If These Cars Could Talk: 1916 Westcott
Join us for an in-depth look at the many automobiles in our collection and discover their part in our history. If These Cars Could Talk is a monthly program offered by museum staff for free to the public on the first Saturday of each month.
The Westcott was built in Richmond, Indiana from 1909 to 1916, and until 1925 in Springfield, Ohio. The Westcott was an assembled car, but well-built with a good reputation. In 1910 Westcott was building three cars per day and was six months behind in in its orders. In 1911 Westcott was entered in the Indianapolis 500, and half-way through the race, another car crashed and its mechanic was thrown directly into the path of the Westcott. Rather than injure the mechanic, the driver of the Westcott crashed his car deliberately. The driver and the Westcott both became instant heroes. In 1913 they introduced their six-cylinder cars with Continental engines. After the firm’s move to Ohio, Westcott continued to be a good selling vehicle, but by 1925 it was in receivership, and another victim of postwar recession.
This 1916 Westcott Model 42 touring car is an excellent example of an assembled car. It was a mid-priced automobile; its original price was $1,445. The wheelbase is 121 inches and the car weighs 3,000 pounds. Three ranges of six-cylinder cars, with a total of nine different body styles, were offered. The Model 42 was the middle of the range and has a 42-horsepower engine.
This presentation will be held in the museum galleries next to the car from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 3, 2022 and is offered to all patrons for free with museum admission. For more information, including the specific location of the presentation, please call ahead at 260-925-1444 or see an associate at the admission desk.
