DuPont Model H
The duPont Model A debuted at the 1919 International Salon at New York's Commodore Hotel. It features a duPont engine which was cast en block L-head four-cylinder unit that displaces 250 cubic inches. A total of three body styles were offered including a four-passenger touring, a two-passenger roadster, and a four-passenger sedan. It had a wheelbase that measured 124 inches and the price range was from $4,000 to $5,6000. In the late 1910s, this was a very steep price tag.
The Model B was introduced shortly after the model and the changes were minor, mostly in cooling. Total production of the Model A and B cars during the first five years was only 118 models. Quality was high and the hand assembly and high level of craftsmanship were slow and meticulous.
In 1923 the Model C was introduced using the Model B chassis and powered by an L-head Herschell-Spillman six-cylinder engine that displaces 287 cubic inches and produced 64 horsepower. The two-passenger roadster and five-passenger touring each sold for $2,090 which was a significant price decrease over the prior models. The most expensive Model C was the Suburban sedan or five-passenger touring sedan, each selling for $3,085. A total of 47 examples were built during a 16-month period.
Next came the Model D which was similar to the Model C but fitted with a Wisconsin 268 cubic-inch overhead-valve six which produced 75 horsepower. A new feature designed by G. Briggs Weaver was the central chassis lubrication system. Weaver, a designer educated at the Rhode Island School of Design, whose resume included work at Waterhouse, was tasked with designing the bodies. The cost to own the Model D's ranged from $2,600 to $3,400 with a total of 27 examples created during the two years of production.
Paul duPont began experimenting with superchargers. They offered many benefits but also had their share of drawbacks. One was the excessive amounts of noise, cooling issues, and lubrication problems of the centrifugal supercharger. duPonts solution was to run the engine at half speed and force pure air straight into the combustion chamber at the bottom of the intake stroke. To compensate for the additional air, the carburetor mixture was set richer. Sadly, the system was unsuccessful and only one example was ever created on the Model E chassis.
The Model E was produced in 1927 and 1928. They rode on a wheelbase that measured 125 inches and was offered in five body styles with price tags that ranged from $2,800 to $3,400. A total of 60 were created which was very impressive for duPont, with nearly a fifth of them being exported.
There were only three examples of the Model F created. Each rode on a very long, 136-inch wheelbase.
Probably the most memorable of all duPonts were the Model G's, introduced in late 1928. Power was from an eight-cylinder L-head Continental 12-K engine that displaces 322 cubic inches. It had an aluminum cover over the distributor, spark plugs, and wiring which made it waterproof and gave it the allusion of having overhead valves. The 125-horsepower engine rested on a wheelbase that measured up to 141 inches. The price of ownership included hydraulic shock absorbers and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The sticker price ranged from #4,360 to $5,750 and buyers were able to select from twelve body styles which included roadsters to town cars. Most were bodied by Merrimac Body Company.
The Merrimac Body Company was established by Stanley Judkins, son of John Judkin's of the J.B. Judkins Company who were famous for their bodying of Lincolns and Packard's, among others. Both were located in Merrimac, Massachusetts, along with around 40 other custom coachbuilders. This Mecca location attracted the most influential and prominent buyers from around the world who would come to see the new designs and creations.
The Merrimac Body Company was initially created to aid Judkins in creating vehicles, as Judkins was backlogged by numerous orders for their work. Merrimac's largest customer became Rolls-Royce of America in Springfield, though they bodied other marques such as Lincoln, Locomobile, Franklin, and Packard. Their legacy resides with the work they did for duPont and the sensational Model G Speedsters.
The world was blessed with the introduction of the Model G Speedster at the January 1929 New York Auto Show. It was bodied by Merrimac and shown in a two-passenger configuration.
There were gently sweeping fenders, a bull-nose grille, and other unique and distinctive trademarks. The first individual to purchase the Model G Speedster was Mary Pickford for her husband Douglas Fairbanks.
duPont's New York distributor was A.J. Miranda, who also handled the Delage and Maybach vehicles. After seeing the Speedster, it conjured up an idea to enter it in the 24 Hours of LeMans race. The problem being was that rules required a four-seat body. A pair of cars were ordered in the proper configuration for the race. One of the cars was driven by Miranda and Charles Moran Jr., and the other was to be driven by Major Sidney Cotton and his wife. Cotton was the Australian distributor. Sadly, the Cotton car was damaged prior to shipment and did not make the race. The Miranda car weighed 4,500 pounds and produced 140 horsepower. Unfortunately, the duPont retired prematurely from the race due to mechanical problems.
Around 15 examples of the four-passenger Speedster were created in three different configurations. The list includes six with an exposed trunk, at least one had a sloping back with a compartment inside, and the remaining vehicles had a pointed boat tail rear end. Most had doors only on the passenger side.
In 1930 the Model H was introduced, which was basically a Model G but with a longer Stearns-Knight wheelbase that measured 146 inches. A total of three were built consisting of two-cars and two sports models. The sports chassis were later bodied as a sport phaeton and a closed-coupled sedan by Dietrich. The other received a formal Berline body and a flat radiator.
