McFarlan Automobile

McFarlan Automobile was an American luxury-car marque manufactured in Connersville, Indiana, between 1909 and 1928. The automobiles were produced first by the McFarlan Carriage Company and, from 1913, by the McFarlan Motor Car Company. The marque grew out of a long-established carriage business founded by John B. McFarlan in 1856, and its transition into motor vehicles reflected the broader transformation of Connersville into an important American manufacturing center. Alfred Harry McFarlan, John B. McFarlan's grandson, conceived the motor-car venture and directed it for most of its existence. The first McFarlan automobile appeared late in 1909. From the outset, the company concentrated on relatively large, six-cylinder cars built in small quantities rather than attempting the high-volume production model used by emerging mass-market manufacturers. Early cars used engines supplied by several specialist manufacturers, including Wisconsin, Buda, Brownell and Continental. By 1916, the company had settled on a Teetor-Hartley power unit for its principal lines. McFarlan initially offered two six-cylinder ranges, the Big Six and Little Six, aimed at different price levels. The marque moved steadily upward in the market during the 1910s and 1920s, emphasizing long wheelbases, substantial coachwork and custom body styles. Its reputation was reinforced by competition appearances, celebrity ownership and extravagant show cars. McFarlans were associated with figures including Wallace Reid, William Desmond Taylor, Fatty Arbuckle, Paul Whiteman, Jack Dempsey and Virginia governor E. Lee Trinkle. Al Capone purchased McFarlans for his wife Mae in 1924 and again in 1926, according to historical accounts. The company introduced the technically ambitious Twin-Valve Six in 1921. Although presented as a McFarlan design, its architecture was an extensively improved Teetor-Hartley six-cylinder engine, using four valves per cylinder, multiple ignition features and pressure lubrication. The marque also tried to broaden its customer base with the Wisconsin-powered Single-Valve Six and later with the Lycoming-powered Line-8. The latter sold better than the Single-Valve model, but McFarlan's attempts to serve both the ultra-luxury market and more competitive mid-priced segments strained its limited resources. McFarlan also built specialized commercial bodies, including ambulances, hearses, funeral cars and fire trucks, and supplied custom coachwork to other manufacturers. Its boat-tail speedster body designs influenced bodies used on Auburn and Duesenberg automobiles. At the upper end of the market, the company promoted highly customized cars, including a 1923 Chicago Auto Show Town Car with extensive gold-plated trim that was reportedly offered for an exceptional price. The business entered decline during the 1920s. Alfred Harry McFarlan's failing health, the post-World War I recession and increasingly strong competition undermined the company's position. Burton Barrows, a longtime associate, assumed operational responsibility and oversaw the introduction of the Line-8 and updated Twin-Valve Six styling. Barrows also died in 1928, the year McFarlan introduced new styling too late to reverse its fortunes. The 1928 model year was the final production period, and the company declared bankruptcy on August 8, 1928. On August 1, 1929, its factory was sold to Auburn Automobile Company, which used the site first for storage and later as a body shop. McFarlan automobiles survive in private collections and museums, including institutions associated with Indianapolis racing, American automotive history and Connersville industrial heritage. The marque is remembered for combining carriage-making craftsmanship with ambitious luxury-car engineering and bespoke coachwork, even though its small-scale business model could not withstand the competitive and economic pressures of the late 1920s.

