Thomas Motor Company

A price tag of $5150 in 1912, for comparison, a Model T started at $690. By 1912 the company was on its last legs and had been sold by its founder, the financial company that bought it couldn't turn it around and closed it down a year later.

The Thomas company had started out as a bicycle manufacturer, in 1899 they produced a successful one cylinder car and in 1908 gained great fame when their Thomas Flyer (the only American entry) won the 24,000 mile New York to Paris race. Despite high quality and innovative ideas like the hill holder shown below, sales plummeted as the Model T took over the market.