Columbus Motor Vehicle Company
| Formerly | Groff-Runkle Motor Vehicle Company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 |
| Founder | Charles W. Groff and J. Frank Runkle |
| Defunct | 1904 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio, |
| Products | Automobiles |
Production output | unknown (1902-1904) |
| Brands | Santos-Dumont |
The Columbus Motor Vehicle Company was an automobile manufacturer in Columbus, Ohio, from 1902 to 1904.[1]
History
As early as 1899, Charles W. Groff and J. Frank Runkle experimented with automobiles. At the end of 1901, they founded the Groff-Runkle Motor Vehicle Company in Columbus, Ohio. In 1901, a prototype was completed, which successfully completed a test drive between Columbus and Wooster, Ohio. Later, Mr. Frank Burkholder, Barton Griffiths, and George W. Groff financially joined the company. With the initial capital of $50,000 provided by the financiers, the Columbus Motor Vehicle Company could be founded. The first vehicle was the 'Santos Dumont' model,[2][3][4][5][6] named in honor of the Brazilian-French aviation pioneer. In 1903, the company introduced an additional, smaller model. This single-cylinder runabout with 9 hp as an entry-level vehicle cost 1,250 dollars.
Models
- Santos Dumont
- 9 HP Runabout
References
- ^ Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9. p.662
- ^ "Santos Dumont". Columbus Motor Vehicle Company. 1904-01-01. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ^ "Santos Dumont". Columbus Motor Vehicle Company. 1903-01-01. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ^ "Santos Dumont". Columbus Motor Vehicle Company. 1903-01-01. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ^ "Santos Dumont 1904". Automobile topics v.7 1903/04. 1903-01-01. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
- ^ "Santos Dumont 1904". Automobile topics v.7 1903/04. 1903-01-01. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
See also
- List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers
- Veteran vehicles