Davis

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	Davis


	The Davis was first introduced in 1947 by Glenn Gordon "Gary"

Davis in the United States of America. Just after World War II, Davis bought a small racing car that had been converted into a 3-wheeler and named the "Californian". Believing it would make a good economy vehicle Davis built his first prototype which he nicknamed "Baby" (or Davis D-1). This vehicle had a removable top but the second Davis prototype D-2, (or Davis "Delta") also built in 1947 was a "hardtop" type, with soft fabric cover. From 1948 the Davis Motor Company then produced 13 Divan models. The Davis is possibly the largest production 3-wheeler

ever made being 14 feet in length and wide enough to sit four adults abreast. It was powered by a 2,600cc four-cylinder Continental engine (whilst the first two prototypes used a Hercules engine) and had an aluminium body that was attached to a steel frame and fixed onto a steel chassis. Davis also produced a military 3-wheeler that used the same chassis and was in effect a 3-wheeled jeep. It is not know for certain but it is believed that only two of these were made. In total only 17 Davis vehicles were made of which 16 still exist in the United States.




	The 1947 Davis



		The 1949 Davis Military Vehicle. (My thanks to David Suarez for allowing me to use this picture from the Davis Registry web site.)


	The 5th Davis that was made was later shipped to the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth (UK) for "engineering evaluation" and upon its return , never actually left the UK as it was destroyed by Customs Officers for non-payment of duties. Davis ceased production in 1949.


	My personal thoughts: Living in Tamworth, UK, I'm amazed that the only Davis to come to the UK was literally just a 5 minute drive from my house. If anyone invents a time machine I know of one vehicle I shall be saving!!


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	Further Information and related Web Sites:

	Kevin Steidel Davis Photos: http://members.aol.com/testpros/davisphoto.html The Davis Registry http://www.suarezweb.com/davis/ The Davis Registry Showplace: http://clubs.hemmings.com/davisregistryshowplace/ .