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Ogren (automobile company)

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Ogren Motor Car Company
Company typeAutomobile manufacturer
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1914; 110 years ago (1914)
FounderHugo W. Ogren
Defunct1923; 101 years ago (1923)
FateBankruptcy
HeadquartersChicago, Waukegan, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
United States
Key people
Hugo W. Ogren, Fred G. Smith
ProductsAutomobiles
Production output
less than 200 (1920-1923)

The Ogren Motor Car Company was a vintage era luxury automobile manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois from 1915 to 1917 and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1920 to 1923.[1]

History in Illinois

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In the fall of 1914, Hugo W. Ogren founded the company in Chicago to build one-off race cars, but in 1915, he started to produce a six-cylinder touring car. In 1915 prototypes were made, but in 1916 capital stock increased to $1,000,000,[2] and Ogren moved his company to a larger factory at Waukegan, Illinois.[3] From 1916 he produced a line of six-cylinder cars but in 1917 the company ran out of operating cash. The factory was sold at auction on Nov. 22, 1917.[1]

Models

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Model (year) Engine Horsepower Wheelbase Transmission
Model P (1915–1917) Six-cylinder[1] 34 133" 3-speed manual[4]

History in Wisconsin

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In 1919, the company was re-established and the Elite ice skating rink in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was remodeled into a factory.[1] The first Ogren Six did not appear until July 1920. The new automobiles were more expensive and more powerful with a Beaver engine (65 hp vs. 34 hp).[1] In 1922, the Beaver engine was replaced with a more powerful Continental engine.[1] Price for the luxury car ranged from $4,250 to $5,500 (equivalent to $100,115 in 2023).[1]

Late in 1922, Hugo Ogren left the company to join another automobile venture. Fred G. Smith took over and attempted to re-organize with only limited success. In January 1924 the tools and property of Ogren Motor Car Company were sold to Huffman Bros. Motor Co of Elkhart, Indiana.[1]

Models

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1921 Ogren factory photograph
Model Engine Horsepower wheelbase Transmission[5]
Six (1920) 6-cylinder 65 132" 3-speed manual
Six (1921) 6-cylinder 65 134" 3-speed manual
Six (1922) 6-cylinder 70 134" 3-speed manual
Six (1923) 6-cylinder 70 134" 3-speed manual

[1]

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  • 1921 Ogren Advertisement in Motor Age Magazine
    1921 Ogren Advertisement in Motor Age Magazine
  • 1921 Ogren Article in the Automobile Trade Journal
    1921 Ogren Article in the Automobile Trade Journal

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ogren vehicles.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4.
  2. ^ Automotive Industries. Vol. 34. Chilton Company, Incorporated. 1916. p. 165. ISSN 0005-1527. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  3. ^ "High Grade Flats and New Factory Building", Chicago Tribune. May 14, 1916. Part 2, p. 6.
  4. ^ "Classic Car Specifications, Engine, Wheelbase, production numbers, VIN numbers for Antique Cars, Classic Cars, Vintage Cars and Muscle Cars". classiccardatabase.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  5. ^ "Classic Car Specifications, Engine, Wheelbase, production numbers, VIN numbers for Antique Cars, Classic Cars, Vintage Cars and Muscle Cars". classiccardatabase.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
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