Between 1916 and 1925, the Anderson Motor Company manufactured automobiles at its Rocky Hill, South Carolina, factory, where industrialist John Gary Anderson produced some 5,553 cars bearing his name, as direct competitors for Henry Ford’s Model T. Several examples of Anderson’s creations will be shown during the November 4-6 Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival (HHIMF).
With the motto of “A little bit higher in price, but made in Dixie,” the Anderson cars were the South’s luxurious alternative to Detroit’s mass-market vehicles, as they featured top-quality trim and materials like mahogany, South Carolina hickory and premium leather. Anderson also introduced interesting color schemes to the industry. Unlike Ford’s basic black, Andersons lured buyers with a rich array of alternative hues as well as other innovations such as electric windshield wipers, power convertible tops, a floor-installed headlight dimmer switch — an Anderson invention — and a unique rear view mirror.
“We’re proud to pay tribute to a century of South Carolina automotive heritage this year, with a spotlight on these rare Anderson Motor Company automobiles,” said Carolyn Vanagel, president of the HHIMF. “From the state’s earliest success with designing and assembling cars that led the industry in advanced technology to today’s latest models from long-time South Carolina-based manufacturer BMW and now Volvo, we’re looking forward to a thoroughly intriguing journey through the decades.”
Additionally, one of the cars, a 1920 Anderson Six Convertible Roadster now owned by Paul and Kathleen Ianuario of Duncan, South Carolina, will be added to the Historic Vehicle Association’s (HVA) National Historic Vehicle Register. All of the car’s historic reference materials — exhaustively studied, documented and verified by HVA as well as the College of Charleston’s Department of Historic Preservation — will be added to the permanent archives of the U.S. Library of Congress.
This year’s HHIMF will also pay homage to the 1925–1948 era of European Classics, and celebrate American Cars of 1956 during the Concours portion of the festival on Sunday, November 6. For further information please visit www.HHIMotoringFestival.com.
