Detroit Auto Vehicle Company was a short-lived early automobile manufacturer established in the summer of 1904 with a capital stock of US$150,000. Based in Detroit in the old Detroit Novelty Machine Company building, it also had a foundry in Romeo, Michigan. It ceased operation in October 1907 following bankruptcy.

Company history

The company was fighting during the short time of its existence against litigation by stockholders of the predecessor company Detroit Novelty Machine Company, who were decidedly against the production of an automobile. Finally, the company went into bankruptcy in 1907. In 1908 bond holders in the bankrupt company were paid 24 percent on each $100.00 and the affairs of the company were closed. Two of the most influential personalities in the early American automobile business were involved with the company. One was

John North Willys John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

, who soon after bought the Overland Automotive Division from the Standard Wheel Company which became the ''Willys-Overland Motor Company''. The other gentleman was Josepf L. Hudson, a Detroit business man who earned a fortune with his department store. He backed

Roy D. Chapin Roy Dikeman Chapin Sr. (February 23, 1880 – February 16, 1936) was an American industrialist and a co-founder of Hudson Motor Company, the predecessor of American Motors Corporation. He also served as the United States Secretary of Commerce fro ...

with the money needed to form an automobile company. Chapin named it in his honor the ''

Hudson Motor Car Company The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other branded automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., from 1909 until 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors Corporation (AMC). The Hudson name was continued through ...

''.

Vehicles

In 1905 the company had three vehicles on sale all with a two-cylinder engine. The 12 HP Crown Runabout priced at US$750, the 16 HP Crown delivery car featuring a payload of 1500 lbs and a 24HP five-passenger Touring Car. It seems that management was not satisfied with the performance of their products. So, early in 1906 they called in Edward T. Ross from

Cadillac The Cadillac Motor Car Division () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada, and China. Cadillac models are distributed i ...

who developed a new car. His prototype drove in August, 1906, and the automobile was ready for sale for the 1907 model year. It was a two-cylinder automobile with a wheelbase of , featuring a 22/24 hp engine. It was dubbed the Model Two, but was also referred to as the "Crown-Detroit" or just "Detroit". Available were a ''runabout'' for US$1,500 and a ''touring'' for US$1,600. The company claimed its two-cylinder engine was as smooth as any four- or six-cylinder engine. The whole production run for 1907 was sold in advance to

Elmira, New York Elmira () is a city and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 cens ...

who became the exclusive selling agent, and referred to the 24HP car as the Detroit.The Automobile March 1907 page 80

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Detroit Auto Vehicle Company Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1904 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1907 1900s cars 1904 establishments in Michigan 1907 disestablishments in Michigan Defunct manufacturing companies based in Detroit