The Car: 1917 Cole Eight Model 862 Toursedan ; Almost part of General Motors.(Brief Article)

Before World War I, when Indianapolis was a major automotive manufacturing center, Joseph J. Cole's automobile was one of its prominent products. Though Cole didn't last to become as well known as its Duesenberg, Marmon and Stutz neighbors, the company is worth remembering, if only because of its strange kinship with General Motors.

The first cars, made in 1909, had powerful four-cylinder engines bought from Northway Motor & Manufac-turing Co. But Northway was soon purchased by General Motors, this connection encouraging GM founder William Durant to try to buy Cole. But despite Durant's attempts, both before and after his ouster at GM, Cole demurred. The company enjoyed its independence as sales swelled to a peak of 6500 cars in 1919.

Cole's sales base was centered in the Midwest-at one point it listed as many dealers in Saskatchewan as in Connecticut. It was also sold in lesser-known places overseas. When Oslo, Norway, was still called Christiana, Coles were sold there. Almost 100 Coles of a total production of 41,000 cars are believed to survive.

Historian Leroy Cole (no relation) is the owner of this Toursedan. It is unusual, a seven-passenger sedan with removable windows (called ``adjustable door glasses'' at the time), what would now be called a four-door hardtop convertible. The top is covered in black Pantasote, a fabric popular for open-car tops of the time. Only one body color was standard, ``American Flag Blue''; ordering another cost $50. Interior options were gray coach cloth or leather over ``genuine curled hair'' and springs. List price was $2,695 when a Cadillac sedan was $3,100.

This Toursedan was originally purchased by a Schenectady, New York, woman who drove it until 1925. Then the car was stored through World War II. Two owners later, Leroy Cole bought it in 1989, having seen only pictures of it. Luckily, the car did not need much mechanical work. It has since been repainted but the cloth ...