The McFarlan story began with the McFarlan Carriage Company, founded in Connersville in 1856 by English-born John B. McFarlan. John B. McFarlan also helped organize the Connersville Industrial Park in 1887, an early planned industrial district intended to concentrate manufacturers on a purpose-built site. The development contributed to Connersville's later identity as an American automobile-manufacturing center. John B. McFarlan's grandson, Alfred Harry McFarlan, believed the carriage business needed to diversify as motor vehicles began replacing horse-drawn transportation. He developed the McFarlan automobile, which was introduced late in 1909. The first cars were large, relatively expensive six-cylinder vehicles produced in small numbers. Their early road tests took place on a track that subsequently became associated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In the 1910 model year, two McFarlans entered Labor Day races at the speedway and both finished in the top five. McFarlan cars also competed in the first two Indianapolis 500 races, in 1911 and 1912. In 1913, the motor-car operation became the McFarlan Motor Car Company. Carriage manufacture ended soon afterward, leaving the company committed to automobiles. Early cars used proprietary or supplier engines from Wisconsin, Buda, Brownell and Continental. In 1916, McFarlan adopted a Teetor-Hartley engine for its principal products. The range included the Big Six and Little Six, which provided different levels of price and equipment. During the late 1910s, McFarlan moved toward an increasingly exclusive market, using long wheelbases and substantial custom bodies. The company's luxury image was strengthened by celebrity associations and competition visibility. A 1919 Type 125 sport-touring car was owned by actor Wallace Reid. Other reported owners included William Desmond Taylor, Fatty Arbuckle, Paul Whiteman, Jack Dempsey and Virginia governor E. Lee Trinkle. Al Capone reportedly bought a McFarlan for Mae Capone in 1924 and another in 1926. The cars were sometimes described as American counterparts to Rolls-Royce, although similar claims were also made for other American luxury manufacturers. In 1921, McFarlan introduced the Twin-Valve Six. The engine was derived from the Teetor-Hartley unit but was substantially improved, with four valves per cylinder, eighteen spark plugs, pressure lubrication and multiple ignition features. The 573-cubic-inch engine produced a stated 120 horsepower and was installed on a 140-inch-wheelbase chassis. McFarlan offered the chassis with numerous body styles, seeking to compete at the highest end of the American market. McFarlan simultaneously tried to expand beyond its narrow luxury niche. The Single-Valve Six used a Wisconsin six-cylinder engine and targeted a more competitive middle segment, but it failed to gain sufficient traction and was discontinued during 1926. The company also introduced the Line-8 in 1926, using a Lycoming straight-eight engine on a shorter 131-inch wheelbase. The Line-8 sold better than the Single-Valve Six and remained part of the 1927 range alongside the Twin-Valve Six. Coachbuilding and special-purpose vehicles were important supplementary activities. McFarlan produced custom bodies for its own chassis and supplied coachwork for other manufacturers. Its boat-tail speedster designs were adopted for Duesenberg and Auburn automobiles, and McFarlan bodies contributed to the appearance of the 1928 Auburn speedster. On a limited basis, the company built ambulances, hearses, funeral cars and fire trucks, commonly using Continental engines. A particularly extravagant Town Car displayed at the 1923 Chicago Auto Show used gold in place of conventional nickel plating, including gold-colored interior elements. The company's strategy became increasingly difficult to sustain. By the middle of the 1920s, McFarlan offered both expensive prestige cars and lower-priced products while operating at a much smaller scale than mass manufacturers. Alfred Harry McFarlan's health deteriorated, and longtime associate Burton Barrows assumed greater responsibility for operations. Barrows supervised the Line-8 program and revised Twin-Valve Six styling, but his own health failed and he died in 1928. McFarlan introduced substantially new styling that year, but the changes came too late to restore the company's finances. The 1928 model year was its last, and bankruptcy followed on August 8. On August 1, 1929, Auburn Automobile Company purchased the factory. Auburn initially used the premises to store unfinished automobiles and later operated it as a body shop. The McFarlan marque disappeared, but surviving cars remained visible through private collections and museums. A 1967 privately published book, What Was the McFarlan?, by Keith Marvin and Al Arnheim, documented the company and identified nineteen surviving McFarlans at that time. Surviving examples have been associated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, the Petersen Automotive Museum, the National Automobile Museum, Historic Connersville and the Nethercutt Collection.

• 1929

  Factory is sold to Auburn

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Auburn Automobile Company purchased the former McFarlan factory on August 1.

• 1928

  Final model year and bankruptcy

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  New styling arrived for the final model year, but McFarlan declared bankruptcy on August 8.

• 1926

  Line-8 joins the range

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  McFarlan introduced a Lycoming-powered straight-eight on a shorter wheelbase in another attempt to reach a broader market.

• 1921

  Twin-Valve Six launches

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The marque introduced its most technically ambitious six-cylinder engine and offered it with extensive custom coachwork.

• 1916

  Teetor-Hartley power becomes established

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  McFarlan settled on Teetor-Hartley engines after using several outside engine suppliers in its early years.

• 1913

  Motor-car company is separately organized

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The McFarlan Motor Car Company replaced the carriage company as the automobile business, with carriage production ending soon afterward.

• 1909

  First McFarlan motor car appears

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Alfred Harry McFarlan's motor-car concept became a production automobile late in 1909.

• 1887

  Connersville Industrial Park is organized

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  John B. McFarlan helped create a planned industrial park that contributed to Connersville's development as a manufacturing center.

• 1856

  McFarlan Carriage Company is founded

  [1]McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  John B. McFarlan founded the carriage company in Connersville, establishing the industrial base from which the automobile business later developed.

Small-volume American luxury marque focused on long-wheelbase cars, custom coachwork, high-grade materials and technically ambitious six- and eight-cylinder automobiles.

