Cole Motor Car Company - Four-cylinder Engines

Four-cylinder Engines

At the end of 1909 appeared a completely new car as a 1910 model. Confusingly, it was dubbed the Series 30 but, as this referred to its new 30 HP, four-cylinder engine, it nevertheless was a logical designation. The wheelbase had now grown to 108 inches (2,700 mm). There were four open body styles. Least expensive was the Tourabout at $1,400; the others, two touring cars and a runabout called the "Flyer", were $1,500 each. Cole managed to sell 783 cars until year's end.

The "Flyer" was quite successful in automobile races, too. One of them won the 1909 Brighton Beach Marathon, a 24-hour-race with 16 participants. Also, two Series 30 Flyers, driven by William "Wild Bill" Endicott and Louis Edwards, entered the Massapequa Sweepstakes within the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Endicott won that prestigious event with 126.4 miles (203.4 km), timed 138 min 4.32 sec.

The Cole Series 30 got a substantially longer chassis (with a wheelbase of 118 in.) and new bodies for 1911. Available were a roadster and a touring car for 2 or 5 passengers, respectively, at $1,600 each. There was also a new 5-passenger „Fore-door Touring“ (which means that it had rear and front doors) and a „Toy Tonneau“ for 4 passengers (this was a sporty, close-coupled body style that was quite popular at the time) at $1,650 each.

A Series 40 replaced the 30 in 1912. This car was bigger, again, with a 122-inch (3,100 mm) wheelbase. It had a more powerful 40 HP (N.A.C.C. rating; equivalent to about 60 bhp (45 kW)), four-cylinder motor with a displacement of 286.3 c.i. (c. 4.7-litre). Prices started at $1,885 for each of the four open body styles. There were also a "Colonial Coupe" for $2,500 and two limousines at $3,000 and $3,250. These prices brought Cole well into the luxury car market.