by Andrew Guilio

Created on: March 14, 2011   Last Updated: March 15, 2011

The Brass Car Era covers cars built in the years 1890 to 1918.This time period was during the time when automobiles were still thought of as horseless carriages.

In the beginning of the era, the body styles still had the outlines of the horse buggy.  By the ending years of the era, the cars were adopting the closed body style that became the beginnings of the style that led into the modern car design.

Although these cars were built with carriage wood and steel, it was the brass fittings on the cars that gave them the name of Brass Car Era.  The cars built in this era had many brass fittings on radiators, headlamps horns, lights, windshield frames and other locations on the cars. 

The buyers of these cars changed from racers and dabblers looking for excitement, to solid middle and upper class people wanting to be in the forefront of an emerging technology. They were the beginning of the automobile class, which would eventually become the commuters of today.

The Brass Car manufacturers were bicycle manufacturers, buggy makers, blacksmiths, machinists and talented inventers.  Most of them began on a small scale.  Many were only around a few years.  Other evolved and became known manufacturers.

At various times there were over sixty manufacturers in the US. Many of these names became part of American history and are remembered. Some of the names are Ford, Auburn, Olds, Auburn, Cadillac, Overland, Buick, Willys, Maxwell, Studebaker, Hudson.  There were others who did not remain in existence very long and whose names are not remembered as well.

The Brass Cars were mainly cars that had steam engines or electric motors.  They lasted until the gas engine became predominant.  The time of mass production began and that was the end of the Brass Car era. 

Many of these cars are still in existence today.  They have been restored and shown in auto shows throughout the country.  Original parts are used whenever possible.   These parts are advertised and are in small quantities.  They do not stay for sale very long.

Some of the cars are sold after restoration.  Prices range from a low of $20,000 to highs of over hundred of thousands of dollars.  The averages are in the $30,000 to $45,000 range.

Some of the models that are available and advertised for sale are:

1910   Hupmobile  Model 20

1909 Sears Model P

1913 Willys Overland

1913 Hudson Touring Car

1915 Model T

These are just a few of the cars available and offered.  More can be found in collectors associations and the shows throughout the country.

Sources

http://www.antiquecar.com/brass.php

www.conceptcarz.com/view/eras.aspx

www.hcca.org

wikipedia

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