Luella Bates

[3] During World War I she was a test driver traveling throughout the state of Wisconsin in a Model B truck.

[1] The advertising scheme introduced the idea that the FWD truck was easy to steer, as evidenced by a woman driver.

She toured approximately 25 towns, beginning in Kansas City, Missouri, and finishing in Belefontaine, Ohio.

"[10] In Oklahoma, she defied the police and took her truck across a flooded road, hauling meat for a packaging plant.

This courageous venture led to the sale of ten trucks for Four Wheel Drive and much admiration for Bates.

Promotional photo of Luella Bates driving a FWD model B truck.
Promotional photo of Luella Bates driving a FWD Model B truck, 1922
Luella Bates standing next to her FWD Model B truck.
Bates standing next to her FWD model B truck circa 1919.
Luella Bates unloading sand from a FWD Model B truck.
Bates unloading sand from a FWD Model B truck.
Bates shaking hands with New York Secretary of State Francis Hugo, January 1920.
Bates shaking hands with New York Secretary of State Francis Hugo, January 1920.
Bates driving a truck
Bates driving a truck in Clintonville, Wisconsin.
Luella Bates doing mainetance on a FWD Model B truck.
Bates doing maintenance on a FWD Model B truck.
Bates driving a FWD fire truck.
Bates driving a FWD fire truck in Clintonville, Wisconsin, 1922