The Thomas B. Jeffery Company existed as an automobile maker from 1902
to 1916 and in that short span created a corporate foundation that would
lead to successor firms Nash Motors, Nash-Kelvinator, American Motors,
and Jeep. Thomas Jeffery named his automobile the Rambler, after the
popular bicycles he manufactured prior to his car venture. The Rambler
was a car of outstanding quality and reliability. From its first showing
in Chicago in 1902, the Rambler stood out as an unusual value for the
money. That reputation carried over when Tom Jeffery's son and successor
Charles decided to change the car's name to Jeffery in honor of his late
father. In 1916, Charles Nash, then president of General Motors,
resigned his position and purchased the Thomas B. Jeffery firm, renaming
it the Nash Motors Company. Before long, an all-new Nash car was
introduced, and the Jeffery brand faded away. Nash went on to become one
of the largest of the American independent automakers.