Taking its name from the Knights Templar, the religious military order of the 10th century, and adopting the Maltese Cross as its emblem, the Templar was marketed as “The Super-Fine Small Car.” Built in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1917 to 1924, it was the brainchild of M.F.

Bramley, president of the Cleveland Trinidad Paving Company.

Engineering talent was recruited from Pope-Hartford (A.M.

Dean), Mercer (P.

F.

Hackenthal), and Chalmers (M.E.

Morningstar).

The Templar was what is called an “assembled car,” its components bought in from specialist suppliers and assembled by the erstwhile manufacturer.

In contrast to many such companies, who bought their engines from the likes of Continental, Lycoming, or Wisconsin, Templar Motors Corporation built its own powerplants and axles, while buying transmissions from Detroit Gear, chassis from Savage and bodies from the Cleveland-based Ohio Blower Company.

These were badged as “Lind Motor Bodies” after H.H.

Lind, a principal of the company....