
automobile
manufactured from 1915 until 1931. The car was produced by the Elkhart Carriage Company of Elkhart, Indiana
, which had been in business for over 30 years before producing its first car.
The Elcar appeared in 1915, and was first offered in two models, a Lycoming
-engine
d four and a Continental-engined six. A straight-eight, again with a Continental engine, was produced beginning in 1925. In 1930, the company began to use the complex Lever engine produced by the Reverend Alvah Powell, although only four Elcar-Levers were completed.
, under which it would supply "El-Fay" taxi
to Larry Fay
, a prominent businessman and clubowner.
, and Fay himself was eventually shot dead in 1933. A project to market the 1930 Elcar as a 1931 Mercer
came to nothing, and, despite the efforts of bankruptcy trustee and Interim President Arthur Martin Graffis
, the company folded after only two prototype
s had been constructed.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured from 1915 until 1931. The car was produced by the Elkhart Carriage Company of Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
, which had been in business for over 30 years before producing its first car.
Production
This was the 30/35 hp Elkhart, which began production in 1905 and remained on the market until 1909. In 1909 the 4·2 liter Sterling appeared (it ceased production in 1911), followed in 1911 by the Komet.The Elcar appeared in 1915, and was first offered in two models, a Lycoming
Lycoming Engines
Lycoming Engines is a U.S. aircraft engine company, known primarily for its general aviation engines. For most of its history Lycoming has been part of the AVCO group as AVCO Lycoming. In 1987 AVCO was purchased by Textron to become Textron Lycoming...
-engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
d four and a Continental-engined six. A straight-eight, again with a Continental engine, was produced beginning in 1925. In 1930, the company began to use the complex Lever engine produced by the Reverend Alvah Powell, although only four Elcar-Levers were completed.
New York City contract
It next entered a lucrative contract with in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, under which it would supply "El-Fay" taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
to Larry Fay
Larry Fay
Larry Fay was one of the early rumrunners of the Prohibition Era in New York City. He made a half a million dollars bringing whiskey into New York from Canada...
, a prominent businessman and clubowner.
Company demise
However, Fay's resources were badly hit by the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and Fay himself was eventually shot dead in 1933. A project to market the 1930 Elcar as a 1931 Mercer
Mercer (car)
Mercer was an American automobile manufacturer from 1909 until 1925. It was notable for its high-performance cars, especially the Type 35 Raceabout.-Early history:...
came to nothing, and, despite the efforts of bankruptcy trustee and Interim President Arthur Martin Graffis
Arthur Martin Graffis
Arthur Martin Graffis was a prominent automotive engineer, serving as Chief Engineer of Auburn Automobile and as Chief Engineer and Interim President of Elcar Automotive. During Elcar’s bankruptcy, A. M. Graffis was appointed court trustee of Elcar’s assets...
, the company folded after only two prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
s had been constructed.