1948 Davis Divan Coupe

Only twelve examples of the Davis Divan are known to survive. The Divan was the brainchild of Glen Gordon 'Gary' Davis, a used car salesman from Indiana, and its design was based on a one-off custom designed by Frank Kurtis. The three-wheeled vehicle was promoted as being fuel-efficient with room for four occupants. It was streamlined, and its body was made from aluminum. Its price tag was equally impressive, originally advertised as being $1,000.

This particular Davis Divan is the third example produced, preceded by two prototypes making it the first 'production' example. After liquidation, the car went to Michigan where it lived most of its life. Much of its existence was spent in storage and in a sorry state of repair, but largely complete. The current owner discovered the car in 2011 and treated it a restoration, finishing it in its present metallic brown exterior over a two-tone beige and brown interior.

This Divan is powered by an L-head Hercules 4-cylinder engine paired with a three-speed manual gearbox.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2022