| Former type | Automobile Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Military |
| Genre | Three wheeled cars |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Founder(s) | Gary Davis |
| Defunct | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Van Nuys, California, United States |
| Area served | United States |
| Products | Vehicles |
The Davis Motor Car company was an American automobile company which produced three wheeled automobiles from 1947 to 1948, During this time Davis produced 15 to 17 vehicles.
Founded by Gary Davis who operated in a 57,000 sq. ft. former aircraft assembly building in Van Nuys, California, 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 "Divian", 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.
Davis Motor Cars 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.
The assets of Davis Motor Car were sold for back taxes in 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 Engineering Company in Staffordshire, England, manufacture the car in 1953, but investor funds ran out and the enterprise folded.