Argo (automobile)

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An Argo parked in front of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. circa 1915 Argo automobile, Natural History Museum - Washington, D.C..jpg
An Argo parked in front of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. circa 1915

The Argo was a short-lived American automobile manufactured by the Argo Motor Co [1] in Jackson, Michigan, between 1914 and 1918. Previously, the factory had been used by the Standard Electric Car Co to build an electric car. [2]

The company originally made the four-cylinder "Motorvique" cyclecar based on the Ajax built by the Briscoe brothers [3] in France. It had a 4-cylinder 12 hp engine and was different from the French market Ajax only in that it did not use friction drive. [2]

Few cyclecars sold well in America, and in 1916, it was replaced by a conventional 22 hp assembled touring car in an attempt to rival Ford at producing a "motor car for the millions". The 1916 model sold for $405 in two-seater form.

In 1917 the company was sold to Mansell Hackett, and the name was changed to Hackett and moved its operations to Grand Rapids, Michigan. [2]

The company had an unknown connection with the Saginaw, Michigan, based Argo Electric vehicle company.

References

  1. "Argo Motor Co". Carette. America's first carette and cyclecar v. 2 (1914-1915). 1915-01-01. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  2. 1 2 3 G.N. Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN   1-57958-293-1.[ page needed ]
  3. "engine briscoe freres". Carette. America's first carette and cyclecar v. 2 (1914-1915). 1915-01-01. Retrieved 2025-09-15.