Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur was an American automobile marque associated with the Ben-Hur Motor Company, which was incorporated in Delaware in 1916. The cars were built by L. L. Allyn in Willoughby, Ohio, placing the marque among the many small manufacturers that entered the United States automobile market during the early twentieth century. Unlike the large manufacturers that had begun standardizing high-volume production, Ben-Hur appears to have focused on relatively substantial touring and passenger cars with a long wheelbase and conventional mechanical equipment. The advertised chassis used a 126-inch wheelbase and was powered by a Buda six-cylinder engine with both splash and forced-feed lubrication. Other listed equipment included Bosch high-tension magneto ignition, a separate Westinghouse starting motor, a disc clutch, and a selective sliding-gear transmission offering three forward speeds and reverse. The cars used Timken front and rear axles, wire wheels, and 35-by-4-inch tires. A 19-gallon rear-mounted fuel tank supplemented by a two-gallon reserve tank was also specified. The model range described in contemporary material included five- and seven-passenger touring cars, a seven-passenger sedan, and a four-passenger roadster. Listed prices positioned the vehicles above many mass-market cars: the touring cars and roadster were priced at $1,875, while the seven-passenger sedan was listed at $2,750. These prices, along with the large chassis and six-cylinder powerplant, indicate an attempt to compete in the upper portion of the period's market rather than in the inexpensive, high-volume segment. Ben-Hur exhibited a cloverleaf roadster at the 1917 New York Auto Show. In February 1918, Allyn stated that approximately 30 to 40 cars had been shipped to dealers and that production was expected to proceed at five to ten cars per week while the company dealt with difficulties obtaining bodies. The company reportedly possessed a factory with a nominal capacity of 20 cars per day, but that capacity was not matched by demonstrated production or distribution. A meeting intended to increase capitalization was scheduled for March 1918. By May 1918, the company had entered receivership, effectively ending the marque's commercial development. The available record does not establish a later revival, surviving corporate continuity, or a broad international market. Ben-Hur is therefore best understood as a defunct, low-volume American automobile brand of the World War I era.

The Ben-Hur Motor Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1916, during a period when the United States automobile industry still included numerous small and regional manufacturers. The company's cars were built by L. L. Allyn in Willoughby, Ohio. Available descriptions present Ben-Hur as a maker of large passenger cars rather than a mass-market producer. The advertised automobile featured a 126-inch wheelbase and a Buda six-cylinder engine equipped with splash and forced-feed lubrication. Its specification included Bosch high-tension magneto ignition, a separate Westinghouse starting motor, a disc clutch, and a selective sliding-gear transmission with three forward speeds and reverse. Timken axles, wire wheels, 35-by-4-inch tires, and a rear-mounted 19-gallon fuel tank with a two-gallon reserve were also listed. The equipment reflected contemporary expectations for a substantial touring car. The range included five- and seven-passenger touring models, a seven-passenger sedan, and a four-passenger roadster. Published prices were $1,875 for the touring cars and roadster and $2,750 for the seven-passenger sedan. The available historical account does not document sustained volume production, but it does record a public appearance at the 1917 New York Auto Show, where Ben-Hur presented a cloverleaf roadster. In February 1918, Allyn said that between 30 and 40 cars had been shipped to dealers. He also described production plans of five to ten cars per week, attributing the limited rate to difficulty securing bodies. Although the company reportedly had a factory capable of producing 20 cars per day, the evidence indicates that actual output and market penetration were much smaller. A meeting to increase the company's capitalization was planned for March. By May 1918, Ben-Hur was in receivership. No reliable evidence in the cited material indicates that the marque resumed production or developed into a continuing automobile business.

• 1918

  Dealer shipments and production plans announced

  [1]Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The company reported that approximately 30 to 40 cars had been shipped to dealers and outlined a near-term production rate of five to ten cars per week.

• 1918

  Company placed in receivership

  [1]Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Ben-Hur entered receivership by May after efforts to increase capitalization were being considered.

• 1917

  Cloverleaf roadster shown at New York Auto Show

  [1]Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Ben-Hur exhibited a cloverleaf roadster at the New York Auto Show.

• 1916

  Ben-Hur Motor Company incorporated

  [1]Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The Ben-Hur Motor Company was incorporated in Delaware, with cars built by L. L. Allyn in Willoughby, Ohio.

A low-volume American passenger-car marque positioned toward the larger and more expensive end of the 1910s touring-car market.

• Passenger automobile · 1916

  Ben-Hur touring car

  The touring range included five- and seven-passenger bodies on a long 126-inch-wheelbase chassis. The advertised mechanical package used a Buda six-cylinder engine, Bosch magneto ignition, a Westinghouse starting motor, a three-speed sliding-gear transmission, Timken axles, wire wheels, and large 35-by-4-inch tires. The five- and seven-passenger touring cars were listed at $1,875 in contemporary pricing material.

• Passenger automobile · 1916

  Ben-Hur seven-passenger sedan

  The seven-passenger sedan was the highest-priced body style identified in the available Ben-Hur material. It used the same general large-car chassis and six-cylinder mechanical specification associated with the marque. Its listed price was $2,750, placing it above the touring models and suggesting an emphasis on enclosed, spacious passenger transport.

• Passenger automobile · 1917

  Ben-Hur cloverleaf roadster

  The cloverleaf roadster was a sporty open-bodied Ben-Hur model displayed at the 1917 New York Auto Show. It represented the marque in a public exhibition setting and formed part of a product range that also included touring cars and a sedan. The available source does not provide a separate production total or detailed body specification for this variant.

• 1918

  Planned controlled production while resolving body-supply problemsStrategy

  Background

  The company had a reported factory capacity of 20 cars per day, but body procurement difficulties constrained practical output.

  Action taken

  L. L. Allyn announced a near-term production plan of five to ten cars per week and reported approximately 30 to 40 dealer shipments.

  Aftermath

  The available account does not show that the planned production rate was sustained; by May 1918 the company was in receivership.

  Source

• 1918

  Capitalization increase consideredOther

  Background

  Ben-Hur required additional financial support while attempting to develop production and dealer distribution.

  Action taken

  A meeting was scheduled to consider increasing the company's capitalization.

  Aftermath

  The company was in receivership by May 1918, and the cited material does not document a subsequent recovery.

  Source

• 1918

  Ben-Hur reports early dealer shipments and constrained production plans[1]Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  L. L. Allyn announced that roughly 30 to 40 cars had been shipped to dealers. The company planned output of five to ten cars per week because of difficulty obtaining bodies, despite a stated factory capacity of 20 cars per day.

• 1918

  Ben-Hur enters receivership[1]Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  After a proposed meeting to increase capitalization, the Ben-Hur Motor Company was reported to be in receivership by May 1918.

• 1917

  Ben-Hur displays a cloverleaf roadster at the New York Auto Show[1]Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The young automobile marque exhibited a cloverleaf roadster at the 1917 New York Auto Show, providing one of its documented public product appearances.

1. 1Ben Hur (automobile)en.wikipedia.org