Well I had planned to have fun with this car, making jokes about driving to Mackinac Island, how it runs on hot air, etc.
However, after a large breakfast of humble pie I decided to stay away from politics today.
So I'll only make a short notation that there really was an Engler built in Michigan.
The W.B. Engler Cyclecar Co of Pontiac Michigan built a $385 car in 1914 and 1915.
This two seater cyclecar used a Deluxe air-cooled, 2 cylinder engine of 1.2 liters displacement.
Drive was through friction transmission and belts.
Speaking of Michigan automobiles, The Michigan Automobile Company of Kalamazoo built cars from 1903 until 1908. Formerly called the Blood, The first Michigan was a very light two seater powered by a 3 1/2 hp air-cooled engine.
Priced at $450 it was one of the cheapest cars in America at the time. Later models were larger, using 2 cyl engines with two or four seat bodies and priced to $1250.
Then there was the Michigan Buggy Co, also of Kalamazoo that operated from 1908-1914.
This company began by making high-wheel buggies, but by 1911 was producing low-built tourers and roadsters powered by 33 or 40hp 4 cyl engines. These were referred to as the Mighty Michigan in advertisements, but it was not the official name for the car.
Pictured below is the Mighty Michigan and linked from it is Governor Englers "Barn Again" proclamation.
Pay attention now, you'll hear of this again.
Note: I've added an advertisement I found on E Bay from the Saturday Evening Post of 1913 here.
Next
Back to Index