1905-1906 The Motorcar Company, Jackson, Michigan.
1906-1908 The Motorcar Company, Detriot, Michigan.
1908-1915 The Cartercar Company, Pontiac, Michigan.
This car was the work of Byron J. Carter (1863-1908). who had offered the Carter steam car in 1901 and had then incorporated the Jackson Automobile Company. In 1905 he set up his own company, rather unimaginatively called The Motircar Company, to make cars whose main feature was friction drive. "No clutch to slip, no gears to strip", was one of his claims. Initially they were offered in two single cylinder models, the 6.5 and 7.5hp, and a 10hp twin, the latter being progressively enlarged up to 1909, when the largest was quoted as a 22/24hp. In 1906, 101 cars were made and 325 in 1908. The change of name to Cartercar Company coincided with the purchase of the factory of the Pontiac Spring & Wagon Company, makers of the Pontiac. Byron Carter died of pneumonia in April 1908, and in October 1909 the company was bought by Billy Durant to become a part of General Motors. From 1910 all Cartercars had 4 cylinder engines, a 25 and 35hp in 1910, growing in size to the 45hp Model S of 1912, on a 122 inch wheelbase. Closed coupes and sedans were offered as well as open cars from 1912, and a friction drive was featured up to the end of May 1915. Durant had lost control of General Motors in 1910 and did not regain it until September 1915, by which time it was too late to save Cartercar even if he had wanted to. He later admitted that it had been a mistake to buy the make just to be able to offer a friction drive car. The Cartercar plant was used for Oakland production. About 25 Cartercars survive today.
