During the early part of the 20th Century, Indiana was still vying with Michigan as the automotive capital of the United States.

One of the numerous Hoosier marques was the Marion Motor Car Company, established in Indianapolis in 1904.

“The Car That Has Set Men to Thinking,” the company’s team included Fred Tone and Harry C.

Stutz, who together concieved the American Underslung, one of the first true US-built performance cars.

Thus the firm was well-equipped to build a sports car of its own.

In 1912 the world was introduced to the Marion Bobcat.

Described by the late historian Beverly Rae Kimes as a “rakish machine,” it was essentially a stock chassis and four-cylinder engine, with two seats and not much else.

At almost the same time as this model was being developed, Stutz departed to form his own company, which introduced the Stutz Bearcat, inspired in formula, appearance, and name, by Marion’s product.

The Bobcat even bore a transaxle, a feature that Stutz pioneered and woul...