Moon Motor Car
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
company that was based in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The company had a venerable reputation among the buying public, as it was known for fully assembled, easily affordable mid-level cars using high-quality parts. Often this meant the manufacturing process required more human intervention, leading to operating losses.
The company was founded by carriage maker Joseph W. Moon . Moon produced both cars and trucks. Moon Motor's peak production year was 1925 when the company produced 10,271 vehicles.
History
In addition to the Moon name, Moons were sold under the Hol-TanHol-Tan
The Hol-Tan was an American automobile manufactured in 1908.-History:The Hol-Tan company was established by G. P. Tangeman and Cornelius Hoagland Tangeman and E. R. Hollander in New York City in 1906 as an automobile dealership. This incorporation just switched their unofficial importation of...
name in 1908. Moon produced the Diana via its subsidiary the Diana Motors Company
Diana Motors Company
The Diana Motors Company was an early United States automobile manufacturing company which produced automobiles from 1925 to 1928. The St. Louis based company was a subsidiary of the Moon Motor Car company....
in 1925 - 1928. Another subsidiary produced the Windsor
Windsor (automobile)
The Windsor was an automobile produced in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, from 1929 to 1930 by the Windsor Corporation.- History :The Windsor Corporation was a subsidiary of the Moon Motor Car company and shared all the same company officers as the parent company as well as the same manufacturing facility...
in 1929-1930.
The firm also produced a cottonpicker built under contract from the American Cottonpicker Corporation.
Beginning in 1924, Moon was increasingly unable to meet dealership orders. The company went out of business at the start of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
; the Moon factory was purchased by Ruxton automobile.
Moon automobiles are on display at the Missouri History Museum
Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum is located in St. Louis, Missouri in Forest Park. The museum is operated by the Missouri Historical Society and was founded in 1866...
and Museum of Transportation
Museum of Transportation
The Museum of Transportation of the St. Louis County, Missouri, United States Parks Department is a museum located in the Greater St. Louis area. It was first founded in 1944 by a group of individuals dedicated to preserving the past and has a wide variety of vehicles from American history...
in St. Louis, Missouri. The amusement park Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis , is an amusement park owned by Six Flags, Inc. It is located in Eureka, Missouri, USA . Opened in 1971 as the third theme park of the Six Flags chain, this was the last park that was built under the Six Flags name...
also features a ride using the Moon automobile body.
There is a car club for cars built by Moon Motor Car Company. You can get more information about the club and see more car pictures at www.mooncarclub.com
Models
| Model | Years | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1913-19 | Delivery Vehicle/Light Truck |
| B | 1913-19 | Heavy Truck |
| Model | Years | Engine | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1906 | Rutenber Edwin Rutenber Edwin A. Rutenber was an inventor and businessman. He achieved distinction in the design and manufacture of the first four-cylinder gasoline engine produced in America. He later was an electric appliance manufacturer and inventor.Born at Sadorus, Illinois, the youngest of five children, Rutenber... 4 cylinder |
a five passenger touring car |
| C | 1907-09 | Moon 4 cylinder | Louis Mooers designed engine with overhead valves and cams |
| D | 1908-09 | Moon 4 cylinder | Also sold as Hol-Tan Hol-Tan The Hol-Tan was an American automobile manufactured in 1908.-History:The Hol-Tan company was established by G. P. Tangeman and Cornelius Hoagland Tangeman and E. R. Hollander in New York City in 1906 as an automobile dealership. This incorporation just switched their unofficial importation of... s in the Eastern US |
| 30 | 1910-12 | Moon or Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... 4 cylinder |
George Heising designed engine |
| 39 | 1913 | Moon or Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... 4 cylinder |
|
| 40 | 1912 | Moon or Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... 4 cylinder |
|
| 45 | 1910-12 | Moon or Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... 4 cylinder |
|
| 48 | 1913 | Moon or Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... 4 cylinder |
|
| 65 | 1913 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
first Moon six cylinder |
| 4-38 | 1915 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... 4 cylinder |
last Moon four cylinder |
| 4-42 | 1914 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... 4 cylinder |
|
| 6-30 | 1916 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-36 | 1918 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-38 | 1919 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-40 | 1915, 1922 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-42 | 1921 | Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-43 | 1916-17 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-44 | 1916 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-45 | 1917-18 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-46 | 1919 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
also called 'Victory' |
| 6-48 | 1920-22 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
wire or disk wheels replace wood wheels |
| 6-50 | 1914-15, 1924 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-58 | 1923 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-60 | 1927-28 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
also called the 'Jubilee' |
| 6-62 | 1928-29 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-66 | 1916-19 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-68 | 1920-22 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| 6-72 | 1928-29 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
nearly identicle to Windsor Windsor (automobile) The Windsor was an automobile produced in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, from 1929 to 1930 by the Windsor Corporation.- History :The Windsor Corporation was a subsidiary of the Moon Motor Car company and shared all the same company officers as the parent company as well as the same manufacturing facility... 6-72 |
| 8-75 | 1928-29 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-8 Straight-8 The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
first Moon eight cylinder |
| 8-80 | 1928-29 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-8 Straight-8 The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
'Aerotype' body |
| Series A | 1924-28 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| Series U or U6-40 | 1924 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| Newport | 1925 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| Metropolitan | 1925 | Continental Continental Motors Company Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in... Straight-6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
|
| London | 1925-26 | export model |
Note: This table is derived from the Curt McConnell reference