Name that company!

[wildmanjoe]

In 1909, this company created a car known as the Battleship, because nothing could stop it. The engine was a 452ci Continental. The challenge the company owners had was that if any car could follow the Battleship for 10 minutes over rough terrain, the driver would win $1,000. 116 cars tried and none succeeded.

What was the name of the company that created this car, what more famous name did this company eventually adopt, and what was the name of the company later founded by this company's founders?

[David]

FWD - Four Wheel Drive Auto company.

Bing it baby

http://www.flickr.com/photos/porkypig/4656868235/

The FWD Battleship

Dubbed the "Battleship" because of its amazing traction and ability "to go where no car could go" this 1909 Badger-FWD is generally regarded as the first four-wheel-drive motor car in America. It is the first of 10 such cars and chassis built during the years 1909-1910-1911 by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, later named FWD, Clintonville, Wisconsin.

The car is powered by a Continental, 4-cycle, 4-cylinder, 45-horse-power gasoline engine and a 3-speed transmission provides a top road speed of 55 MPH. Its weight, including the hand-crafted, 7-passenger touring car body, is 3,800 labs. Its selling price, FOB Clintonville, $4,500.00.

The original car is on display at the FWD museum and historical building in which it was built in Clintonville, Wisconsin (FWD Museum pamphlet).

[wildmanjoe]

Four Wheel Drive Auto Company made the Battleship and later changed it's name to FWD, but what was the name of the other company founded by one of Four Wheel Drive Auto Company's founders?

[Sixty8panther]

WMJ: you should really replace the GT-R with a Lexus LFA. The Toyo-Duh wannabe Corvette is far more lame, esp. bang/$ wise.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Hey there Sixty8, welcome back!! How've you been?

[wildmanjoe]

The company was Oshkosh. Hey dfelt, try Alta Vista next time.