For ten years from 1909 until 1919, the Abbott-Detroit motor company built luxury model automobiles for the general public which featured the well-designed Continental engine. This particular engine was so well-designed that it can be seen in a number of products from tractors to boats. The cars developed by Abbot-Detroit were so well built in fact, that by 1913, every single car that was produced received a lifetime guarantee on it. This also fell on the same year that electric lighting became a standard component of automobiles; previously the use of gas and kerosene lanterns as lighting was very much commonplace on just about all cars built in that era.
It was 3 years before the Abbot-Detroit motor company would close its doors for good that the manufacturing would reach its peak with an average of between 15 and 20 cars a day being produced. This was also helped by the recent move from Detroit to Cleveland in which the company would change from the Abbot-Detroit to simply the Abbot Motor Company. However, this move and increase in production would lead to the company’s downfall as it became a financial stress on the company which eventually led to the declaration of bankruptcy in 1918.
The Abbot-Detroit Motor Company produced a number of highly successful as well as powerful automobiles which included their Four door Roadster, the 1913 Limousine, the Battleship Roadster, the Model F, Model L as well as the Model K. Back during the turn of the 20th century when the Abbot-Detroit Motor Company was producing their cars for the public, the $1,700 to $3,050 price tag seen on the various models was considered to be quite high.
Along with the well-built 4 cylinder Continental engine, the Abbot-Detroit Motor Company would also make use of the 6 cylinder Continental as well as a Herschell-Spillman engine which was an 8 cylinder model. The move to Cleveland, Ohio as well as the eventual downfall of the Abbot-Detroit Motor Company was its 1916 sale of the company to the Consolidated Car Co of Detroit.
In April of 1918, the Abbot-Detroit Motor Company would file for bankruptcy which would put an end to the company’s ability to continue producing their luxurious sports cars and limousines for the general public. While the company may have closed their doors for good in 1919, the Abbot-Detroit models are considered to be a highly collectable item and the chances of finding one today are slim to none for the simple fact that the very cars of the Abbot-Detroit Motor Company are far and few between.
Original Authors: Nick (Globel Team)
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 26/08/2008
