De Vaux

The De Vaux was an automobile from the De Vaux Motors Company in Grand Rapids ( Michigan) and Oakland ( California). It was based on the 1930 cars of Durant Motors and was only produced in model years 1931 and 1932. The bodies came from Hayes in Grand Rapids, the side-valve six-cylinder engines at first from its own production and then by Continental.

History

The production of the De Vaux began almost simultaneously in April 1931 in two plants in Grand Rapids and Oakland, but the two owners Norman De Vaux - a friend and business partner of William C. Durant - and Colonel Elbert J. Hall were not marketing experts and could not meet the expectations of the market eventually. U.S. $ to 795, - - There two coupes and two sedans and a phaeton, for the price of 595, were U.S. $ offered. Until February 1932, however, only 4808 vehicles were sold. Then the two owners gave up in exasperation and sold the company to Continental Motors. As a result, the car Continental engines and the name Continental De Vaux received.

As the success failed to Continental invested in an extension of the offer. In November 1932, the company was also renamed Continental Automobile Company. Nevertheless, one built 1933/1934 only about 4200 cars, partly as a four- and partly as a six-cylinder. The latter were no longer offered in the model year 1934. Then Continental sold back the remains of the company to Norman De Vaux, who wanted to begin production again. However, these plans never could be realized and finally he sold the plant in California in 1936 to GM.

Then Norman De Vaux tried along with the former Packard Manager FF Beall, in Dover (Delaware) a manufacture for a midsize vehicle - similar to the Continental De Vaux Beacon - build under the name DE- VO. Until 1937, however, was only a prototype, then had the two abandon his plans to be uneconomical.

Models

De Vaux Motors Company (1931 to October 1932)

Continental Automobile Company ( October 1932 to end of 1934 )

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