Alco

ALCO is an acronym that stands for the American Locomotive Company, and though they did indeed make their name as one of the foremost manufacturers of steam locomotives in America, they also built fine motorcars. They started production in 1905 on the American Berliet, but ALCO decided to jettison that license and engineer their own designs by 1908.

ALCO was dedicated to providing top quality, luxurious vehicles with huge engines. There painstaking attention to detail is evidenced by the fact that it took them over a year and a half to produce a single car. The 1912 Alco Berline limousine became the most elegant and priciest model in their line; the six cylinder option sold for over $7,000. The six cylinder Landaulet fetched $6750, and their touring car (which held seven passengers) went for $6,000, and when you consider the fact that these are 1912 dollars, the ALCO carried a significant price tag.

ALCO cars competed in some of the top races of their day. They won the Vanderbilt Cup in consecutive years, 1909 and 1910, and parlayed that success into an Indianapolis 500 entry in 1911. Unfortunately, the ALCO never really gained significant traction with the buying public and they ceased production in 1913. But it is interesting to note that their plant manager was a man named Walter P. Chrysler, who founded the iconic automobile manufacturer that wears his name.