Shifting Gears

During the early evolution of automobile transportation, patent attorney John Higdon remained unmoved in his desire to improve the previously well-established buggy. By 1896, Higdon had developed a horseless buggy that earned him more ridicule than praise.

Undaunted, Higdon went on to produce the least expensive, most economical “high wheeler” of the time, built under the name of the Success Auto-Buggy Manufacturing Company. Premiering at the first St. Louis Auto Show in 1907, this new four-horsepower auto buggy, flying at speeds of 4–18 miles per hour with 100 miles to the gallon of gasoline, was priced at only $250. Later models offered more features, such as the choice of two- or four-cylinder engines and air or water cooling. In the four years of buggy production, nine versions of surreys, runabouts, and delivery wagons were developed and more than 600 actual autos were built. In 1909 the company went broke and Higdon lost $35,000, which was all of his savings. Shortly thereafter many other motor buggy companies also went out of business.

1906 Success Auto-Buggy

This 1906 Success auto was produced in the St. Louis factory located at 532 DeBaliviere Avenue. The car's original owner, Dr. Henry Simpson, purchased it new at the factory and then had it transported by railway to his home in Perryville, Missouri. Dr. Simpson used the car around town and for sick calls to the rural farms, which usually ended with the car being towed back to town.

Fact sheet from the Success Auto-Buggy Manufacturing Company, 1906

Letter from the Success Auto-Buggy Manufacturing Company, 1906

This advertisement from a 1908 Auto Review magazine boasts more than four years of company success.