1909 Simplo Model L from Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal

The Simplo was an American

high wheeler A high wheeler is a car which uses large diameter wheels that are similar to those used by horse-drawn vehicles. These cars were produced until about 1915, predominantly in the United States. Design High wheelers were derived from horse-drawn ...

automobile A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, peopl ...

manufactured from 1908 until 1909 by the Cook Motor Vehicle Company in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

History

Cook Motor Vehicle Company of St. Louis advertised the Simplo as ''The biggest automobile value in America''. Several variations were offered; air or water-cooled 2-cylinder engines and both solid or

pneumatic tires A tire (North American English) or tyre (Commonwealth English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide traction on the surface over w ...

. The Simplo featured a friction transmission, double chain drive and right-hand wheel steering on the runabout, priced at $600, . In 1909, roadster and

surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

models were added, but after a year of trying, the Cook Motor Vehicle Company decided to become a multi-

marque A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's goods or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create and ...

automobile dealership A car dealership, or car dealer, is a business that sells new or used cars, at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. Car dealerships also often sell spare parts and automotive maintena ...

References

{{StLouisCars Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Coachbuilders of the United States Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1908 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1909 Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Missouri Cars introduced in 1908 Highwheeler Brass Era vehicles 1900s cars