American Automobile Industry World War One Era Motor Vehicles

This page updated 11-18-2023.

A American Automobile Industry in World War Two Special Edition. 

This page originally began as a photo page of World War One Standard B Liberty trucks.  However, once I started working on the project, I realized I had taken photos over the last several years that included other vehicles of the era.  I decided to include them also to give a more complete view of the early 20th Century military vehicles that the American automobile and truck industry provided for World War One.  As can be seen below, the early 20th Century and the World War One era was a transition from horse and mule drawn to motorized vehicles.

Studebaker started as a wagon manufacturer in South Bend, IN in 1852 before making the conversion to trucks and automobiles in the early 20th century.  This Army Escort Wagon is on display at the Museum of the Soldier in Portland, IN.  This type of wagon was built by the Studebaker Wagon Company from 1899-1917.  These were still being used at the time of World War One.  Author's photo.

This type of Escort Wagon was pulled by four mules and accompanied soldiers in the field by carrying their personal belongings, food, and other essentials and suppliers.  Author's photo.

 This 1916 White Armored Car was on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA, and was located outside the Armor and Calvary Gallery.  This vehicle was restored in six months' time by the personnel of the Armor Museum Restoration Shop at Fort Benning.  Author's photo.

The armored plate was installed on a 1916 White truck chassis at the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, IL.  The vehicle then became part of General Pershing's Mexican Punitive Expedition to find Poncho Villa in Mexico.  After the Expedition was over, the 1916 White served at Fort Brown, TX.  In the 1930's, it was moved to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds where work was being done on the next generation of armored cars.  The vehicle came to Fort Benning, with the closing of the outside displays at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds during Army museum consolidation.  Author's photo.

 This 1916 King armored car is one of ten purchased by the U.S. Marine Corps.  The chassis is a King Luxury Sedan, to which the armor plate was added by the Armored Car Company of Detroit, MI.  Both companies were associated with early auto industry pioneer Charles Brady King.  Mr. King designed his own self-propelled carriage and on March 6, 1896, he was the first person to drive an automobile on the streets of Detroit.  King vehicles were the first to have left-hand steering and he made the first practical V-8 engine.  He also assisted Henry Ford build his Quadricycle. 

Two King armored cars were used for testing and five were sent to assist Marines in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  Another two were stationed at Galveston, TX.  This very rare vehicle is on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps in Triangle, VA.  Author's photo.

This World War One horse-drawn machine gun cart was photographed at the former McClain Military Museum in Anderson, IN.  Author's photo.

The owner is Ken Cerra Indianapolis, IN.  Author's photo.

The display shows gas masks for not only the soldier but the horses and the dog.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

During 1917-1918 Studebaker produced 8,000 escort wagons for the war effort.  This one is on display at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, IN.  Author's photo.

A 1917 Studebaker ambulance is also on display at the Studebaker Museum.  Author's photo.

This is one of 10,500 Studebaker-built 14 spigot water carts for use in World War One.  This particular example was built in 1917.  Author's photo from the Studebaker Museum.

This 1914 water cart was one of 500 that Studebaker built for the British during World War One.  Author's photo from the Studebaker Museum.

This Army escort wagon is on display at the Army Transport Museum at Fort Eustis, VA.  While the horses were the propulsion of the wagon and the supplies it was carrying, the horses themselves needed to be fed.  Each horse required 12 pounds of grain and 14 pounds of hay per day. Author's photo.

Shown here are two Dodge Brothers World War One era vehicles.  On the left is a 1918 Army staff car and on the right is a 1918 light repair truck.  Author's photo from the 2019 MVPA National Convention. 

This 1918 Dodge staff car is USA number 119140, owned by Mark Ounan.  Author's photo. 

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This Dodge Brothers light repair truck is one of four still in existence out of the 1012 originally built.  It is owned by Doug Walters.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This 1919 Cadillac Type 57 is on display at the Jackson Barracks Museum in New Orleans, LA.  Over  2,100 of the 2,500 built were sent to Europe.  The vehicles were built specifically for officer use.  This one was given to the Louisiana Army National Guard after World War One and was used until the early 1930s.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Cadillac was the first automotive company to introduce the V-8 engine into production.  Author's photo.

The Ford Model T:  This is one of the more common World War One era vehicles found on display in museums.  Ford built several versions of the 30,734 Model Ts used in World War One.  16,899 were passenger cars, 7,490 were trucks, 600 were chassis only, and 5,745 were ambulances.  The Red Cross purchased an additional 2,397 vehicles for ambulance use.  

 This Ford Model T truck is on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps.  The Marines were not authorized any motorized vehicles in Europe during World War One.  This vehicle represents and is marked like the one Model T truck that was donated to the Corps by three private citizens.  It was known to the Marines as "Elizabeth Ford."  Author's photo.

Ford built another 20,652 vehicles for the war effort.  18,039 of them were shipped to France for American use.  Another 8,500 Ford chassis shipped to the French for them to install their own bodies.

This Model T ambulance version is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.  Author's photo.

