The Cole Motor Car Company was a short-lived but influential American luxury automobile manufacturer based in Indianapolis, Indiana, operating from 1909 to 1925. Founded by Joseph J. Cole, the company transitioned from carriage-making to pioneering high-end vehicles, becoming one of the earliest adopters of the V8 engine—second only to Cadillac. Cole cars were known for their advanced features like detachable cylinder heads, balloon tires, and sleek four-door bodies, often rivaling contemporaries like Packard and Stearns-Knight in both performance and style. With over 40,000 vehicles produced across 20 models, Cole’s slogan “There’s a Touch of Tomorrow in all that Cole Does Today” captured its forward-thinking ethos, even as it ultimately succumbed to the pressures of a rapidly consolidating auto industry.
