Du Pont Motors

Du Pont Motors was an American automobile manufacturer established by E. Paul du Pont. The company initially supported the Allied war effort during World War I by producing marine engines, then turned to the manufacture of exceptionally expensive passenger cars after the war. Its automobiles were built in Wilmington, Delaware, and were positioned at the upper end of the American market, competing by reputation and finish with marques such as Packard, Cadillac, Stutz, and Duesenberg. The company's first automobile was the Model A, introduced in 1919 at the International Salon held at New York City's Commodore Hotel. The invitation-only event presented luxury automobiles and coachbuilt vehicles to an affluent audience, giving the new manufacturer an appropriate debut. The Model A was offered in several body configurations, including roadster, touring, sedan, and, later, coupe forms. Its four-cylinder engine had a displacement of approximately 4.1 liters. Du Pont Motors emphasized engineering, materials, styling, and exclusivity rather than volume production. E. Paul du Pont's financial resources enabled the company to recruit experienced automotive and managerial personnel and to develop cars with a high level of specification. Later models expanded the brand's technical ambition. The Model G, introduced in 1928, was Du Pont's first straight-eight automobile. It used a 5.3-liter Continental side-valve engine rated at 125 horsepower, a three-speed transmission, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, and hydraulic shock absorbers. An aluminum cover protected the distributor, spark plugs, and wiring from water and dust. Buyers could select from numerous factory body styles, while rolling chassis were also supplied to outside coachbuilders including Merrimac, Derham, and Waterhouse. The Model H, introduced in 1930, represented the final Du Pont passenger-car line. It was closely related to the Model G but used a substantially longer 146-inch wheelbase. Only three Model H chassis were built, with bodies including sport phaeton, closed-coupled sedan, and formal Berline treatments. This extremely limited output reflected both the company's bespoke character and the economic difficulties facing luxury-car manufacturers at the beginning of the Great Depression. From 1919 through 1931, Du Pont Motors produced approximately 625 automobiles. The cars attracted prominent owners, including Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Will Rogers, and Jack Dempsey, and later became significant collector automobiles. A 1930 Model G Merrimac Town Car won Best of Show at the 1958 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, reinforcing the marque's reputation for design and craftsmanship. Du Pont Motors became insolvent in 1932. E. Paul du Pont subsequently purchased the Indian Motorcycle Company, and Du Pont Motors was merged into Indian. The automobile brand is therefore defunct, but surviving cars remain notable examples of low-volume American luxury manufacture from the interwar period.

Du Pont Motors emerged from the resources and ambitions of E. Paul du Pont, a member of the Du Pont family who pursued automotive manufacturing independently of the better-known chemical company. During World War I, the enterprise was founded to produce marine engines for the Allied nations. After the war, its attention shifted to automobiles, with manufacturing based in Wilmington, Delaware. The first Du Pont automobile, the Model A, was introduced in 1919 at the International Salon in New York City's Commodore Hotel. The salon was an exclusive event aimed at wealthy customers and featured established luxury manufacturers and coachbuilders. The setting communicated the company's intended market: Du Pont was not designed as a mass-market producer, but as a specialist maker of costly, carefully finished American automobiles. The Model A was produced from 1919 through 1922 in several configurations. Known versions included the two-seat A-2 Roadster, five-seat A-5 Touring, sedan, and a coupe introduced in 1922. It used a four-cylinder engine of approximately 4,091 cubic centimeters. The cars were offered with different body treatments and were produced in small numbers, consistent with the company's luxury positioning. Du Pont's capital allowed it to attract experienced automotive and management talent. The company developed a reputation for quality and styling and was frequently compared with Packard, Cadillac, Stutz, and Duesenberg. Its customer list included entertainers, sports figures, and public personalities such as Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Will Rogers, and Jack Dempsey. Despite this visibility, the company remained a very small manufacturer. Approximately 625 automobiles were produced from 1919 to 1931. The Model G marked a major technical step. Introduced in 1928, it was the first Du Pont automobile powered by an eight-cylinder engine. Its Continental 12-K side-valve straight-eight displaced about 5.3 liters and produced 125 horsepower. The specification included a three-speed transmission, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, and hydraulic shock absorbers. Du Pont also fitted an aluminum cover over the distributor, spark plugs, and wiring to improve protection against water and dust. The standard wheelbase was 136 inches, with longer and shorter alternatives available for formal coachwork and speedster applications. The Model G could be purchased in numerous body styles. Du Pont commissioned bodies from Merrimac, Derham, and Waterhouse, and also made rolling chassis available to other coachbuilders. Prices were extremely high for the period, reflecting the marque's limited production, costly mechanical specification, and custom-body approach. In 1930, Du Pont Motors introduced the Model H, its final automobile series. Mechanically related to the Model G, the Model H used a 146-inch wheelbase. Only three examples were built. Their subsequent body treatments included a sport phaeton, a closed-coupled sedan, and a formal Berline, illustrating the individualized nature of the company's production. The economic environment of the early 1930s made the business model increasingly difficult to sustain. Du Pont Motors went bankrupt in 1932. E. Paul du Pont then purchased the Indian Motorcycle Company, and the automobile company was merged into Indian. The Du Pont automobile name disappeared as an active manufacturer, but the surviving cars became important collector vehicles. Their historical reputation was further strengthened when a 1930 Model G Merrimac Town Car won Best of Show at the 1958 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

