Dennis E. Horvath | Historic Indianapolis | All Things Indianapolis History

Posted in: Auto Indy Automobiles in University Park in July 1913

Twenty Indiana-built cars and trucks plus almost 100 people gathered around the south side of University Park for the departure of Indiana Automobile Manufacturers’ Association Indiana-Pacific Tour on July 1, 1913. At that time, the...

4 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Indianapolis Auto Row Part 3

In two previous installments (found here and here), I’ve talked about the early Indianapolis’ Auto Row along Capitol Avenue. But that is only part of the story. As the commercial district expanded north of Monument...

6 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Thank you Carl Fisher and James Allison

Carl G. Fisher, Photo courtesy LHA/University of Michigan With the 2013 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race celebrating its 102nd anniversary, I believe Indianapolis residents owe a thank you to Speedway founders Carl G. Fisher and James...

9 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Indianapolis Auto Row Part 2

In the early 1910’s, the 10-block area along North Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis became the home to several segments of the auto industry. If you wanted a new car or service in Indianapolis, you went...

5 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Revamped Fisher Mansion on Marian Campus

FisherMansion in 2005 It’s no surprise that the extravagant entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher also had an luxurious home. In late 1909 or early 1910, Fisher and his wife Jane purchased the old 20-acre homestead that...

4 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Auto Manufacturers Rescue Flood Victims

R. P. Henderson’s touring car in the flood zone During the 1913 spring floods in the Midwest, Indianapolis auto manufacturers worked to rescue flood victims. The downpour started on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913. By...

3 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Indianapolis Auto Row Begins

Fisher Automobile Company 1909, Looking northeast from Vermont and Senate With all the construction on the block bounded by Vermont Street, Capitol Avenue, Michigan Street, and Senate Avenue, I thought it would be a great...

8 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy First Indianapolis Auto Shows Draws Thousands

Indianapolis Auto Show 3-18-1907, Copyright © 1907 Indianapolis Star The First Indianapolis Auto Shows were open air affairs. There was no building in the city large enough for an enclosed show, therefore, the dealers arranged...

20 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Indianapolis’ Early Automotive Roots

Carl G. Fisher, Photo courtesy LHA/University of Michigan The story of Indianapolis’ early automotive heritage begins a little over 120 years ago. It actually started with bicycling. In the summer of 1890, 16 year-old Carl...

6 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Duesenberg Site Lives On

Prior to moving to Indianapolis, the Duesenberg brothers—Fred and August—built extremely high-quality and advanced engines and automobiles. Part of their reason for moving to Indianapolis was to return to their racing roots and be near...

12 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy The American Underslung – “The Safest Car On Earth”

American Eagle During its eight years in business, the American Motors Company of Indianapolis became well known for its “underslung” design, conceived by chief engineer Fred I. Tone. In those years, the company produced over...

2 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Stutz – The Car That Made Good In A Day

1912 Stutz Bearcat During his 30 years in the automobile industry, Harry Clayton Stutz had a hand in many automobiles that crossed the American landscape. The one bearing his own name, the Stutz, is the...

3 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Ford Indianapolis assembly branch centennial is coming

Ford Indianapolis Assembly Branch, Copyright © Ford Motor Company To meet America’s insatiable demand and to reduce shipping costs for finished Model T’s, the Ford Motor Company built its Indianapolis Assembly Branch in 1914. Located near...

25 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Indy’s Top 10 Auto Producers?

Ford Motor Co., 1307-23 E. Washington St. A couple of articles ago we explored: “How many cars were made in Indianapolis?” Prompting another question: “Who were Indy’s top 10 auto producers?” As mentioned previously, compiling...

8 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Recycling the National Motor Vehicle Company site

1906 National Model E Touring The saga of the National Motor Vehicle Company spans nearly a quarter century from 1900 to 1924. Over 100 years later, there have been some attempts to revive the National...

10 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Made in Indianapolis

1912 American Scout Perhaps the most frequent question about the city’s auto history is: “How many cars were made in Indianapolis?” Before answering that question, a word of caution about automotive lists: Compiling lists about the automotive...

14 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Disappearing Auto Landmarks Part 2

1909 Marion Flyer As mentioned earlier in a Disappearing Auto Landmarks article, every few years we lose one of the remnants of our transportation era. Sometime in early 2011, The Marion-Federal-Empire-Elgin building at 323 West...

9 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Who’s on first? Charles H. Black?

Working as an Indianapolis carriage builder, Charles H. Black helped to herald the entry of the self-propelled motor wagon into Indiana. It has even been speculated that he may have built Indiana’s first automobile in...

9 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Happy Birthday to the Cole Motor Car Company

Cole Aero-Eight ad October 9, 2012, marks the 104th anniversary of the introduction of the first Cole Solid Tire Automobile. The Cole Motor Car Company is one example of an automobile manufacturer that evolved fromIndiana’s...

12 Comments

Posted in: Auto Indy Disappearing Indy Auto Landmarks

As little as 15 years ago, Indianapolis had over 40 existing buildings that housed the movers and shakers of its automotive industry. Sadly, every few years we lose one or two of these reminders of...

23 Comments

Articles