History of The Mile

1906

Clarence and William Hunt worked on boat engines for the San Diego fishing fleet before they opened a Ford dealership in 1904. But sales were slow, so they bought two Winton motor cars and ran sight seeing tours to Tijuana. They drove down National Street on the way to Mexico and passed the old National Carriage Works building, which they noticed was vacant. It became "The Hunt Machine Shop" when they moved there in 1906. Later that year, the brothers were contacted by the wealthy Arnie Babcock. Babcock's father had built the famous Hotel del Coronado and owned the Coronado Belt Line Railroad. Arnie lived south of Ensenada and often traveled the poor roads to National City. He needed a reliable, sturdy motor car to avoid the frequent breakdowns he had endured. He asked the Hunt brothers to build a special car that would survive the rigors of the terrible roads. The "Hunt Special" was tested in 1910 by motoring down Devil's Canyon Road and out in the wild Imperial Valley desert. The severe conditions proved the car's worth and it was nicknamed "Alkalai Ike" for the frequent patina of dust that covered its hood. But Babcock only rode in the car a few times before he passed away, and the "Hunt" disappeared into Mexico during the Mexican Revolution of 1911. While the Hunt was under construction, National City citizens read about the new Ford 24 hp Model T in the Saturday Evening Post. It sold for $850.00, and by 1914 National Avenue was packed with "Tin Lizzies" sputtering down the newly paved road. The Anmex Movie Company came to town and the nation laughed at the silent film antics and daring stunts involving the motor car.

1904 • 1906 • 1920 • 1941 • 1955 • 1965 • 1970 • 1990s • Development