The Car With the Longer Life

           In the early days of automotive history it wasn't uncommon for a carriage company to make the rather logical leap into manufacturing automobiles. One small company located in Richmond, IN, the Wescott Carriage Company did just that.
          Founded by John McMahon Westcott, the transition from horse power to, well, "horse power" actually took place shortly after his death in 1907. It was John's son, Burton Westcott, who saw the potential of the automobile and began manufacturing what were to become early luxury cars. Prior to taking over the company, Burton, in 1903, had moved from Richmond to Springfield, OH. Back during that time there were a very large number of small automobile manufacturers throughout that region. So, after the death of his father, Burton returned to Richmond to convert the carriage plant to gasoline powered motor cars.

          Using parts from General Motors and Durant, Wescott wrapped their luxury amenities around the mechanics and produced a stunning car that attracted the upper class car enthusiast.
          Missing his adopted home in Springfield, Burton moved the Westcott plant there in 1916, one year after the manufacture of the 1915 U50 seven passenger touring car.
          Dubbed "The Car With the Longer Life" to accentuate their reliability, Westcott automobiles generally ran off of a 50 horse power six cylinder engine. They came in two wheel base sizes, 125 inches and 118 inches. For the day they were true luxury vehicles, roomy and designed to be touring cars.

          Unlike a number of early car manufacturers, Westcott seemed to flourish following World War I. In fact, their biggest sales year was in 1921 when they sold over 1700 cars. But like so many other burgeoning car companies of the day, they found that their profits couldn't sustain them and with the growing forces coming out of Detroit, Westcott was forced to call it quits in 1925. So while their slogan claimed that this was a car with the longer life, the unfortunate truth is that the company's life ended all too soon.