Harry C. Stutz, who later formed a company bearing his name, designed the first car for the new enterprise.

Tone re-designed the chassis (frame) below the axles and the semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension system mounted above.

Because of the lower chassis position, 40 in (1,000 mm) wheels gave the vehicle space between the frame and the ground.

It was powered by a 6.4 L (390.6 cu in) engine rated at 40 horsepower (by the measurements at that time), but the car was underpowered.

Like many other automakers during this era, ineffective assembly processes, questionable management practices, as well as a focus on high quality plagued it and expensive models when the market was moving to lower priced utilitarian cars.