Major production
From producing 25 cars in 1903, production doubled annually until 250 cars were produced in 1907. The Premier cars, with their large green oak leaf on the radiator badge (often cited as the first use of an emblem as an automotive trademark), built a reputation as builders of superb touring cars. By 1910, they had completed three Glidden tours with a perfect score and reached 1,000 annual production.[2][1]
By 1913, all Premiers were six-cylinder cars with prices ranging from $2,735 for a roadster to $6,000 for a Deluxe Touring model. In 1914 the company went into receivership and George Weidely and Harold Smith left the company. In the reorganization that followed, Weidely and Smith purchased the Premier engine factory and established Weidely Motors Company for the manufacturing of automobile engines. An Illinois banker named F. W. Woodruff, headed a syndicate that arranged to pay the Premier company's debts and set-up the Premier Motor Car Company.[2]
During the First World War demand for the FWD Model B all wheel drive truck was too great for the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company to meet, so Premier was engaged along with the Peerless Motor Company, Kissel Motor Car Company and Mitchell Motor Car Company to build the Model B under license. One Model B was assembled by Premier in Indianapolis using parts from all four manufacturers to demonstrate that all parts were truly interchangeable. Premier also built 500 FWDs for the British Army in 1916.[4]
In 1916, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, due to the war in Europe, asked Premier to enter racers for the Indianapolis 500. Three factory prepared cars were entered, one finished seventh, the second crashed, the third went out with a broken oil line.[1]
For 1918 Premier introduced a new car with the tag line "The Aluminum Six with Magnetic Gear Shift". The 65-hp aluminum block engine was designed by Weidely Motors and the electric transmission was made by Cutler-Hammer. The Model 6C was priced from $2,285 to $3,285, .[2][1]