• Luxury six-cylinder automobile

  Big Six

  The Big Six was one of McFarlan's principal early six-cylinder lines. It represented the marque's large-car approach, combining substantial chassis dimensions with custom bodywork and a higher price position than the company's smaller six-cylinder offering.

• Six-cylinder automobile

  Little Six

  The Little Six complemented the Big Six by offering a lower-priced entry into McFarlan's six-cylinder range. It still occupied the upper portion of the period's market compared with mass-market cars and was produced in the company's small-volume, coachbuilt style.

• Ultra-luxury six-cylinder automobile · 1921

  Twin-Valve Six

  Introduced in 1921, the Twin-Valve Six used an extensively improved Teetor-Hartley-derived engine with four valves per cylinder, eighteen spark plugs, pressure lubrication and multiple ignition features. Its large displacement, long wheelbase and wide selection of McFarlan bodies placed it at the top of the marque's range.

• Mid-priced six-cylinder automobile

  Single-Valve Six

  The Single-Valve Six used a Wisconsin six-cylinder engine and was intended to move McFarlan into a more competitive price segment. The strategy did not succeed sufficiently, and the model was discontinued during 1926.

• Straight-eight automobile · 1926

  Line-8

  The Line-8 was introduced in 1926 as a shorter-wheelbase straight-eight powered by a Lycoming engine. It sold better than the Single-Valve Six and remained alongside the Twin-Valve Six in the 1927 lineup, offering a less expensive route into McFarlan ownership.

• Sport-touring automobile · 1919

  Type 125

  The Type 125 was a four-seat sport-touring model. A 1919 example was associated with film actor Wallace Reid and illustrates the marque's appeal among wealthy and prominent owners during its luxury-car period.

• Custom luxury automobile

  Town Car

  McFarlan Town Cars were formal-bodied luxury automobiles that could receive exceptionally elaborate customization. The example shown at the 1923 Chicago Auto Show replaced conventional nickel trim with extensive 24-karat-gold plating, including interior elements.

• 1923Gold-plated Town Car exhibition

  United States

  McFarlan used an unusually elaborate Town Car at the Chicago Auto Show to demonstrate the extent of its bespoke luxury capabilities.

  Outcome. The display reinforced McFarlan's reputation for conspicuous, custom-built luxury automobiles.

  Source
• 1912Second Indianapolis 500 participation

  United States

  McFarlan returned to the Indianapolis 500 with a car driven by Mel Marquette.

  Outcome. The entry finished 19th.

  Source
• 1911Indianapolis 500 participation

  United States

  A McFarlan driven by Mel Marquette competed in the first Indianapolis 500, linking the young luxury marque with the growing national profile of championship automobile racing.

  Outcome. The car finished 25th.

  Source
• 1910Indianapolis Labor Day race entries

  United States

  McFarlan entered two cars in Labor Day races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the first model year. Both finished in the top five, providing early performance publicity for the new marque.

  Outcome. Both entries finished among the top five.

  Source

• 1928

  Declare bankruptcyOther

  Background

  Weakening demand, management health problems, recessionary conditions and limited resources left the company unable to recover through new styling and expanded model coverage.

  Action taken

  McFarlan declared bankruptcy on August 8, 1928, after producing its final model year.

  Aftermath

  The factory was sold to Auburn Automobile Company in 1929, ending McFarlan automobile production.

  Source

• 1926

  Attempt to broaden the marketStrategy

  Background

  The company needed greater sales volume and experimented with products aimed below its traditional ultra-luxury position.

  Action taken

  McFarlan offered the Wisconsin-powered Single-Valve Six and introduced the Lycoming-powered Line-8.

  Aftermath

  The Single-Valve Six was discontinued during 1926, while the Line-8 performed better and remained in the later lineup.

  Source

• 1921

  Introduce the Twin-Valve SixProduct launch

  Background

  McFarlan wanted a stronger technical and prestige proposition at the top of the American luxury market.

  Action taken

  It introduced the Twin-Valve Six with a large, highly modified Teetor-Hartley-derived engine and long-wheelbase chassis.

  Aftermath

  The model became the centerpiece of McFarlan's premium range and could be ordered with numerous body styles.

  Source

• 1913

  Separate the automobile operation from the carriage businessStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to make motor vehicles its principal business as automobiles displaced horse-drawn transportation.

  Action taken

  The McFarlan Motor Car Company superseded the McFarlan Carriage Company, and carriage production ended soon afterward.

  Aftermath

  McFarlan became focused on small-volume automobile manufacturing and custom coachwork.

  Source

1. 1McFarlan Automobileen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Indianapolis 500 race resultsen.wikipedia.org