The Indiana Bicycle Company of Indianapolis, Indiana merged with the American Electric Vehicle Company of Chicago in 1898. During that year, the Waverley Electric was introduced under the auspices of the American bicycle Company. By 1901, the International Motor Car Company had taken over, and in 1903, it was named after the owner - Colonel Albert Pope.
The Pope was available in many different models. The Model 67 Victoria Phaeton had a leather top and sold for $1,600 (Mr. Ford was selling his car for about $450). The seat is upholstered in a floral print button fabric and there is a rear-facing occasional seat at the right side. Steering is performed via a tiller and power comes from a 60-volt DC motor. Braking is performed by two-wheel mechanical brakes. She could run a jaunty 14 mph at top speed.
While the Waverley for many years was synonymous with luxury, its slow speed began to annoy its drivers. In the long run, it simply could not compete with gas-powered, low cost cars. In 1916 the Waverley Company closed its doors.
But the womenfolk who bought them hung onto them for years and years with many of the later faster models still running right through the great depression. It was only the fact that the blue haired old dears died off and their electric cars were needed for scrap for war production that finally killed off the turn of the century electric car revolution.
