History of Autocar Trucks.

125 years of Experience.

Autocar is the oldest surviving motor vehicle brand in the Western Hemisphere, with over 125 years of experience in the vocational trucking industry. ¹² Founded in 1897 by Louis Semple Clarke and his partners, Autocar started as a manufacturer of Brass Era automobiles and trucks. ¹ The company soon focused on commercial vehicles and introduced many innovations that shaped the modern American cars and trucks. ²

The Early Years: 1897-1920s

• In 1899, Autocar built the first motor truck commercially available in the U.S. It had a payload capacity of 700 pounds and an engine-under-the-seat design that maximized area for freight. ²³
• In 1907, Autocar launched the Model XVIII truck, which had a 97-inch wheelbase, a one and a half-ton capacity, and a two-cylinder gasoline engine under the seat. ¹
• In 1911, Autocar decided to focus exclusively on trucks and produced its last motor car. ²
• In 1919, the famous Autocar bowtie emblem appeared for the first time. ²
• In 1921, Autocar offered three models with capacities ranging from 1-1/2 to 6 tons, a variety of wheelbases, and both conventional and engine-under-the-seat designs. ²
• In the late 1920s, Autocar introduced many new product features such as the "Blue Streak" 6-cylinder engine, proprietary axles and 12-speed transmissions, enclosed cabs, and a four-wheel drive system. ²

The Mid-Century: 1930s-1960s

• In 1933, Autocar introduced the Model U heavy-duty truck with a streamlined design and an all-steel cab. It became one of the most popular models in the company's history. ¹
• In 1940, Autocar began producing military vehicles for World War II, including tank transporters, dump trucks, wreckers, and tractors. ¹
• In 1953, Autocar was acquired by the White Motor Company, which made Autocar its top-of-the-line brand. ¹
• In 1958, Autocar introduced the DC model with a tilt cab that allowed easy access to the engine and improved driver comfort. It became another best-selling model for the company. ¹
• In 1965, Autocar launched the A-Series with an aluminum cab that reduced weight and increased payload capacity. It also featured a new V8 diesel engine that offered more power and fuel efficiency. ¹

The Modern Era: 1970s-Present

• In 1977, Autocar introduced the Construcktor II with a modular design that allowed customers to customize their trucks according to their needs. It also had a new Cummins diesel engine that met the new federal emission standards. ¹
• In 1980, Autocar became part of Volvo Trucks after Volvo acquired White Motor Company. Autocar continued as a division of Volvo until 2001. ¹
• In 2001, Autocar was acquired by GVW Group, LLC, which revived Autocar as an independent company focused on severe-duty vocational trucks. ¹²
• In 2008, Autocar introduced the Xpeditor ACX with a low-cab-forward design that offered better visibility and maneuverability for drivers. It also had a Cummins ISL engine that met the EPA 2010 emission standards. ²
• Today, Autocar builds four models of custom-engineered heavy-duty trucks: the ACX cabover for refuse and recycling applications; the ACMD medium-duty cabover for urban delivery applications; the ACTT terminal tractor for port and intermodal applications; and the DC conventional for severe-service applications. ²

Autocar has always been committed to providing its customers with purpose-built tools that are always up for the most demanding jobs. With over 125 years of history, Autocar is still looking forward to the future of the vocational trucking industry. ²

Source: 

(1) Autocar Company - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocar_Company.

(2) Autocar's history of over 125 years in the vocational trucking industry.. https://www.autocartruck.com/history.

(3) Autocar - The First American Truck Brand. https://www.autocartruck.com/blog/autocar-the-first-american-truck-brand/.

Image Attribution: Jim Duell, Autocar dump hoists 4974751771, CC BY-SA 2.0

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