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Ready to Roamer: 1921

        Built in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by the Barley Motor Car Co., the Roamer was marketed as "the affordable Rolls-Royce."
San Francisco circa 1921. "Roamer roadster." Today's entry on the Shorpy Chart of Chilly Chariots. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size.

        Built in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by the Barley Motor Car Co., the Roamer was marketed as "the affordable Rolls-Royce."

San Francisco circa 1921. "Roamer roadster." Today's entry on the Shorpy Chart of Chilly Chariots. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5

Ugly Duckling

It has the elegant lines of a WWI Army tank.

Still Roaming

Here's a 1918 Roamer, spotted at a car show in Auburn, Indiana, a few weeks ago. It's the only one I have ever seen on the hoof. As an "assembled" car—i.e., most all components were outsourced by the company and merely assembled at their factory in Kalamazoo—I'm not sure if you could say it was up to Rolls Royce standards, but it appeared to have been quite well engineered and crafted.

Article on Barley motors

A very long descriptive history of the company.

It Wasn't THAT Bad!

In defense of the Roamer, this is an unusually unflattering shot. Here's one where it looks better:

The Nerve

The Barley Motor Car Co is sure feeling their oats comparing their jalopy to a Rolls.

Looks a little Rolls-ish

And maybe a little Royce-ish.

And maybe I should take off my belt and wrap it around the hood of my 1999 Ford F-150.

Roamer Caesar

My very thoughts, indeed, Preacher Froid. But look at the driver's face: he knows what we're thinking, and you think he gives a damn?

I couldn't do any better

... if I built a car in my bedroom.

I enjoy most of the "Chilly Chariots" I see on Shorpy. This one is unfortunate.

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