Car Questions - J
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I am trying to find some information about the 1928 JordanJORDAN (U.S.) 1916 - 1931
Jordan Motor Car Company, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio
Edward S. "Ned" Jordan was the man who broke away from nuts-and-bolts advertising to introduce emotional appeal into automotive selling. his advertisements, led by the superb 'Somewhere West of Laramie', overshadowed his cars which, though 'assembled' were well built and often quite fast. The original models with standard wire wheels, had 5-litre 6-cylinder power units; 1918 prices started at $1,995. A year later coil ignition was standard, and in 1920 Jordan introduced the first of its famous Playboys.
Jordan-built, Continental-licensed straight-8s arrived in 1925. In 1926-7 these comprised the 4-litre Line Eight and the 4.4-litre Great Line Eight. Jordan sold a record 11,000 cars in 1926, but their 1928 compact, the Little Custom, was a failure. This was a luxury six with worm drive and an 8ft. 11in. wheelbase; its price, starting at $1,595, was too high to produce good sales. Only Eights were offered in 1930 - beautiful cars on wheelbases up to 10ft. 5in. - but by this time the Playboy model was no more. The final Model Z Speedway was Jordan's greatest car. Offered as a Sportsman sedan and Ace roadster, it featured a 5.3-litre 114bhp Continental eight, 4-speed gearbox, aircraft-type fascia with altimeter and toggle controls for accessories, and running boards shaped like aircraft wing cross sections, complete with red and green running lights. At $5,000 the Model Z failed to sell, and the market for Jordan's other eights was negligible.
Source: The New Encyclopedia of Automobiles, 1885 to the Present
