Ogren

• Name — Ogren Motor Car Company • Type — Automobile manufacturer • Industry — Automotive • Founder — Hugo W. Ogren • Fate — Bankruptcy • Hq Location — Chicago, Waukegan, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Hq Location Country — United States • Key People — Hugo W. Ogren, Fred G. Smith • Products — Automobiles • Production — less than 200 • Production Year — 1920-1923

In the fall of 1914, Hugo W. Ogren founded the company in Chicago to build one-off race cars, but in 1915, he started to produce a six-cylinder touring car. In 1915 prototypes were made, but in 1916 capital stock increased to $1,000,000, and Ogren moved his company to a larger factory at Waukegan, Illinois. From 1916 he produced a line of six-cylinder cars but in 1917 the company ran out of operating cash. The factory was sold at auction on Nov. 22, 1917.

• Model (year) — Engine — Horsepower — Wheelbase — Transmission • Model P (1915–1917) — Six-cylinder — 34 — 133" — 3-speed manual

In 1919, the company was re-established and the Elite ice skating rink in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was remodeled into a factory. The first Ogren Six did not appear until July 1920. The new automobiles were more expensive and more powerful with a Beaver engine (65 hp vs. 34 hp). In 1922, the Beaver engine was replaced with a more powerful Continental engine. Price for the luxury car ranged from $4,250 to $5,500. Late in 1922, Hugo Ogren left the company to join another automobile venture. Fred G. Smith took over and attempted to re-organize with only limited success. In January 1924 the tools and property of Ogren Motor Car Company were sold to Huffman Bros. Motor Co of Elkhart, Indiana.

• Illustration — 1921 Ogren factory photograph • Model — Engine — Horsepower — wheelbase — Transmission • Six (1920) — 6-cylinder — 65 — 132" — 3-speed manual • Six (1921) — 6-cylinder — 65 — 134" — 3-speed manual • Six (1922) — 6-cylinder — 70 — 134" — 3-speed manual • Six (1923) — 6-cylinder — 70 — 134" — 3-speed manual

• Illustration — 1921 Ogren Advertisement in Motor Age Magazine • Illustration — 1921 Ogren Article in the Automobile Trade Journal