The 1916 Owen Magnetic M-25 Chassis was crafted by the R.M. Owen & Company of New York. These unique vehicles were manufactured from 1915 to 1922. Originally produced in New York City in 1915, the manufacturing hub shifted to Cleveland, Ohio, from 1916 to 1919 before finding its final home in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where production continued until 1922.
Notable for their groundbreaking use of an electromagnetic transmission, Owen Magnetic automobiles were early adopters of an electric hybrid drivetrain. The vehicles stood out with a generator powered by a six-cylinder engine, utilizing an electromagnetic principle similar to that which propelled the Battleship U.S.S. New Mexico. Distinctively, there is no direct mechanical connection between the gas motor and the drive shaft, setting the Owen Magnetic apart as a technological marvel of its time.
The 1916 Owen-Magnetic chassis was purchased from a closed museum with no body. Tampa Bay Automobile Museum successfully rescued this vehicle which was in very poor condition, addressing every aspect of this very weathered and non-functional car with many missing components. The engine, electrical components, suspension, frame and braking system were completely renovated. New wooden wheels and a fuel tank were hand crafted to the original specifications. Temporary seats were made to allow vehicle operational testing and movement, resulting in a fully functional car. It is now in running condition without a body so the underlying technology can be witnessed in full operation.
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