The Great Southern Automobile Company was the first automobile manufacturer in the central South.[1] It was incorporated in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1909[1][2] and manufactured automobiles, automobile parts, and buses from its plant in Ensley, where it also maintained a repair department. Its founding officers were Eugene F. Enslen, president; Ike Adler, vice-president; John Kyser, secretary and treasurer; and Eugene F. Enslen, Jr., general manager.[2]
Great Southern 30, available in two-seater roadster and five-seater touring bodies for $1400.
Great Southern 51, available in a six-seater touring body for $2100.
In 1914, it dropped the Great Southern 30, and concentrated on the manufacture of just the Great Southern 50 chassis, formerly titled the Great Southern 51.[6] The new 50 model was a seven passenger touring body.
By 1915, it was manufacturing a chassis and body for a "one-man, pay-enter" motor bus that was 22 feet long, 8 feet 9 inches high, 7 feet 6 inches wide, rated at 2.25 tons capacity, and could carry 25 passengers.[7]
The company went bankrupt in 1917.[8] Alabama's other pre-1950 car manufactures include Preston Motor's Premocar in Birmingham and Keller in Huntsville.
