Inter-State Motor Company
Muncie, IN
1909-1919
Shortly after founding the Inter-State Automobile Company, in Muncie, Indiana, Thomas F. Hart would describe it to a local newspaper as “the best automobile made in America, even though everyone doesn’t know it”. The car he set about creating was a medium sized and priced 40 hp 4 cylinder, on a 110 inch wheelbase, that could be bodied in 3 different styles. By 1912 the Inter-State had three different engine sizes, 30, 40 and 50 hp and was available in 11 different body styles.
Since the very beginning Hart had had problems with his stockholders. Internal dissension and an inability to secure funds to pay the bills would lead him to request receivership in October of 1913. The company would be auctioned off in February of 1914. The new owner, F.C. Ball, the glass jar maker, had been an investor since the very beginning. Ball paid all of the company's debts and reorganized the company into the Inter-State Motor Company.
Despite the fact that Inter-State had introduced a 6 cylinder car in 1913, Ball decided to start out fresh with a low priced 4 cylinder car on a 110 inch wheelbase in 1915. Sales were good and the company turned out fine cars until May of 1918. Inter-State was one of the first manufacturers in the U.S. to change over to military production for World War 1.
The war was over in 6 months and by February 1919, Ball announced that the factory was completing its final government contracts and would soon turn to making cars again. Something changed Ball's mind, because a month later, in March of 1919, he sold the entire company, buildings and machinery to General Motors. GM began construction of the new Sheriden car line at the plant in 1920.
By: Chris Breeden
ABOVE: Inter-State advertisement from a 1910 issue of The Horseless Age.
ABOVE: Inter-State race car at the 2022 Chattanooga Motor Car Festival. Photo by: Chris Breeden