• 1958

  Model G wins at Pebble Beach

  [1]Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  A 1930 Du Pont Model G Merrimac Town Car won Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

• 1932

  Bankruptcy and merger into Indian

  [1]Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The company went bankrupt and was merged into Indian Motorcycle Company after E. Paul du Pont purchased the motorcycle manufacturer.

• 1931

  Automobile production ends

  [1]Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Du Pont's automobile production period ended after approximately 625 cars had been manufactured since 1919.

• 1930

  Final Model H introduced

  [1]Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The Model H became the final Du Pont automobile, using a longer 146-inch wheelbase and an extremely limited three-car production run.

• 1928

  Model G introduces the marque's first straight eight

  [1]Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Du Pont launched the Model G with a 5.3-liter Continental side-valve straight-eight engine producing 125 horsepower.

• 1922

  Model A coupe joins the range

  [1]Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The Model A line expanded to include a coupe body style, alongside roadster, touring, and sedan variants.

• 1919

  Model A debuts

  [1]Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Du Pont Motors introduced its first automobile, the Model A, at the International Salon at New York City's Commodore Hotel.

A low-volume American luxury automobile marque focused on engineering quality, bespoke coachwork, exclusivity, and high social prestige.

• Luxury automobile · 1919

  Du Pont Model A

  The Model A was Du Pont Motors' first automobile and was produced from 1919 to 1922. It used a four-cylinder engine with approximately 4.1 liters of displacement. Body versions included the two-seat A-2 Roadster, five-seat A-5 Touring, sedan, and, from 1922, coupe. The model established the company's low-volume, high-price approach and was introduced in an exclusive New York automotive salon.

• Luxury automobile · 1928

  Du Pont Model G

  Introduced in 1928, the Model G was the first Du Pont automobile with an eight-cylinder engine. Its Continental 12-K side-valve straight eight displaced approximately 5.3 liters and produced 125 horsepower. The specification included a three-speed transmission, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers, and protective aluminum engine-electrical shielding. Multiple wheelbases and body styles were available, including coachbuilt forms from Merrimac, Derham, and Waterhouse.

• Luxury automobile · 1930

  Du Pont Model H

  The Model H was the final Du Pont passenger-car line. Introduced in 1930, it was fundamentally related to the Model G but used a longer 146-inch wheelbase. Only three examples were built. The chassis received individualized bodies including a sport phaeton, a closed-coupled sedan, and a formal Berline, underscoring the company's bespoke production model.

• 1932

  Merge Du Pont Motors into Indian Motorcycle CompanyM&A

  Background

  Du Pont Motors entered bankruptcy after years of low-volume luxury automobile production.

  Action taken

  E. Paul du Pont purchased Indian Motorcycle Company, and Du Pont Motors was merged into the motorcycle business.

  Aftermath

  Du Pont Motors ceased operating as an independent automobile manufacturer.

  Source

• 1930

  Launch the limited-production Model HProduct launch

  Background

  Du Pont continued developing large, custom-oriented luxury cars despite the difficult economic conditions approaching the Great Depression.

  Action taken

  The company introduced the Model H on a 146-inch wheelbase and produced three examples with individually commissioned body treatments.

  Aftermath

  The Model H was the final Du Pont automobile line before the company became insolvent.

  Source

• 1928

  Introduce the Model G straight-eightGeneration change

  Background

  Du Pont sought to strengthen its position among prestigious American automobile makers with a more powerful and technically advanced model.

  Action taken

  The company launched the Model G with a 5.3-liter, 125-horsepower straight-eight engine, hydraulic brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers, and several wheelbase and coachwork choices.

  Aftermath

  The Model G became one of the marque's defining automobiles and later achieved recognition in the collector-car world.

  Source

• 1919

  Enter the luxury automobile market with the Model AProduct launch

  Background

  After producing marine engines for the Allied war effort, Du Pont Motors shifted toward high-end automobile manufacturing in the postwar period.

  Action taken

  The company presented the Model A at the exclusive International Salon in New York and offered several body configurations.

  Aftermath

  The launch established Du Pont Motors as a small American luxury-car manufacturer rather than a volume producer.

  Source

1. 1Du Pont Motorsen.wikipedia.org