Cox, a recent graduate of Rose Polytechnic Institute, developed a gasoline runabout in 1903.

[2][1] Cox's runabout was an advanced design with a water-cooled 5-hp vertical single-cylinder engine mounted up front under a hood, rather than under the seat which was common practice.

Claude Cox continued development adding a 16-hp four-cylinder engine, shaft-drive instead of chain and a steering wheel instead of a tiller, by 1905.

J. N. Willys arrived in Indianapolis to protect his investment and ended up taking over Overland Auto Company.

In 1909, the production soared to 4,907 Overlands, and Claude Cox left for Inter-State and later to form his own laboratory business (now Testek, Inc.) in Detroit.

But the name would come back when DaimlerChrysler (Now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) introduced the Overland name for a trim package on the 2002–present (except 2005 model year) Jeep Grand Cherokee.