This 1,000-pound, 4-wheel vehicle was designed at the Northwestern Military Academy campus in Highland Park, Illinois in 1898 (the school is no longer in operation). It was designed by Royal Page Davidson, son of Harlan Page Davidson, the founder of the Academy. Davidson and his cadets mounted a colt automatic rapid fire 7 mm caliber gun on the front frame, which had a firing range of 2,000 yards. The metal shield in front would protect the driver, and both the fuel tank and engine were armored. The carriage could accommodate four cadets with blankets, equipment, and rations for ten days.

This armored car is one of the earliest experimental designs combining armor and mobility for military purposes. It predates armored vehicles such as tanks by several decades. While somewhat basic by modern standards, this early design helped lay the groundwork for the development of more advanced military vehicles, especially the tanks that would play a pivotal role in future battles.