Charles Metz devised the "Metz Plan" to pay off the debt of the Waltham Company, which he had acquired in 1908. Under his plan, the
Metz car was sold for home assembly in 14 separate packages of $25.00.
The first packages were sold before the last were even designed. This attracted complaints from some home assemblers who built their automobiles very quickly.
The packages with the biggest profit margin were sold first, providing Metz with cash to pay off debt while
rising money to design and manufacture the engine and other parts.
The first complete Metz Plan cars were finished in late 1909. This two passenger Roadster was considered a "Light Car" and not a Cyclecar. Nearly 40,000 Metz Plan kit cars were produced from 1909 to 1911 one piece at a time. The Metz Plan Automobile succeeded in restoring financial solvency to The Metz Company.
1909 Metz Plan Roadster Advertisement
The first Metz Plan Roadsters were equipped with two cylinder engines rated at 10 horsepower. Features included a gearless friction drive transmission, 81 inch wheelbase, double chain drive, 28 x 2 1/2 inch wire wheels, disc brakes, aluminum body and leather seats. The price of this 1909 Metz Plan automobile was $350.00 and had a value of $600.00 when completed.
1910 Metz Plan Roadster Advertisement
In 1910 Charles Metz raised the price of the Metz Plan from $25.00 per package or $350.00 to $27.00 per package or $378.00 for the complete package. According to the advertisement above additional features increased the price to $475.00. The 1910 and 1911 Metz Plan car bodies were made of steel instead of
aluminum. The horsepower was increased to 12 due to the additional weight of the steel body.
By 1911 the Plan car had served its purpose and Charles Metz built a complete two passenger car. The factory built Metz Roadster sold for $485.00 and not the $600.00 figure Metz cited in the above advertisement.
1909 Metz Plan Roadster
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