Briggs & Stratton (United States) - AllCarIndex

Briggs & Stratton Company, founded in 1908 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially specialized in manufacturing small engines and accessories. In 1918, the company acquired the rights to the Motor Wheel, a four-wheeled buckboard vehicle that had previously been produced by the A.O. Smith Company under the name Smith Flyer. This vehicle featured a simple design with cycle-type wheels at each corner and a frame constructed from six wooden slats, which provided a flexible ride without the need for springs.

The Motor Wheel was powered by a 2.5 horsepower single-cylinder air-cooled engine, which was mounted on a wheel that could be lowered to the road. The vehicle required careful throttle management to avoid stalling or damaging the tire tread. Despite its rudimentary specifications, the buckboard gained popularity, with several hundred units sold at a price of $200 each. In 1922, a similar vehicle was marketed under the name Corona, which may have also been produced by Briggs & Stratton.

In 1924, Briggs & Stratton sold the rights to the Motor Wheel to the Automotive Electric Service Company of Newark, New Jersey, which subsequently manufactured both petrol and electric versions of the vehicle under the name Red Bug. Following this venture, Briggs & Stratton continued to focus on producing a variety of small engines, particularly for outboard motors and lawn mowers, a field in which the company remains active. The only other notable automotive product from Briggs & Stratton was an experimental six-wheeled petrol-electric car developed in 1979, which utilized a 694cc engine to drive a generator that charged a battery pack.