Preston Motors Corporation: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (9 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:Preston Motors logo.jpg|right|200px]] | ||
The '''Preston Motors Corporation''' was organized in [[1919]] to manufacture automobiles in [[Birmingham]]. [[R. A. Skinner]] was president and chief engineer. With $1,000,000 in capital, the company built its [[Preston Motors Plant No. 1]] on [[Vanderbilt Road]] where it built five-passenger touring cars. | The '''Preston Motors Corporation''' was organized in [[1919]] to manufacture automobiles in [[Birmingham]]. [[R. A. Skinner]] was president and chief engineer. With $1,000,000 in capital, the company built its [[Preston Motors Plant No. 1]] on [[Vanderbilt Road]] at [[18th Avenue North]] (near the present [[Tallapoosa Street]] exit off [[I-20]]/[[I-59|59]]) where it built five-passenger touring cars. | ||
[[Preston Motors Plant No. 2]] opened in [[1921]] on the northwest corner of [[27th Avenue North|27th Avenue]] and [[24th Street North]] in [[North Birmingham]]. The second plant accommodated production of a 6-cylinder roadster. | [[Preston Motors Plant No. 2]] opened in [[1921]] on the northwest corner of [[27th Avenue North|27th Avenue]] and [[24th Street North]] in [[North Birmingham]]. The second plant accommodated production of a 6-cylinder roadster. | ||
Preston's '''Premocars''' were built on steel frames with water-cooled Falls engines, 3-speed manual transmissions, Timken axles, Borg and Peck clutches, Wagner starters and lights, Connecticut ignitions, Spicer universal joints, Stromberg carburetors, Muncie gearsets, Willard batteries, and Stewart vacuum feed assemblies | [[Image:1922 Premocar ad.jpg|left|225px]] | ||
Preston's '''Premocars''' were built on steel frames with water-cooled Falls engines, 3-speed manual transmissions, Timken axles, Borg and Peck clutches, Wagner starters and lights, Connecticut ignitions, Spicer universal joints, Stromberg carburetors, Muncie gearsets, Willard 6-volt batteries, and Stewart vacuum feed assemblies. Standard wheels were 32" diameter by 3 1/2" wide. Each vehicle was equipped with a [[Miller Reese Hutchison#Klaxon horn|Klaxon horn]] and a Stewart speedometer. | |||
During his [[1921 Presidential visit|1921 visit to Birmingham]], President Warren Harding | [[Image:Harding in Premocar.jpg|right|thumb|375px|President Harding in a Premocar touring car in 1921]] | ||
The carriage bodies were fabricated by hand in Birmingham, using kiln-dried wood with mortised and glued joints, braced with iron. The standard color was maroon with cream-color wheels, but custom colors were available as an option. Because it was built on the same 117" wheelbase chassis, the roadster had a roomy rear compartment which could enclose steamer trunk under the fold-down roof. | |||
During his [[1921 Presidential visit|1921 visit to Birmingham]], President Warren Harding was chauffeured around the city in a white-painted 1921 Premocar Touring Car. The 1922 models featured an improved "Magic Six" valve-in-head motor. | |||
[[Image:Premocar Magic Six.jpg|left|thumb|275px|A Premocar "Magic Six" racing car on the track]] | |||
Premocars were priced higher than comparable products from other manufacturers, limiting demand. It is estimated that only about 300 vehicles were ever produced by the company (none of which survive). The company fell into receivership and closed in [[1924]]. | |||
The company's former plant on Vanderbilt Road was redeveloped in [[2019]] as the "[[Premo Factory]]", housing manufacturers of architectural and garden products. | |||
==Models== | ==Models== | ||
| Line 18: | Line 27: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "Premocar Roadster" (December 1921) ''Motor Record'' | * "Premocar Roadster" (December 1921) ''Motor Record'' | ||
* Weeks, J. D. (2013) ''Premocar: Made in Birmingham''. Raleigh, North Carolina: Lulu Press. ISBN 9781304496874 | |||
==External links== | |||
* [http://www.myfoxal.com/global/category.asp?c=195956&clipId=5601445&autostart=true Every Now and Then: The Premocar] video feature on myfoxal.com | |||
[[Category:Auto manufacturers]] | [[Category:Auto manufacturers]] | ||
[[Category:Former manufacturers]] | [[Category:Former manufacturers]] | ||
[[Category:Vanderbilt Road] | [[Category:Vanderbilt Road]] | ||
[[Category:27th Avenue North]] | [[Category:27th Avenue North]] | ||
[[Category:24th Street North]] | [[Category:24th Street North]] | ||
[[Category:1919 establishments]] | [[Category:1919 establishments]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1924 disestablishments]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:37, 6 October 2021
The Preston Motors Corporation was organized in 1919 to manufacture automobiles in Birmingham. R. A. Skinner was president and chief engineer. With $1,000,000 in capital, the company built its Preston Motors Plant No. 1 on Vanderbilt Road at 18th Avenue North (near the present Tallapoosa Street exit off I-20/59) where it built five-passenger touring cars.
Preston Motors Plant No. 2 opened in 1921 on the northwest corner of 27th Avenue and 24th Street North in North Birmingham. The second plant accommodated production of a 6-cylinder roadster.
Preston's Premocars were built on steel frames with water-cooled Falls engines, 3-speed manual transmissions, Timken axles, Borg and Peck clutches, Wagner starters and lights, Connecticut ignitions, Spicer universal joints, Stromberg carburetors, Muncie gearsets, Willard 6-volt batteries, and Stewart vacuum feed assemblies. Standard wheels were 32" diameter by 3 1/2" wide. Each vehicle was equipped with a Klaxon horn and a Stewart speedometer.
The carriage bodies were fabricated by hand in Birmingham, using kiln-dried wood with mortised and glued joints, braced with iron. The standard color was maroon with cream-color wheels, but custom colors were available as an option. Because it was built on the same 117" wheelbase chassis, the roadster had a roomy rear compartment which could enclose steamer trunk under the fold-down roof.
During his 1921 visit to Birmingham, President Warren Harding was chauffeured around the city in a white-painted 1921 Premocar Touring Car. The 1922 models featured an improved "Magic Six" valve-in-head motor.
Premocars were priced higher than comparable products from other manufacturers, limiting demand. It is estimated that only about 300 vehicles were ever produced by the company (none of which survive). The company fell into receivership and closed in 1924.
The company's former plant on Vanderbilt Road was redeveloped in 2019 as the "Premo Factory", housing manufacturers of architectural and garden products.
Models
- Premocar 4-80 A Touring Car (4 cylinder, 5 passenger)
- Premocar 6-40 A Touring Car (6 cylinder, 5 passenger)
- Premocar 6-40 C Coupe
- Premocar 6-40 S Sedan
- Premocar 6-40 R Roadster (6 cylinder, 3 passenger)
- Premocar 6-40 X California Top (6 cylinder, 3 passenger)
References
- "Premocar Roadster" (December 1921) Motor Record
- Weeks, J. D. (2013) Premocar: Made in Birmingham. Raleigh, North Carolina: Lulu Press. ISBN 9781304496874
External links
- Every Now and Then: The Premocar video feature on myfoxal.com