1913 Michigan Model R Touring
Industry veteran W.H. Cameron designed this 40-horsepower four-cylinder tourer after leaving positions at Willys-Overland and Flanders to join the newly formed Michigan Motor Car Company in 1911.
The Kalamazoo-built automobile (marketed as the “Mighty Michigan”) was positioned in the middle price field for buyers seeking room, power, and luxury.
Built on a 116-inch wheelbase, the Model R featured leather upholstery and a multi-coat “golden auto brown” paint finish. These details helped distinguish the car from more utilitarian offerings in its class.
Power came from a 298-cubic-inch L-head inline four-cylinder engine rated at 40 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Performance and durability were considered strong selling points for the brand.
The company grew out of the established Michigan Buggy Company, which had recognized the automobile industry’s potential. Despite producing what was widely regarded as a quality product, severe management problems plagued the venture.
Multiple executives were convicted of embezzlement and fraud schemes, leading to the company’s collapse in 1915. Historian G. Marshall Naul estimates fewer than 1,200 Michigan automobiles were produced between 1911 and 1913, with few surviving today.
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