The Russell was the first
mass-produced Canadian car with an engine and chassis built in Canada.
Rather than evolving from a carriage-making compagny, the Russell
was created by the Canada Cycle and Motor Compagny, popularly known as CCM.
Named after Thomas Alexander Russell, later president of CCM, the
first Model A appareared in 1905. It featured a front-mounted
engine, shaft drive, rear hub brakes, a three-speed forward and one-speed
reverse transmission.
Several other Russell models were introduced and by 1908 cars
with 50-hp engines were available. After the compagny acquired the
manufacturing rights to the Knight sleeve-valve engine in 1910, it
concentrated on luxury automobiles.
The Model L was a more affordable car featuring a hand horn,
brass side and tail lamps, acetylene headlamps and a 4-cylinder,
24-hp engine. It had an extra wide 56.5 inch wheel tread to avoid
slipping into ruts left by horsedrawn carriages.
