Alpena Flyer

The only remaining example of an Alpena "Flyer" produced by the Alpena Motor Car Company is on display at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.

The Alpena Motor Car Company was founded in July of 1910. The firm was actually a transplant of the Wolverine Motor Car Company that was located in Mt. Clemens, MI in January of 1910 but never got off the ground. A prototype had been built and helped convince the Chamber of Commerce to let the firm relocate in Alpena. Initially cars were assembled in the shop of W.C. French and would later be assembled in a new plant which opened in October of that year. Interest was immediate and orders were pouring in including one for 500 vehicles from a Philadelphia sales branch that was to market to the East Coast. Vehicles were shown at the auto show in New York as well as several other cities and reviews were excellent. The company built approximately 480 vehicles before declaring bankruptcy due to being sued of patent infringement. By July of 1914 the company was for sale. The Alpena Motor Car Company had hoped to be the next Detroit as did neighboring Gaylord as they looked to replace a dying lumber industry however neither succeeded.

The Alpena Motor Car Company started life in Mt. Clemens, MI as the Wolverine Motor Car Company. Wolverine was formed in January of 1910 and was looking for a permanent home in southeastern Michigan but an offer from Alpena Chamber of Commerce prompted the firm to relocate to Alpena, MI.

Excitement was high as a northern Michigan city had a chance to be the next Detroit and in June of 1910 the Alpena Motor Car Company was officially formed. Much of the work of prototypes and design work had already been done earlier in the year. Initially the company was to build both passenger cars and light delivery vehicles but settled on the former although at least one light delivery was built for display.

While the plans for the factory were finalized, initial vehicles were built in the machine shop of W.C. French who was a local business owner. Once the factory was complete in October, French had the honor of driving the first vehicle out of the factory. Production began and orders poured in for the new “flyer” which was getting great reviews from several publications as well as the New York Auto Show.

Production continued and dealerships were opened through the middle of 1912. As the future of the company seemed as bright as ever, a lawsuit would bring the company to a halt. The North American Vehicle Company would claim patent infringement on their suspension system by not only Alpena but also several different companies. The amount of the award would send the Alpena Motor Car Company into bankruptcy and by 1914 would cease to exist having produced less than 500 cars. 

www.WheelsWaterEngines.com. Accessed May 23rd 2022.