California Automobile Company
{{short description|Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer}}
The California was an automobile company located in San Francisco, California, from 1900–1902.{{cite book|last=Kimes|first=Beverly|title=standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942|year=1996|publisher=Krause publications|isbn=0-87341-428-4}}{{Cite web|url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC19001219.2.19#|title = San Francisco Call 19 December 1900 — California Digital Newspaper Collection}} It promised prices 100–300 dollars less than other auto companies. They also stated, in 1902, that "Our factory, where your machine is made, is at your disposal for any repairs or breakage. These can be attended to without the troublesome delays necessarily encountered when dealing with Eastern firms."{{Cite web|url=http://legendsofamerica.com/jh-autoadvertising.html|title = Selling the Sizzle – Early Auto Ads – Legends of America}}
Models
The California's main car was a runabout that ranged in price from $500–$3,000. It was tiller driven, and had an air-cooled, gasoline engine. The company also had electric and steam engines.