Researching Pierce Arrows (and if anyone knows the second and third gear transmission ratios for the 1909-’10 four speed on a 6-36 I’d like to hear about it), I ran across a short note in the Realm of the Makers column in the February 24, 1910, issue of The Automobile which mentioned,
The Cartercar Company at the Detroit Automobile Show received an order from the Kellogg Toasted Corn Flakes Company, of Battle Creek, for twenty-four Cartercars, model “H,” touring type. Instead of being equipped with the regular body these will be fitted with a specially constructed body built in the exact shape and proportions of the package of the goods manufactured by the purchaser. It is said that about $30,000 is involved in the deal.
As I have a certain weakness for promotional vehicles, I thought a Corn Flakes Cartercar sounded cool, but that was literally the only mention I could find, anywhere. As a last resort, I went to Kellogg Company, and amazingly, they came through. The first photo is what appears to be one of the two dozen ’10s, but there was a second as well, with a more conventional body on what might be a slightly later chassis.
It’s a foregone conclusion there are no survivors, but has anyone seen them before? I wonder what the earliest promotional vehicle actually was? If the box on the first Cartercar was indeed the same proportions as a Corn Flakes box – and it looks mighty tall and skinny for any other purpose – it certainly qualifies. The second appears to be a conventional body.