Empire [5] (United States) - AllCarIndex

Empire Automobile Company was an American automobile manufacturer that operated from 1909 to 1919. The company was initially established as the Empire Motor Car Company in Indianapolis, Indiana, producing its first model, a 20-horsepower four-cylinder vehicle known as The Little Aristocrat. This model was available exclusively as a two-seater roadster or speedster. The founders included notable figures such as Arthur Newby, who was also the president of National Motor Vehicle Company, and Carl Fisher, the founder of Prest-O-Lite starters. Both were instrumental in the development of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the first Empire vehicle produced was notably the first car to be driven on the newly constructed brick circuit.

Despite its promising start, the company struggled due to the management's focus on promoting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which led to a lack of attention on the Empire vehicles. In 1912, the company underwent a change in ownership and relocated production to Greenville, Pennsylvania, where it operated under Greenville Metal Products. During this period, the Empire 20 was renamed the Fay in honor of Frank Fay, the president of the new manufacturing entity. The company also introduced a larger model featuring a 25-horsepower Teetor engine and a five-seater tourer body.

In 1914, Empire moved its operations again, this time to Connersville, Indiana, before returning to Indianapolis in 1915, albeit in a different factory that was primarily dedicated to manufacturing Prest-O-Lite starters. The 1916 model lineup marked the introduction of a six-cylinder vehicle, the 25-horsepower Continental, which was available in both a seven-seater tourer and a seven-seater sedan configuration. The final year of production for Empire was 1919, during which the company manufactured a total of 191 cars, contributing to an overall production figure of 4,834 vehicles throughout its operational years.