- Dorris Motors Corporation
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Dorris Motor Car Company 
Former type Automobile Manufacturing Industry Automotive Genre sedans, trucks Fate Bankruptcy Founded 1906 Founder(s) George Preston Dorris and John L. French Defunct 1926 Headquarters St. Louis, Missouri, United States Area served United States Products Automobiles
Automotive partsOwner(s) George Preston Dorris The Dorris Motor Car Company was founded by George Preston Dorris in 1906. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Dorris had built an experimental gasoline car circa 1896-1897 in his family's bicycle shop. He relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where he joined with John L. French to found the St. Louis Motor Company. Dorris served as chief engineer.[1]
When French relocated to Peoria, Illinois in 1905, Dorris quit the firm and founded the Dorris Motor Car Company soon after. With his departure, French and the St. Louis Motor Carriage Company quickly foundered.[1]
Contents
History
1921 Dorris Model 6-80
Dorris is credited with developing and patenting the float-carburetor, an innovation that was used for decades after it was invented. For much of the Dorris production life the slogan was "Built up to a standard, not down to a price."
Production vehicle
The company took over the original St. Louis Motor Company plant and began production there. The first vehicle had a four-cylinder engine with 101-inch (2,600 mm) wheel-base, which took the New York Automobile Show by storm in January 1906. Over time, Dorris' cars became more powerful, graduating from a four to six-cylinder engine, and increasing nearly 30 inches (760 mm) in the wheelbase. The price tag of these cars was nearly $7,000.[1]
Prior to World War I truck production began. In 1917, the capital stock was expanded $700,000 worth to $1,000,000 to all for expansion of the company. Company president, H.B. Krenning stepped aside "because of needed rest" and W.R. Colcord assumed his duties.[1]
Astra acquistion
Dorris automobile advertisement 1909In 1920, Dorris acquired the Astra (1920 automobile), a competing St. Louis auto manufacturer, and re-organized as Dorris Motors Corporation.[1]
In 1923 rumors abounded that the Dorris, Haynes and Winton companies would merge, but this merger did not come to fruition.[1]
Company failure
1923 signalled the last full year of production for Dorris Motors. Production fell to a standstill, although the 'practically hand-built' Dorris cars were built to special order until 1926 when the company went bankrupt.[1]
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Dorris - St. Louis Missouri (1906-1926)". Donald G. McBee, 2010. http://members.core.com/~mcbeed/autos/directory/history/dorris.htm. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
Automobiles made in St. Louis, Missouri Categories:- Brass Era vehicles
- 1910s automobiles
- 1920s automobiles
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
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