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Forgotten History: The Davis Divan
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:34 pm
by seamusTX
Shortly after WW II ended, one Gary Davis produced an automobile called the Divan, as in sofa. It sat four people in the front seat, had three wheels (one front wheel) and an aluminum body, and sold for a bit less than $1000.
Unfortunately, Mr. Davis had financial and legal troubles. Few cars were sold, and he ended up in prison for fraud.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... /1528/FREE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Speaking as an engineer, I think the single-front-wheel design is manifestly unsafe and deserves to be a dead end of history.
- Jim
Re: Forgotten History: The Davis Divan
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:07 pm
by NAVY CHIEF
seamusTX wrote:Speaking as an engineer...
What to you think of the Tucker Automobile?
Hooyah!
Re: Forgotten History: The Davis Divan
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:48 pm
by quidni
seamusTX wrote:Speaking as an engineer, I think the single-front-wheel design is manifestly unsafe and deserves to be a dead end of history.
Oh, I dunno 'bout that.... I think 3 wheels is a fantastic idea!
(No, it's not mine
)
Re: Forgotten History: The Davis Divan
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:03 am
by NAVY CHIEF
quidni,
Bootiful bi; er, trike!
Hooyah!
Re: Forgotten History: The Davis Divan
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:43 am
by Rex B
There is a Chasing Classics episode where a Davis turns up.
Re: Forgotten History: The Davis Divan
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:18 am
by seamusTX
NAVY CHIEF wrote:What to you think of the Tucker Automobile?
I have to say I have never seen one in person. There are only about 50 in existence.
The Tucker had a lot of features that were innovative at the time and eventually made their way into mainstream production. Air-cooled engines were worth a shot, though they did not work out in the long run. I don't care for the body design, but everything from that era looks bloated and overdone to me.
It's a shame that Tucker did not survive at least to give the "big three" some competition.
- Jim
Re: Forgotten History: The Davis Divan
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:30 am
by Keith B
seamusTX wrote:Shortly after WW II ended, one Gary Davis produced an automobile called the Divan, as in sofa. It sat four people in the front seat, had three wheels (one front wheel) and an aluminum body, and sold for a bit less than $1000.
Unfortunately, Mr. Davis had financial and legal troubles. Few cars were sold, and he ended up in prison for fraud.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... /1528/FREE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Speaking as an engineer, I think the single-front-wheel design is manifestly unsafe and deserves to be a dead end of history.
- Jim
There is a show on Discovery called
Chasing Classic Cars. Saw it the other day and the host Wayne Carini bought one of these (number 9 of 13.) On the episode he put it out for sale at a show, but then after it didn't sell he decided to keep it. The license plate on the car when he bought it was a personalized plate; 1948 UFO
