Auto Deals of the 1920s: When a Hudson Cost $765

Take a nostalgic ride through Detroit's roaring 1920s car ads with gems like the Overland Whippet and Detroit Air Cooled Car.

There have been many discussions over the past few weeks regarding the imposition of tariffs and their impact upon Michigan’s and America’s automobile industry. Most economists agree: If tariffs are enacted, cars will be much more expensive in the short term. So, now might be a good time to buy a car, and I thought I would help sort out the options from the William Davison Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History.

You might consider a Case. Its advertisement is persuasive if you live in Michigan since it touts “Your Idea of Year Round Service” (Feb. 13, 1920). It has an enclosed car body with “plate glass windows that can be raised or lowered in a moment for Spring and Fall driving.” You can purchase your Case at Weisman Motor Sales.

If you would like something a bit sportier, maybe a Stutz, “The Car That Made Good In A Day,” would be a good buy for you (Feb. 13, 1920). Harry C. Stutz and Henry F. Campbell built their first car in five weeks and entered it in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 auto race. It placed 11th and “made good in a day.” This was the famed Stutz Bear Cat.

BTW — Ray Harroun won the first race driving a Marmon. He was also the first person to use a new invention — the rear-view mirror.

Maybe you are more practical-minded. The Willys-Knight might be an attractive vehicle for you. Its “sleeve-valve motor runs better the more you use it” (March 18, 1921).

City traffic is always a problem, so this advertisement caught my eye: “At Last — the answer to America’s critical traffic problems!” (Sept. 9, 1926). This answer was the “Overland Whippet, America’s New-Type Light Car.” It featured 30 miles per gallon, a top speed of 55 miles per hour, and a low profile, only 5’8” tall! Most of all, it was easy to park with a turning circle of only 34 feet.

Maybe you prefer to buy locally made cars? The Scripps Booth Model — yes, same company that owned the Detroit News — bragged “dependable steering gear and large braking surface provide for sturdy construction and safety” (March 18, 1921). That “dependable steering” is attractive. Never good to lose your steering.

Or consider a Hudson or an Essex. They were “the world’s largest selling ‘Sixes.’” This means that the Hudson and Essex specialized in powerful six-cylinder engines, when most companies are still selling four-cylinder engines. The price was also nice. The Essex was only $765, and the top-model Hudson was $1,165 (Jan. 22, 1926). Jewish-owned Aaron DeRoy Motor Car Co. was the featured dealer for Hudson.

I’ve saved the best for last. The Detroit Air Cooled Car. It is “STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL” and “unequalled in Economy, Body Comfort, Reliability, Roadability” (Jan. 20, 1922). That seems to cover all the bases, but what puts it over the top? “No Mechanical Knowledge Required to Overhaul It.” Money saved!  Who needs to pay professional mechanics? As its advertisement states, you would be wise to investigate a Detroit Air Cooled Car “Before You Buy Anything Between Ford and Rolls Royce.”

Whoops — sorry. I just realized that these are cars you could buy in the 1920s, not the 2020s. I thought the price of a new Hudson was a bit too low.

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives, available for free at thejewishnews.com.