Cornelian (United States) - AllCarIndex

Cornelian was an American automobile brand produced by the Blood Brothers Machine Company, based in Kalamazoo and later Allegan, Michigan. The company was founded by the Blood brothers, who had previously manufactured cars under their own name from 1902 to 1906. In 1914, they re-entered the automotive industry with the introduction of the Cornelian cyclecar.

The Cornelian featured a 1,688 cc, 13-horsepower, four-cylinder Sterling engine, and was notable for its shaft drive and integral construction, which included independent rear suspension—an uncommon feature for vehicles of that era. The car was first showcased at the New York Automobile Show in January 1914, with a retail price of $425. Following a positive response and a significant number of orders, the Blood brothers relocated their operations from Kalamazoo to a new factory in Allegan in March 1915.

The Cornelian gained additional attention when Louis Chevrolet drove one in the 1915 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, marking it as the smallest-engined car to compete in that event. Despite this publicity, the Cornelian struggled to achieve commercial success, and production ceased in October 1915 after approximately 100 units had been manufactured.