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Line 33: The '''Davis Motorcar Company''' was an American automobile manufacturer based in [[Van Nuys]], in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, which produced [[Three-wheeled car\|three-wheeled automobile]]s from 1947 to 1948. In total the company produced 15 to 17 vehicles.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/automobiles/collectibles/27davis-divan.html?pagewanted=all Phil Patton, "A Dreamer's Machine, More Promise Than Reality", ''New York Times'' (September 24, 2009)]</ref> ==History== Founded by Glenn Gordon "Gary" Davis (d. 1973) who operated in a 57,000 sq. ft. former aircraft assembly building in Van Nuys, a prototype three-wheeler named "Baby" was built. Baby was powered by a 47 hp Hercules 4-cylinder engine coupled to a [[Borg-Warner]] 3-speed transmission and Spicer rear end. Baby was unique in that it featured four-across seating. It was planned that production, beginning in 1948, would start at a minimum of 50 cars a day later increasing to 1000. A second prototype called "Delta" was built, and a third prototype, the model 482, was completed later. The third model, the "Divan", established standards for the production Davis cars.▼ Founded by Glenn Gordon "Gary" Davis (d. 1973) acquired a prototype called "The Californian" from designer [[Frank Kurtis]], who built it for millionaire racecar driver [[Joel Thorne]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/automobiles/collectibles/27davis-divan.html?pagewanted=all Phil Patton, "A Dreamer's Machine, More Promise Than Reality", ''New York Times'' (September 24, 2009)]</ref> ▲~~Founded by Glenn Gordon "Gary"~~ Davis ~~(d. 1973) who~~ operated in a 57,000 sq. ft. former aircraft assembly building in Van Nuys, where a prototype three-wheeler named "Baby" was built. Baby was powered by a 47 hp Hercules 4-cylinder engine coupled to a [[Borg-Warner]] 3-speed transmission and Spicer rear end. Baby was unique in that it featured four-across seating. It was planned that production, beginning in 1948, would start at a minimum of 50 cars a day later increasing to 1000. A second prototype called "Delta" was built, and a third prototype, the model 482, was completed later. The third model, the "Divan", established standards for the production Davis cars. The company closed down in 1948, as workers and engineers were not being paid, and lawsuits were threatened by investors and dealers. Former employees then filed suit for back pay, and the company was investigated by for fraud. Soon after the Davis plant was shut down, Gary Davis was convicted of fraud and sent to jail. Line 39 ⟶ 42: Davis developed a variant for military use. The Model 494 was a [[Jeep]]-like version of the Divan with an open body. Arrangements were ongoing with [[the Pentagon]] to run tests at the [[Aberdeen Proving Grounds]] in Maryland. Ultimately three 494s were built in less than a week, two of which were shipped to the Army for testing. ==Demise== The assets of Davis were sold for back taxes in May 1950. But sixteen franchise holders, out of 300, formed '''Delta Motor Car Company''' in an effort to salvage the car and their investments. Delta tried to have [[Reliant\|Reliant Engineering Company]] in [[Staffordshire]], England, manufacture the car in 1953, but investor funds ran out and the enterprise folded. ==Vehicles== <gallery> Davis Divian, NATMUS, May 2011.Jpg \| ADavis D-2 Divan, at the National Automotive and Truck Museum, [[Auburn, IN]] Davis Model 494, NATMUS, May 2011.jpg \| ADavis 494, at the National Automotive and Truck Museum, Auburn, IN </gallery> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Bibliography== *David Burgess Wise, ''The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles'' ISBN 0-7858-1106-0