This 1917 Model T has been restored to represent a World War One ambulance.  This was photographed at the Michigan Military Heritage Museum at its former location in Grass Lake, MI.  In late 2021 the museum moved to Jackson, MI.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This 1915 Model T has been converted into a light patrol vehicle.  It was on display at the 2018 MVPA National Convention in Louisville, KY.  Author's photo.

 Author's photo.

This diorama at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA depicts one of the 2,397 Ford Model Ts used by the Red Cross.  Author's photo.

This original 1917 Harley-Davidson served with American military forces in Europe during the First World War.  It is on display at the National WWI Museum and Memorial at Kansas City, MO.  During World War One, Harley-Davidson was contracted by the U.S. military for 8,125 motorcycles.  Supposedly, the first American soldier to enter Germany after the signing of the Armistice was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.  Author's photo.

This Packard-built three-ton truck was on display at the 2019 MVPA convention.  The Packard Motor Car Company was contracted for 4,800 three-ton trucks during World War One.  While Packard was a larger producer of trucks for World War One, during World War Two it did not provide any motor vehicles.  It instead manufactured aircraft and marine engines.  Author's photo.

This very rare Pierce-Arrow 5-ton Model R9 truck was built in January 1919.  It was part of a large number of Pierce-Arrow trucks ordered by the French during World War One.  With the end of the war in November 1918, this vehicle was sold on the civilian market in the United States.  This truck was photographed at the Virginia War Museum in Newport News, VA.  Author's photo.

Pierce-Arrow also had truck orders from the U.S. military.  The military ordered 2,200 1-1/2-ton trucks and 1,000 5-ton trucks from the company.  Author's photo.

Class B Standard Liberty Motor Trucks:  As noted above, the original concept for this page was just the following five vehicles.  The additions from the era gives a better overview of many different motor and non-motor vehicles that were supplied to the American military during the World War One era.

The National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, WY has this Liberty truck on display. Note the red, white, and blue "USA" on the front grill.  This adds a little color to the otherwise bland paint color.   Author's photo added 11-18-2023.

The wheel spokes have also been painted on this vehicle.  Author's photo added 11-18-2023.

This Liberty second series truck is on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps.  Author's photo.

Due to the identical and obnoxious yellow, mustard colored lighting, this Liberty Truck at the National Museum of the United States Army looks almost identical to the Liberty Truck at the Marine Corps Museum.  Author's photo.

Note both the front and rear wheels and tires, and how they differ from the ones on the Liberty Truck at the Army Transportation Museum below.  Author's photo.

The front tires are two sections of rubber compared to the one piece on the previous two trucks.  Author's photo. 

The rear is a treaded design unlike the divided smooth tires of the previous two trucks.  Author's photo.   

The Liberty Class B Truck at the Army Transportation Museum was built by manufacturer #5 and is serial number 956.  Author's photo.

This particular Liberty Truck, on display at the Allen County Museum in Lima, OH, was built by Gramm-Bernstein in Lima, OH.  Note that the passenger side front tire has a tread while the driver's side is a smooth hard tire.  Author's photo.

Gramm-Bernstein built the prototype Liberty Truck, and then made 1,000 production versions.  Author's photo.

This derelict Liberty Truck came to the Indiana Military Museum at Vincennes, IN in 2021.  Currently, it is awaiting restoration while funding is raised for the project.  Author's photo.

  This is the only Liberty Truck I have found that has the solid wheels and not the spoke type.  Author's photo.  

Author's photo.

When the Liberty Truck at the Indiana Military Museum completes its restoration, it will look like this one at the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL.  This one has been restored to operating condition.  Author's photo.

These two 1918 photos show nine rows of three Sterling Liberty trucks lined up in a partially developed residential area of Milwaukee, WI.  Several of the Sterling Motor Truck Company can see talking next to the nearest truck in the second row.  Something not seen much anymore is laundry drying on clotheslines at two houses in the background.  Photo from the National Archives.

This photo shows most of the employees are in the trucks, with the exception of the one on the right.  These photos were taken on July 16, 1918.  There were two series of Standard B trucks.  These trucks are of the first series because they have electrical lighting.  Wires for the electrical current have been routed from holes below the headlights.  The second series eliminated the electrical lighting and the associated battery, distributor and generator.  Photo from the National Archives.

At least 28 Brockway-built Liberty trucks are shown in this posed photo.  These trucks are of the first series because they have electrical lighting.  Wires for the electrical current have been routed from holes below the headlights.  The second series eliminated the electrical lighting and the associated battery, distributor, and generator.  Photo courtesy of the National Archives via Jeff Lakaszcyck added 11-18-2023.

This two page document shows the companies not only contracted to make the Class B, Standard Motor Truck and its components, but trucks from other manufacturers as well.  Document courtesy of Warren Richardson.

Of the fifteen companies listed as suppliers of the Class B truck, only three were still in business when World War Two arrived.  They were Brockway, Diamond T, and Sterling.

Document courtesy of Warren Richardson.

