The Automotive School was established by Speare as a part of the Evening Institute in 1903. With the establishment of the Ford Motorcar Company in the same year, Speare saw the automotive market taking off. He worked quickly to fill an anticipated need for men who were trained to operate and maintain automobiles. Early advertisement for the program emphasized the expansion of auto ownership and statistics on their maintenance.

The curriculum, which was frequently revised in the program's early years, included automotive engineering, driving lessons, upholstery and auto repair. The Automotive School enjoyed high enrollments for a number of years, but its popularity began to dwindle in the 1920s. On June 30, 1926, the Automotive School officially closed.