SGV (automobile)

{{short description|Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer}}

{{Infobox company

| name = SGV Company

| logo = 1913 SGV radiator badge.jpg

| logo_size = 180px

| logo_caption = SGV Radiator Emblem

| predecessor = Acme Motor Car Company

| successor = Phianna Motor Company

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1911}}

| founder = Herbert M. Sternbergh, Robert E. Graham, Fred Van Tine

| defunct = {{end date and age|1916}}

| location = Reading, Pennsylvania

| hq_location_country = United States

| industry = Automotive

| key_people = Herbert M. Sternbergh, Robert E. Graham and Fred Van Tine, R. J. Metzler

| products = luxury car

| production = unknown - hundreds

| production_year = 1911-1916

}}

File:1914 SGV advertisement postcard.jpg

File:2006 SAG - Lancia Beta Torpedo 1520 HP 1909 -02.JPG on which the SGV was based]]

SGV was a Brass Era American automobile manufacturer that made luxury automobiles using Lancia components, from 1911 to 1916.{{Kimes-USCars3rd}}

History

= Origin =

The Acme Motor Car Company sold its site and plant to J H Sternbergh for $72,100 in May 1911.{{cite news|title=Motor Car Company sold|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/44581070/?terms=%22Acme%2BMotor%2BCar%22|newspaper=Reading Times|date=May 13, 1911|page=13|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 16, 2015}} {{Open access}} Sternbergh in turn sold the Acme Motor Car Company and leased it plant to a New York consortium. The company's name was changed to SGV.{{cite news|title=Acme auto plant leased|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/69973759/?terms=%22Acme%2BMotor%2BCar%22|newspaper=Allentown Leader|date=May 20, 1911|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 16, 2015}} {{Open access}} SGV Company was named for Herbert M. Sternbergh, Robert E. Graham and Fred Van Tine, the owners of the company and formerly with Acme. Fred Van Tine was the shop manager and designer of the car. Herbert Sternbergh died in March 1913.{{Georgano-EncAuto3v}}{{cite news|title=Sternbergh will in full|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/14437528/?terms=%22Acme%2BMotor%2BCar%22|newspaper=Lebanon Daily News|date=March 11, 1913|page=9|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 16, 2015}} {{Open access}}

Acme had been making SGV models since 1910. This was a high-quality product, based on the Lancia Beta with a relatively small {{Convert|3.1|L|cuin}}, 25-hp 4-cylinder engine with pressure lubrication and a hot water jacket over the inlet manifold. Shaft-drive and a low frame that was up-swept over the rear axle were featured and the dash was made with Circassian walnut.{{cite news |date=October 25, 1910 |title=Car here negotiating with leading dealers |page=13 |newspaper=The Washington Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/80704443/?terms=%22Acme%2BMotor%2BCar%22 |accessdate=June 15, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

= SGV Company =

Newspapers of the time described the SGV as lightweight and mechanically efficient. The Lancia engine was used with a four speed transmission. The steering radius was noted being small, making the car maneuverable in city traffic.{{cite news |date=March 5, 1911 |title=SGV car one of the interesting exhibits |page=40 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/27601616//?terms="S.G.V" |accessdate=June 15, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

With the sale to SGV in 1911, the new company produced eight models including a limousine, touring car, torpedo, toy tonneau, and roadster models.{{cite news |date=November 19, 1911 |title=SGV limousine reaches this city |page=46 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/27545668//?terms="S.G.V" |accessdate=June 15, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} They were priced from $2,500 to $3,500 ({{Inflation|US|3500|1911|fmt=eq}}), and achieved 15 to 20 mpg.{{cite news |date=February 23, 1911 |title=SF Advertisement |page=12 |newspaper=The San Francisco Call |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/82684448/?terms=%22S.G.V%22 |accessdate=June 16, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news |date=March 5, 1911 |title=SGV Advertisement |page=39 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/27601574//?terms="S.G.V" |accessdate=June 15, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news |date=July 30, 1911 |title=SGV Advertisement |page=45 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/27608925//?terms="S.G.V" |accessdate=June 15, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

In December 1912 a 35-hp car, the model D, was introduced.{{cite news |date=December 8, 1912 |title=SGV Advertisement |page=37 |newspaper=Oakland Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/78514905/?terms=%22S.G.V%22 |accessdate=June 15, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} A Coupe-Landaulet model was priced at $4,000, {{Inflation|US|4000|1912|fmt=eq}}. Custom coachwork from Quinby and Fleetwood were available that could increase the price up to $12,000.

The SGV was a high-class small car in the same class as the Brewster. SGV was sold in New York City by Hol-Tan and Gotham Motor Car Company. In San Francisco the E. Stewart Automobile Company sold a large amount of SGV's.

S.G.V. decided to try the Vulcan (Cutler-Hammer) four-speed electric gearshift, mounted in the steering wheel spoke and push button actuated. This resulted in one of the industry’s very early recalls (a 40 car shipment of SGV cars) and created bad publicity for the company that already had shaky finances.

= Demise =

In the summer of 1915, the entire S.G.V. plant went on the auction block. Press reported the inventory included "thirty-two complete chassis of the latest model 1915, 100 assorted up-to-date Quinby and Fleetwood bodies, a large quantity of radiators, etc." R. J. Metzler bought the factory and said he planned to continue the S.G.V. in manufacture. Metzler partnered with industrialists John A. Bell and T. M. Pepperday, who in 1916, sold the plant and moved production from Reading to Newark, New Jersey. Only one SGV was built in Newark before Metzler joined with a consortium of several other businessmen who went on to produce the Phianna based on the SGV.{{cite news |date=April 29, 1916 |title=Final claims in SGV case |page=7 |newspaper=Reading Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/44663396/?terms=%22S.G.V%22 |accessdate=June 16, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Motor Racing

An SGV was entered in the 1911 Vanderbilt cup race but did not compete.{{cite news|title=Hundred cars expected to be entered|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/75040203/?terms=%22S.G.V%22|newspaper=Asheville Citizen|date=October 8, 1911|page=11|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 15, 2015}} {{Open access}} They also competed in the October San Francisco to Los Angeles and back endurance run with C Matthews driving.{{cite news|title=Seven cars off on endurance run to south|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/27491702/?terms=%22S.G.V%22|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 12, 1911|page=9|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 15, 2015}} {{Open access}}

File:1911 Acme SGV advertisement Motor Age.jpg|1911 SGV Touring car, Acme Motor Car Company in Motor Age magazine

File:1913 SGV Advertisement Automobile Trade Journal.jpg|1913 SGV Touring Car advertisement - Automobile Trade Journal

File:1914 SGV Motor Age advertisement.jpg|1914 SGV with Vulcan electric transmission advertisement in Motor Age

External links

[http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/p/phianna/phianna.htm SGV and Phianna at Coachbuilt.com]
[https://www.conceptcarz.com/z28633/sgv-model-72.aspx 1912 SGV at ConceptCarz]
[http://antique.vccc.com/pioneers/sgv/sgvcontents.html Story of 1912 SGV restoration in British Columbia]
[https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27657/lot/137/1912-sgv-two-plus-two-roadster-chassis-no-460-engine-no-460/ 1912 SGV at Bonhams Auction]
[https://boyertownmuseum.org/whats-new/sgv-cropped/ One of two SGV's at Boyertown Museum]