Severin Motor Car Company

Severin Motor Car Company was a small and short-lived American automobile manufacturer established by Homer T. Severin in Kansas City, Missouri. The company entered production in July 1920, during a period when numerous independent manufacturers attempted to establish themselves in the expanding American automobile market. Its known product was the Severin Model H, a five-passenger touring car powered by a six-cylinder engine supplied by Continental Motors Company. The car was offered at a price of $2,400, placing it in a relatively expensive segment for the period. The company’s business history was brief and marked by a rapid change in direction. After beginning automobile production in Kansas City, Homer Severin traveled to California and announced plans to relocate or establish operations in Oakland. He also began selling company stock. According to the historical account of the company, the stock sales were conducted without the required permits, and the enterprise subsequently became associated with accusations of stock fraud. Severin ultimately abandoned the automobile business and moved into real estate rather than continuing to develop the manufacturer. Following Severin’s withdrawal, the company’s assets were taken over by Mohawk Motor Company. That successor arrangement was itself unstable: Mohawk Motor Company became bankrupt within approximately a month. The remaining Severin assets were then acquired by Metropolitan Motors Corporation, which intended to complete vehicles from parts already available. The final Severin automobiles were assembled in 1922, effectively ending the marque’s production history. Severin’s significance lies less in technological or commercial influence than in its illustration of the risks faced by independent automobile ventures in the early twentieth century. The company reached production and offered a complete touring car, but it lacked the longevity, capital stability, and organizational continuity needed to survive. Its attempted geographic expansion, unpermitted stock offering, abandonment by its founder, successive asset transfers, and eventual completion of a limited number of cars from existing parts all contributed to its short existence. No continuing corporate successor or active brand is identified in the available historical material.

Homer T. Severin established the Severin Motor Car Company in his native Kansas City, Missouri, in 1920. The venture belonged to the large field of independent American automobile manufacturers that appeared during the early development of mass motorization. Production began in July of that year. Rather than introducing a broad range of models, Severin appears to have concentrated on a single known automobile, the Model H, a five-passenger touring car. The Model H used a six-cylinder engine made by Continental Motors Company. Its listed price was $2,400, making it a relatively high-priced touring automobile for its time. The available historical account does not identify substantial export activity, a large dealer network, or a long-running production program. The company’s production record therefore appears to have been limited from the outset. The company’s early operating history soon gave way to financial and organizational difficulties. Homer Severin traveled to California and announced intentions to move the company to Oakland. In connection with these plans, he began selling stock. The stock offering was not authorized by the necessary permits, and the company became associated with accusations of stock fraud. Severin subsequently decided to leave the automobile business and entered real estate instead. These developments ended his direct involvement with the manufacturer and undermined the continuity of the original company. The Severin assets then passed to Mohawk Motor Company. That arrangement did not provide a durable successor: Mohawk became bankrupt within about a month. Metropolitan Motors Corporation next took control of the assets and attempted to use the parts already available to complete the remaining Severin cars. The last vehicles bearing the Severin identity were assembled in 1922. The company’s history is consequently that of a brief production venture rather than an enduring automobile brand. It achieved the difficult step of bringing a complete passenger car to market, but it did not establish a sustainable manufacturing base. Its proposed move to California, unpermitted stock sales, the founder’s withdrawal, and the rapid succession of asset holders all limited the company’s prospects. Severin Motor Car Company left little continuing institutional legacy, although the Model H and the final cars assembled from remaining parts preserve its place in the history of short-lived American automobile manufacturers.

• 1922

  Final Severin automobiles assembled

  [1]Severin Motor Car Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Metropolitan Motors Corporation assembled the last Severin cars using parts remaining from the original operation.

• 1921

  Oakland plans and stock-fraud accusations

  [1]Severin Motor Car Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Severin announced plans involving Oakland, California, while selling stock without the required permits. The activity led to accusations of stock fraud.

• 1921

  Founder leaves the automobile business

  [1]Severin Motor Car Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Homer T. Severin abandoned automobile manufacturing and moved into real estate.

• 1921

  Assets transferred after the company’s decline

  [1]Severin Motor Car Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Mohawk Motor Company took over the assets, but became bankrupt within about a month. Metropolitan Motors Corporation subsequently acquired the assets.

• 1920

  Company founded in Kansas City

  [1]Severin Motor Car Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Homer T. Severin formed the company in Kansas City, Missouri, as an independent automobile manufacturer.

• 1920

  Model H production begins

  [1]Severin Motor Car Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Production of the five-passenger Severin Model H touring car began in July.

An independent American automobile manufacturer offering a premium-priced touring car during the early post-World War I expansion of the motor vehicle industry.

• Passenger automobile · 1920

  Severin Model H

  The Severin Model H was the company’s identified production automobile. It was configured as a five-passenger touring car and used a six-cylinder engine supplied by Continental Motors Company. The model was listed at $2,400 when Severin began production in 1920. Later examples were assembled from parts left after the original company’s decline, with the final cars completed in 1922.

• 1921

  Unpermitted stock sales and stock-fraud accusations

  Homer T. Severin sold company stock while promoting plans connected with a possible move to Oakland, California. The sales were made without the required permits and resulted in accusations of stock fraud. Severin then left the automobile business.

  Source

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• 1921

  Attempted move toward Oakland operationsStrategy

  Background

  After beginning production in Kansas City, Homer T. Severin traveled to California and announced intentions involving an Oakland site.

  Action taken

  The company pursued the proposed California direction while Severin attempted to raise funds through stock sales.

  Aftermath

  The stock sales lacked the required permits, the company faced stock-fraud accusations, and Severin exited automobile manufacturing.

  Source

• 1921

  Transfer of Severin assets to successor companiesM&A

  Background

  The original company’s operations weakened after the founder left and the stock-related controversy emerged.

  Action taken

  Mohawk Motor Company took over the assets, followed shortly afterward by Metropolitan Motors Corporation after Mohawk became bankrupt.

  Aftermath

  Metropolitan used parts on hand to assemble the remaining Severin cars, with final assembly completed in 1922.

  Source

• 1920

  Launch of the Model H touring carProduct launch

  Background

  The newly formed Kansas City manufacturer needed a marketable vehicle to enter the American automobile industry.

  Action taken

  Severin began production of a five-passenger touring car powered by a Continental six-cylinder engine.

  Aftermath

  The model was produced only briefly, and later cars were completed from remaining parts after successive asset transfers.

  Source

1. 1Severin Motor Car Companyen.wikipedia.org