Ford Motor Company built 1,690 M4A3 Sherman Tanks and 1,038 M10A1 Tank Destroyers during World War Two.  It acquired previous experience in building tanks during 1918 at the end of World War One.  This is one of two surviving Ford-built Model 1918 tanks out of fifteen that were built.  The vehicle was designed in two days, the first prototype was built in three weeks, and a 222 foot by 530 foot building for mass production of the vehicle was built in 30 days.  Ford was given a contract to build 15,000 units at a rate of 100 per day.  The end of World War One prevented the tank from going into production.  Author's photo from the National Armor and Cavalry Tank collection at Fort Benning, GA. 

The Ford 1918 tank was powered by two Ford Model T engines and was armed with a .30 caliber machine gun.  It had a two man crew.  Author's photo from the National Armor and Cavalry Tank collection at Fort Benning, GA. 

This militarized version of the Holt Tractor was built by the Reo Motor Car Company of Lansing, MI in 1917 as a 5-ton prime mover for artillery in World War One.  It was photographed at the former Ropkey Armor Museum in Indiana. The museum is now closed; and the location of the tractor is unknown.  The Tractor has a 45 hp engine.  Holt later evolved into Caterpillar.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This is another Holt Armored Tractor that was on display at the 2022 Historical Construction Equipment Museum Convention.  This one was built by the Maxwell Motor Company of New Castle, IN.  This tractor is currently owned by the Bowers Family of Wintersville, OH.  In looking at the information placard, this was previously part of the former Ropkey Armor Museum.  Author's photo added 9-28-2022.

Author's photo added 9-28-2022.

Author's photo added 9-28-2022.

Author's photo added 9-28-2022.

The Diebold Safe & Lock Company of Canton, OH provided the armor plate for the engine.  In World War Two, it produced and installed the armor plate on the White-built halftracks.  Of interest is the fact that while the engine is protected with armor plate, the driver is not.  Author's photo added 9-28-2022.

Author's photo added 9-28-2022.


Author's photo added 9-28-2022.

The M1917 two-man light tank was based on the French Renault FP-17.  This M1917 6-ton tank is on display at Miller Park in Bloomington, IL.  Author's photo.

This M1917 was photographed at the former Ropkey Armor Museum in Indiana. The museum is now closed; and the location of the tank is unknown.  Author's photo.

The former display allowed visitors to view the driver's area of the vehicle.  Author's photo.

This M1917 is part of the collection of the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles.  Author's photo. 

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This M1917 is on display at the National infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA.  Author's photo.  

This M1917 six-ton tank was undergoing restoration in September 2018 at Fort Benning. GA.  It is part of the National Armor and Cavalry Tank collection.  Author's photo.

This M1917 is owned by the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN.  It was on display at the 2018 MVPA National Convention in Louisville, KY.  It is now on display in the World War One diorama at the museum.  Author's photo.

The Van Dorn Iron Works of Cleveland, OH made armored plate during World War Two.  This is Ordnance Department Number 20826.  Author's photo.

This is another Van Dorn-built M1917 and is on display at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA.  Author's photo.

 This one is  Ordnance Department Number 20789.  Author's photo.

The First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL has this M1917 on outside display.  Author's photo. 

 This Holt-built M1917 is one of the many pieces of armor on display at the AAF Museum in Danville, VA.  Author's photo. 

The data plate can just be seen on the rear of the tank.  The information placard for this vehicle notes this as a Holt-built unit.  Author's photo. 

This M1917 is on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, ONT.  Author's photo.

This 1926 TTSW (Truck, Tractor, Six Wheel) 1-1/2-ton 6x6 truck is on display at the Army Transportation Museum.  It used many of the components of the Standard B truck of World War One.  This was one of many experimental trucks that were built after World War One at Fort Holabird, MD that eventually led to the 2-1/2-ton 6x6 truck of World War Two.  The TTSW featured many of the suggestions that resulted from the Trans-Continental Motor Train of 1919 led by LTC Dwight D. Eisenhower.  One of the suggestions was for the use of pneumatic tires for driver comfort.  The TTSW also featured a walking beam rear suspension, dual rear tires, and separate drive shafts for each rear axle.  Author's photo.  

Author's photo.

British-Built Mark V* Heavy Tank:  This Mark V*, which is the only one of this Mark still in existence, has been added as a special addition to this page due to its historic nature. Operated by an American tank crew in World War One, it was knocked out of action on September 29, 1918, with the loss of three of the eleven man crew.  It was photographed in the restoration building for the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection at Fort Benning, GA. 

This is serial number 9591.  Author's photo. 

This was attached to the side of Mark V* serial number 9591.  Author's photo.

Author's photo. 

This is looking through the opening on the port side of the vehicle.  Author's photo. 

Author's photo. 

Seats had not yet been installed for the driver and machine gun operator.  The driver would sit in the locations of the electric drill.  Author's photo. 

This is looking towards the rear of the vehicle.  There are a lot of moving parts inside that a crewman could get hung up on or entangled in if he was not careful.  Author's photo.

This is the aft section of the Mark V*.  Author's photo.