De Vaux Continental

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.

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 6/85 as were some Continentals.

References

• Kimes, Beverly Rae (editor) and Clark, Henry Austin, jr.,; The Standard Catalogue of American Cars, 2nd Edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI 54990 (1985), ISBN 0-87341-111-
• Durant Motors Automobile Club (DMAC)