In my post about Detroit Electric, I spotted “Marian” listed among early automobile manufacturers in a 1914 newspaper. After some digging, that was almost certainly a period misspelling of Marion — the Marion Motor Car Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. It’s a name most people have never heard, but it plays a surprisingly important role in American automotive history. Founded in Indianapolis The Marion Motor Car Company was incorporated on November 1, 1904 in Indianapolis, Indiana.…

If you’ve driven around Kentucky, you’ve seen them — those distinctive green and gold signs posted along roadsides and in front of historic buildings. Kentucky’s historical marker program is actually one of the oldest and largest in the entire country, and there’s a pretty fascinating story behind how they got there. It Started with a Private Club Before the state got involved, a private nonprofit organization called the Historical Markers Society (HMS) launched the effort in 1935.…

In my post about Detroit Electric, I mentioned spotting “Overland” in a 1914 newspaper alongside other early auto manufacturers. The Overland Automobile Company turned out to be one of the most significant car companies of the early 1900s — at its peak it was the second-largest automobile producer in the United States, trailing only Ford. Humble Beginnings in Indiana The Overland story starts in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1903. Claude E.…