1907 Studebaker-Garford

edited by David Barth, 30 January 2009.
Courtesy The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Photos were taken in January 2009.

This luxurious landaulet (automobile with a half-folding roof) was the combined effort of the Studebaker Corporation and the Garford Manufacturing Company. In 1902, Studebaker added electric cars to their wagon production. Two years later, in 1904, gasoline powered cars came out of their factory as well. Between 1906 and 1913, Studebaker acted only as the selling agent for cars made to their order and produced by other manufacturers.

The Garford Manufacturing Company of Elyria, Ohio, made the more expensive models that were sold as Studebaker-Garfords. These models were favored by ladies and were intended for town use, shopping, visiting, and short drives. The body is very small with little storage space.

This Studebaker-Garford was custom-made for Mrs. Bertha Palmer of Chicago, the widow of Potter Palmer, owner of the Palmer House Hotel and several properties along State Street. Their house was called "Palmer Castle," and Mrs. Palmer was the grand dame of Chicago society. The car's exterior is in her favorite shades of purple, heliotrope (lighter) and amaranth (darker), with red striping. The mauve velvet interior is accented with tapestry trim, beveled glass, and rich cherry wood. This Studebaker-Garford was sold by the Palmer chauffeur to a collector in the 1950s and has been painstakingly restored.

Model: H
Body Style: 2-door Landaulet (7-passenger)
Original Factory Price: $5,540
Brake Horsepower: 30
Displacement: 280.6 cubic inches
Bore: 4 1/8 inches
Stroke: 5 1/4 inches
Cylinders: 4, cast in pairs
Wheelbase: 104 inches
Manufacturer: Garford Manufacturing Company
Distributor: Studebaker Corporation
Location: Elyria, Ohio, USA (Garford)
South Bend, Indiana, USA (Studebaker)
Years of Production: 1903-1910

Donor: Louis A. Bettcher