De Vaux Continental
Encyclopedia
The Continental De Vaux was an automobile produced by the Continental-De Vaux Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan
from February, 1932 until November, 1932.
In April 1931, De Vaux-Hall Motors
had started production of an automobile that was based on the defunct Durant (automobile)
. It was called the 6/75 and used a six cylinder engine that had been developed by renowned engineer Col. Elbert J. Hall who built engines fo racing cars, tractors and buses and who helped developing the Liberty airplane engine
. After only 4'808 cars built, early in 1932 the company was sold to Continental Motors Corporation who subsequently changed its name to Continental-De Vaux Company.
Production of the new De Vaux Continental (sometimes called vice-verso) began in February 1932. The car was basically the De Vaux 6/75 of the previous year that itself bas based on the obsolete 1930 Durant (automobile)
. It rode on a 113 in. wheelbase and still carried the facelift that Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
did for the De Vaux in 1931. The Hall engine was replaced by a Continental 32-A six cylinder L-head with a displacement of 214.7 c.i. (3518 ccm), delivering 84 HP @ 3400 rpm. The car now was designated the De Vaux Continental 6/80. Offered were a standard coupe for $725 ($775 with rumble seat), a coupe and a sedan in custom trim for $845 each, and a new custom convertible coupe for $895.
Assembly of the vehicles occurred in the former De Vaux plants in Grand Rapids (which was connected to their body supplier, the Hayes Body Corporation, by a bridge), and in Oakland, California
.
With 1,358 cars built by November, 1932, the new car was a straightaway failure. Now, Continental dropped the Continental-De Vaux Company and decided to build the car under its own label. Continentals were produced in three series: Beacon (C400) Four, Flyer Six and Ace Six. Each had its own wheelbase (101.5, 107, and 114 in., respectively). Prices started as low as
$355 for a Beacon standard roadster and ended at $845 for the Ace custom sedan. Sixes shared the engine of the former De Vaux Continental 6/80. After another disastrous year with just 3,310 sales in all series, the sixes were dropped for 1934 as wer 3 of the 7 bodystyles of the Beacon. Production halted forever in 1934 with 953 Beacons built.
The De Vaux Continental was built in Canada by Dominion Motors as the Frontenac
6/85 as were some Continentals.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
from February, 1932 until November, 1932.
In April 1931, De Vaux-Hall Motors
De Vaux
The De Vaux was an automobile produced by the De Vaux Motors Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Oakland, California ....
had started production of an automobile that was based on the defunct Durant (automobile)
Durant (automobile)
The Durant was a make of automobile assembled by Durant Motors Corporation of New York City, New York from 1921 to 1926 and again from 1928 to 1932. Durant Motors was founded by William "Billy" Durant after he was terminated as the head of General Motors...
. It was called the 6/75 and used a six cylinder engine that had been developed by renowned engineer Col. Elbert J. Hall who built engines fo racing cars, tractors and buses and who helped developing the Liberty airplane engine
Lincoln Liberty engine
Henry Leland's Lincoln Motor Company was formed with the sole purpose of building the Liberty engine.As the United States entered World War I, the Cadillac division of General Motors was asked to produce the new Liberty aircraft engine, but William C. Durant was a pacifist who did not want General...
. After only 4'808 cars built, early in 1932 the company was sold to Continental Motors Corporation who subsequently changed its name to Continental-De Vaux Company.
Production of the new De Vaux Continental (sometimes called vice-verso) began in February 1932. The car was basically the De Vaux 6/75 of the previous year that itself bas based on the obsolete 1930 Durant (automobile)
Durant (automobile)
The Durant was a make of automobile assembled by Durant Motors Corporation of New York City, New York from 1921 to 1926 and again from 1928 to 1932. Durant Motors was founded by William "Billy" Durant after he was terminated as the head of General Motors...
. It rode on a 113 in. wheelbase and still carried the facelift that Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was a Russian-American industrial designer, known principally for his Streamline-style automotive designs. Born in Moscow in 1901, Sakhnoffsky emigrated to Switzerland in 1919 and by the 1920s had become a well-known designer of European sports cars...
did for the De Vaux in 1931. The Hall engine was replaced by a Continental 32-A six cylinder L-head with a displacement of 214.7 c.i. (3518 ccm), delivering 84 HP @ 3400 rpm. The car now was designated the De Vaux Continental 6/80. Offered were a standard coupe for $725 ($775 with rumble seat), a coupe and a sedan in custom trim for $845 each, and a new custom convertible coupe for $895.
Assembly of the vehicles occurred in the former De Vaux plants in Grand Rapids (which was connected to their body supplier, the Hayes Body Corporation, by a bridge), and in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
De Vaux and De Vaux Continental Model Comparison
| Make | Model | Production Run | Engine | Power | Wheelbase | Body Styles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Standard Coupe |
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Standard Sedan |
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Sport Coupe (4p.) |
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Sport Sedan |
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | De Luxe Coupe |
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | De Luxe Sedan |
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Custom Coupe |
| De Vaux | 6/75 | 4/31 - 1/32 | Hall-Scott inline 6 |
70 bhp (52 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Custom Sedan |
| De Vaux Continental | 6/80 | 2/32 - 11/32 | Continental inline 6 |
84 bhp (63 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Standard Coupe |
| De Vaux Continental | 6/80 | 2/32 - 11/32 | Continental inline 6 |
84 bhp (63 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Standard Sedan |
| De Vaux Continental | 6/80 | 2/32 - 11/32 | Continental inline 6 |
84 bhp (63 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Custom Coupe |
| De Vaux Continental | 6/80 | 2/32 - 11/32 | Continental inline 6 |
84 bhp (63 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Custom Sedan |
| De Vaux Continental | 6/80 | 2/32 - 11/32 | Continental inline 6 |
84 bhp (63 kW) | 113 in (2870 mm) | Custom Convertible Coupe |
With 1,358 cars built by November, 1932, the new car was a straightaway failure. Now, Continental dropped the Continental-De Vaux Company and decided to build the car under its own label. Continentals were produced in three series: Beacon (C400) Four, Flyer Six and Ace Six. Each had its own wheelbase (101.5, 107, and 114 in., respectively). Prices started as low as
$355 for a Beacon standard roadster and ended at $845 for the Ace custom sedan. Sixes shared the engine of the former De Vaux Continental 6/80. After another disastrous year with just 3,310 sales in all series, the sixes were dropped for 1934 as wer 3 of the 7 bodystyles of the Beacon. Production halted forever in 1934 with 953 Beacons built.
The De Vaux Continental was built in Canada by Dominion Motors as the Frontenac
Frontenac Motor Corporation
Frontenac Motor Corporation was the joint venture of Louis and Gaston Chevrolet. Louis returned to the Indy 500 racing circuit after leaving Chevrolet in 1915...
6/85 as were some Continentals.