Jerome Case established his company, the J.I. Case Co., in Racine, Wisconsin in 1842 to manufacture threshing machines. The company got into the car business in 1911 and one of its most enduring products was the 1913 Case Model 30 Touring Car, which you can see on display at the Manitoba Automobile Museum in Elkhorn.
Built like tank
This original unrestored Case 30 is solid in structure, with heavy artillery-type wheels and forged axles sprung to a massive frame with a 116-inch wheel base.
The rims and huge 34” by 4” tires are original to this car!
The vehicle is unusual with its left-hand steering. It’s powered by a 284-cubic inch, four-cylinder continental engine, an advanced type from the period which produces 29 horsepower.
The engine is cast in two iron blocks bolted up to a common cast crankcase, magneto ignition, three-speed transmission and cone clutch.
Original paint, wood
The instrument panel is all wood and even the paint is the original battleship grey.
This particular Case was owned by Frank Hyde of Elphinstone and still has the original license plate.
It is an easy starter, making it a favourite car to have running in our Canada Day parades in Elkhorn.
Still runs
It was driven daily for a few years in the Manitoba Threshermen's Reunion and Stampede in Austin. It was a great feature of interest when Austin's theme was “Year of the Case”.
The J.I. Case Co. only built cars for 16 years and production never exceeded 2,000 cars a year.
The one in Elkhorn is a rare gem in original condition and is one of only five Case cars in all of Canada.
It is rare to find a car that is 105 years old and still has its original paint job and tires!
Submitted by Lillian Jackson. The Manitoba Antique Auto Museum in Elkhorn is open to the public seven days a week until the end of September.
