Treasures of the Henry Ford Museum – Holsman Runabout (1903)

The modern-day SUV traces its roots back to models like the Holsman Runabout. Passenger cars built in the early 20th century were often ill-suited to driving in America’s rural parts because they were heavier and lower than horse-drawn carriages and, consequently, they easily got stuck on muddy or rocky roads. Chicago-based Holsman Automobile Company designed the Runabout specifically for the countryside.

Part of the high-wheeler segment, the Runabout benefited from large wheels, puncture-proof tires made of solid rubber and a 5hp air-cooled engine that required no radiator and no water. The Holsman company operated until 1910; its founder Henry Holsman died in 1963, aged 97: his long life gave him a grandstand view of the birth and development of industrial America.

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This article was taken with permission from the Autocar website.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/slideshow/virtual-tour-treasures-henry-ford-museum#4