Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
The parallels between Gary Davis, Preston Tucker, and Elon Musk are really quite remarkable. All three are dreamers, though only one, has a happy ending. Davis, like Tucker, raised capital through a stock offering and leased an old aircraft plant at the Van Nuys, California airport to build his dream car. Again, like Tucker, investors were not pleased with the pace of progress and the operations were shut down after only 13 Divans and 3 Military Vehicles were built. Gary Davis was convicted (unlike Tucker who was exonerated) and served a two-year sentence. Rather amazingly, 15 of the 16 vehicles produced are known to exist.
Glen Gordon 'Gary' Davis was a master car salesman and marketer in Southern California. Immediately after World War II, he saw a three-wheeled special that the legendary Frank Kurtis built for his current employer, Joel Thorne. This car, dubbed the Californian, had an innovative suspension and a bullet-shaped aluminum body.
Accounts vary on how Davis came to acquire the Californian from Thorne. Once he did, he used it as a basis to start his own auto manufacturing company to produce a futuristic, safety car. He set up shop in an empty military factory in Van Nuys, California, but like most start-ups, were underfunded and closed after only seventeen examples were built. Production lasted from 1947 through 1949.
After the construction of two prototypes in 1947, Davis embarked on aggressive publicity and promotional campaign for the car, which included numerous magazine appearances, a lavish public unveiling at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and a promotional trip across the United States.
Despite raising $1,200,000 through the sale of 350 dealerships, Davis failed to deliver cars to its prospective dealers or pay its employees promptly and was ultimately sued by both groups. Assets were liquidated in order to settle back taxes, while Davis was eventually convicted of fraud and grand theft and sentenced to two years at a 'work farm' labor camp. Only 16 Divans were ever built, and 15 remain in existence. Novel features include aircraft-inspired styling details, disc brakes, hidden headlights, and built-in jacks.
This Davis is the only known example with a six-cylinder engine.
Glen Gordon 'Gary' Davis was a master car salesman and marketer in Southern California. Immediately after World War II, he saw a three-wheeled special that the legendary Frank Kurtis built for his current employer, Joel Thorne. This car, dubbed the Californian, had an innovative suspension and a bullet-shaped aluminum body.
Accounts vary on how Davis came to acquire the Californian from Thorne. Once he did, he used it as a basis to start his own auto manufacturing company to produce a futuristic, safety car. He set up shop in an empty military factory in Van Nuys, California, but like most start-ups, were underfunded and closed after only seventeen examples were built. Production lasted from 1947 through 1949.
After the construction of two prototypes in 1947, Davis embarked on aggressive publicity and promotional campaign for the car, which included numerous magazine appearances, a lavish public unveiling at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and a promotional trip across the United States.
Despite raising $1,200,000 through the sale of 350 dealerships, Davis failed to deliver cars to its prospective dealers or pay its employees promptly and was ultimately sued by both groups. Assets were liquidated in order to settle back taxes, while Davis was eventually convicted of fraud and grand theft and sentenced to two years at a 'work farm' labor camp. Only 16 Divans were ever built, and 15 remain in existence. Novel features include aircraft-inspired styling details, disc brakes, hidden headlights, and built-in jacks.
This Davis is the only known example with a six-cylinder engine.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
Recent Sales of the Davis Divan
(Data based on Model Year 1948 sales)
1948 Davis Divan Chassis#: 482E39 Sold for USD$125,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1948 DAVIS 3 WHEEL ROADSTER Sold for USD$11,000 2002 Kruse Auction - Las Vegas, NV |
Davis Divans That Failed To Sell At Auction
1948 Davis Divan's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $68,000 range.
2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows Edition Coupe Chassis#:1G1YY26E975131900 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1967 Pontiac GTO Chassis#:242177p252755 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Chassis#:136379z360718 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Cheyenne Chassis#:cke182f164163 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1964 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:40867s120252 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1958 Pontiac Bonneville Hardtop Chassis#:p558h2268 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe Chassis#:1g1ys2d68f5603726 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:j59s105681 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1965 Factory Five Shelby Cobra Replica Mark IV Roadster Chassis#:F5R1007211RD Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
2014 Ford Shelby GT500 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
2020 Ford Shelby GT350 Chassis#:1fa6p8jz5l5552754 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1928 Packard Custom Speedster Chassis#:146353 Sold for $68,320 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Enthusiast Auction | |
2022 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED RUBICON Chassis#:1C4JJXSJ0NW209260 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:40867S118667 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:GA6597 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1970 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS 454 Chassis#:138570F139868 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
2019 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:1G1YS3D6XK5603680 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Chassis#:124379n557831 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1934 Ford Victoria Street Rod Chassis#:181566246 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1971 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28 Chassis#:124871n521893 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale |
1948 Davis Divan
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery