During the decade of the 1910s, the automobile began to enter into American life and begin its evolution from a frivolous plaything to one of life’s necessities. Cars became mass produced and mass marketing produced a trend of consumer buying. During this decade consumers could choose between many different competing brands and different price ranges.
In his book Panati’s Parade of Fads, Follies, and Manias, Charles Panati writes:
“Merely owning any kind of automobile was no longer the status symbol to strive for; cachet came from being able to afford (or from getting into debt for) a prestige model.”
In 1915, for the first time there were more motorized vehicles being manufactured than horse-drawn vehicles.
The LeMay Family Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington is the Northwest’s largest automobile collection. There are more than 1,500 vehicles in the collection. The museum is on historic grounds of former Marymount Military Academy and vehicles are displayed and stored in three buildings. Shown below are some of the cars from 1916 to 1914.
1916 REO The Fifth Runabout
This car sold new for $875 and the total 1916 production for all REO body styles was 23,814. REO was started by Ransom Eli Olds. It has an inline 4-cylinder, 226 cubic inch, 35 horsepower engine with overhead intake valves and side exhaust valves.
1917 Dort Touring
This car sold for $695 and the total 1917 production was 9,318 cars. Dort built cars from 1915 until 1924. It has an inline 4-cylinder, 162 cubic inch, 20 horsepower engine.
1917 Cadillac Type 55 Two-Door Roadster
This car sold new for $2,240. During 1917, Cadillac sold over 18,000 cars. It has a V8, 315 cubic inch, 83 horsepower engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.
1919 Franklin Model 9B
This car sold new for $2,450 and 9,334 were produced. It has an air cooled inline 6-cylinder, 199 cubic inch, 25 horsepower engine.
More cars
LeMay Family Collection: Some 1910-1914 cars (photo diary)
America's Car Museum: Cars before 1910 (photo diary)
WAAAM: Automobiles Before 1910 (Photo Diary)
Truck Museum: Trucks Before 1920 (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: A Collection of Vintage Vehicles (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Automobiles before 1920 (Photo Diary)
Packard Museum: Early Packards (photo diary)
Museums 201: Fords of the Teens