1911 Inter-State Model 31-A Demi-Touring
1916 Inter-State Touring Car
Inter-State Automobile Company Plant (1910)

The Inter-State was a Brass Era car built in Muncie, Indiana, by Inter-State Automobile Company from 1909 to 1919.

History

Company name

Thomas F. Hart announced in October 1908 the winning name of his new company, chosen via a contest. The Inter-State Automobile Company set up shop at 142 Willard Street. Ads stated "we could get more for this car." Originally, all Inter-States were mid-market, both in size and price, with four-cylinder engines. In 1913, 6-cylinder engines were added.

Receivership followed in the fall of 1913. Thomas Hart cited "internal dissention and his inability to secure working capital because of disagreement among stockholders." In February 1914, Frank C. Ball (one of the original Inter-State investors) bought the Inter-State factory and real estate. This resulted in a renaming of the parent company to the Inter-State Motor Company.

General Motors

In 1915, a new Beaver 4-cylinder low-priced car was released. By May 1918, automobile production was suspended in favor of war work. In late February 1919, F. C. Ball announced he would be resuming passenger car production, but by March of the same year, Ball sold the Inter-State factory to General Motors for them to produce their new Sheridan.

Overview of production figures

YearProductionModel
1909323
1910627
1911839Model 31 A; Model 34
19121.012
1913614
1914117
19151.123
19161.238
19171.413
1918876
Sum8.182

Advertisements

  • 1911 Inter-State Forty Touring Car Model 39A from brochure
  • Inter-State advertisement (1912)
  • Inter-State advertisement (1912)
  • 1916 Inter-State advertisement

See also