1909 PULLMAN MODEL K

In 1906, Colonel Samuel Baily purchased the Pullman Carriage Works. The following year he converted the plant to automobile manufacturing. Although he never drove an automobile himself (for fear they would catch on fire and explode), he demanded his car be, 'as powerful and reliable as a Pierce Arrow.' He proved this in 1908 when he hired a crew to drive a Pullman from the factory in York, PA, to San Francisco and back. They succeeded in just over one month.

The Pullman had many successes in racing. Sales were very high and in the rush to meet the demand, quality was sacrificed and its reputation slowly became tarnished . In 1915, bankruptcy seemed to be unavoidable, but a group of businessmen came to the rescue. But it was too little too late and bankruptcy was declared in 1917. Over its lifetime, 20,000 cars were made. This is the only known survivor of the 1909 model year.