With the Great Depression in full swing, the list of potential clients dwindled. The competition for the luxury car segment was at a pinnacle and Paul duPont decided to suspend production until the economy was more stable. Sadly, the duPont marque never resumed automobile production.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007
The Model B was introduced shortly after the model and the changes were minor, mostly in cooling. Total production of the Model A and B cars during the first five years was only 118 models. Quality was high and the hand assembly and high level of craftsmanship were slow and meticulous.
In 1923 the Model C was introduced using the Model B chassis and powered by an L-head Herschell-Spillman six-cylinder engine that displaces 287 cubic inches and produced 64 horsepower. The two-passenger roadster and five-passenger touring each sold for $2,090 which was a significant price decrease over the prior models. The most expensive Model C was the Suburban sedan or five-passenger touring sedan, each selling for $3,085. A total of 47 examples were built during a 16-month period.
Next came the Model D which was similar to the Model C but fitted with a Wisconsin 268 cubic-inch overhead-valve six which produced 75 horsepower. A new feature designed by G. Briggs Weaver was the central chassis lubrication system. Weaver, a designer educated at the Rhode Island School of Design, whose resume included work at Waterhouse, was tasked with designing the bodies. The cost to own the Model D's ranged from $2,600 to $3,400 with a total of 27 examples created during the two years of production.
Paul duPont began experimenting with superchargers. They offered many benefits but also had their share of drawbacks. One was the excessive amounts of noise, cooling issues, and lubrication problems of the centrifugal supercharger. duPonts solution was to run the engine at half speed and force pure air straight into the combustion chamber at the bottom of the intake stroke. To compensate for the additional air, the carburetor mixture was set richer. Sadly, the system was unsuccessful and only one example was ever created on the Model E chassis.
The Model E was produced in 1927 and 1928. They rode on a wheelbase that measured 125 inches and was offered in five body styles with price tags that ranged from $2,800 to $3,400. A total of 60 were created which was very impressive for duPont, with nearly a fifth of them being exported.
There were only three examples of the Model F created. Each rode on a very long, 136-inch wheelbase.
Probably the most memorable of all duPonts were the Model G's, introduced in late 1928. Power was from an eight-cylinder L-head Continental 12-K engine that displaces 322 cubic inches. It had an aluminum cover over the distributor, spark plugs, and wiring which made it waterproof and gave it the allusion of having overhead valves. The 125-horsepower engine rested on a wheelbase that measured up to 141 inches. The price of ownership included hydraulic shock absorbers and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The sticker price ranged from #4,360 to $5,750 and buyers were able to select from twelve body styles which included roadsters to town cars. Most were bodied by Merrimac Body Company.
The Merrimac Body Company was established by Stanley Judkins, son of John Judkin's of the J.B. Judkins Company who were famous for their bodying of Lincolns and Packard's, among others. Both were located in Merrimac, Massachusetts, along with around 40 other custom coachbuilders. This Mecca location attracted the most influential and prominent buyers from around the world who would come to see the new designs and creations.
The Merrimac Body Company was initially created to aid Judkins in creating vehicles, as Judkins was backlogged by numerous orders for their work. Merrimac's largest customer became Rolls-Royce of America in Springfield, though they bodied other marques such as Lincoln, Locomobile, Franklin, and Packard. Their legacy resides with the work they did for duPont and the sensational Model G Speedsters.
The world was blessed with the introduction of the Model G Speedster at the January 1929 New York Auto Show. It was bodied by Merrimac and shown in a two-passenger configuration.
There were gently sweeping fenders, a bull-nose grille, and other unique and distinctive trademarks. The first individual to purchase the Model G Speedster was Mary Pickford for her husband Douglas Fairbanks.
duPont's New York distributor was A.J. Miranda, who also handled the Delage and Maybach vehicles. After seeing the Speedster, it conjured up an idea to enter it in the 24 Hours of LeMans race. The problem being was that rules required a four-seat body. A pair of cars were ordered in the proper configuration for the race. One of the cars was driven by Miranda and Charles Moran Jr., and the other was to be driven by Major Sidney Cotton and his wife. Cotton was the Australian distributor. Sadly, the Cotton car was damaged prior to shipment and did not make the race. The Miranda car weighed 4,500 pounds and produced 140 horsepower. Unfortunately, the duPont retired prematurely from the race due to mechanical problems.
Around 15 examples of the four-passenger Speedster were created in three different configurations. The list includes six with an exposed trunk, at least one had a sloping back with a compartment inside, and the remaining vehicles had a pointed boat tail rear end. Most had doors only on the passenger side.
In 1930 the Model H was introduced, which was basically a Model G but with a longer Stearns-Knight wheelbase that measured 146 inches. A total of three were built consisting of two-cars and two sports models. The sports chassis were later bodied as a sport phaeton and a closed-coupled sedan by Dietrich. The other received a formal Berline body and a flat radiator.
With the Great Depression in full swing, the list of potential clients dwindled. The competition for the luxury car segment was at a pinnacle and Paul duPont decided to suspend production until the economy was more stable. Sadly, the duPont marque never resumed automobile production.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007