Years In Operation: 1909 Models Built: Prototype(assumed) Approximate Number of Cars Built: 1 Factory Address: Unknown Officers of the Company:
A.H. Hopkins
Walter Knight
What can i see today?
It is not known if the prototype vehicle was completed or if it currently exists.
The factory location of the prototype is not known but A.H. Hopkins was the former superintendent at Cartier Chapman & Co. The building burnt down in 1922. Thompson Cabinet was built in 1925 and sits on the site today. Address: 510 Lake Street Ludington, MI 49431
The Cartier mansion still stands and is currently a bed & breakfast. Address: 409 E. Ludington Ave, Ludington, MI 49431
The story
A. H. Hopkins started out in Des Moines, Iowa with the Capital City Carriage Company as seen here in this 1903 ad. One of his many skills was that of "promoter" which hopefully would equate to a successful car company...
It appears that Hopkins also made a short stop in Jackson with the Fuller Buggy Company approximately in 1904...
Hopkins joined Cartier from their start in January, 1905. They were partially in the business of automobile parts and bodies...
Hopkins was the sales manager at Cartier then went on to become the superintendent in 1907...
Hopkins left Cartier to make automobiles as stated here in 1909...
A.H. Hopkins together with Walter Knight(who was described as a practical vehicle man and came from Chicago in 1907) were looking to get in the car manufacturing business. In the summer of 1909 Hopkins announced he was working on a prototype vehicle and that he had secured control of "some new inventions". In the fall Hopkins and Knight organized the Utility Motor Car Company which planned to build several models under the name "Utility" and looked to raise $50,000 in capital. The first chassis was to be made outside the city and new equipment to build vehicles was planned to be moved into Ludington although the location was never mentioned. The vehicles that were being planned were as follows:
$700 to $900
The initial model was to be a 16h.p. runabout
The second was to be a runabout with a rumble seat
The third a runabout with baby tonneau
The fourth a surrey top with removable rear seat
A closed delivery wagon "utility" to be adapted to all kinds of light delivery
An open delivery wagon where the top can be removed without disturbing the front seat and a big tonneau adjusted to convert the vehicle into a touring car
The plans of The Utility Motor Car Company seems to be as far as the company made it.
