The Earl was an automobile manufactured in

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 31,309 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along Interstate 94 in Michigan, Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127 in Michigan, U.S ...

by Earl Motors Incorporated from 1921 to 1923. The Earl was a continuation of the Briscoe. The Model 40 offered both open and closed models with a four-

cylinder A cylinder () has traditionally been a three-dimensional solid, one of the most basic of curvilinear geometric shapes. In elementary geometry, it is considered a prism with a circle as its base. A cylinder may also be defined as an infinite ...

engine. Approximately 2,000 vehicles were produced. When the Earl debuted in 1921, the tourer cost just $1285. The company also claimed that $100 worth of "extras", such as linoleum floor boards and carpets front and rear were included in the base price.

Benjamin Briscoe Benjamin Briscoe (May 1867 – June 26, 1945) was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was an automobile pioneer and industrialist. Briscoe entered business for himself at the age of 18 with capital of $472, organizing the firm of Benjamin Briscoe ...

appointed Clarence A. Earl as

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of Briscoe Motor Corporation in March 1921. Earl had previously been

vice-president A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

Willys-Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis") was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II–era military jeeps (MBs), Willys ...

. Briscoe suddenly left in October of the same year, tired of all the misfortune he had suffered in the automotive field to date. He left his car and company to Earl. Earl then announced to the press that he would be forming Earl Motors and bringing out a new four-cylinder car. This was really just the Briscoe car with small modifications to solve some of its problems, as well as being slightly larger and more powerful. Earl assumed many problems with the company, not least of which was one and a half million dollars of debt. However, he easily raised more capital from bankers. On the Earl Motors

board Board or Boards may refer to: Flat surface * Lumber, or other rigid material, milled or sawn flat ** Plank (wood) ** Cutting board ** Sounding board, of a musical instrument * Cardboard (paper product) * Paperboard * Fiberboard ** Hardboard, a ...

were several bankers, as well as executives from various supplier firms. Among the latter was George C. Scobie, who had been with Price-Waterhouse and Hayes Wheel Company, and was now vice-president of the new organization. Earl developed disagreements with all these board members over the future path of his company, and resigned in November 1922. He then became president of

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. Earl had wanted to become a high-volume producer, while the rest of the board preferred a lower-volume, more fiscally conservative approach. The bankers and supplier executives now took over the company, with George Scobie as president. They promptly reorganized as the Earl Motor Manufacturing Company in early 1923. The new company was

capitalized Capitalization ( North American spelling; also British spelling in Oxford) or capitalisation (Commonwealth English; all other meanings) is writing a word with its first letter as a capital letter (uppercase letter) and the remaining letters in ...

at one million dollars. Soon, this group failed in pursuing their favored lower-volume approach, taking the company down with them. Early in 1924, servicing rights to the now defunct Earl were sold to Standard Motor Parts Company of

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

. Total Earl production was approximately 1,900 cars.

Rarity

There are only a handful of Earl Custom Roadsters left in the world. There have been persistent incorrect reports that an Earl Roadster is on display at the Ella Sharp Museum in Jackson, Michigan. The museum curator has reported that people have driven as far as South Carolina to see the vehicle. However the museum does not have such a vehicle (as of 4 August 2011). Private owners of Earl Roadsters are thought to exist in Jackson.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Earl (Automobile) Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan Vintage vehicles Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1921 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1923 1921 establishments in Michigan 1923 disestablishments in Michigan Defunct manufacturing companies based in Michigan