Continental was an engine builder, and supplied engines for over 100 name plates in the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s, including Durant Motors Corporation which used the engines in its Star, Durant, Flint and Rugby model lines.
Following the 1931 collapse of Durant, a group having interest in Durant Motors began assembling their own cars, the De Vaux-Hall Motors Company, using the Durant body dies.
When De Vaux-Hall collapsed in 1932, and was unable to pay creditors, Continental Motors assumed automobile assembly because they were owed $500,000 worth of engines and marketed the vehicles under the Continental-De Vaux brand name for the balance of the 1932 model year in order to try and make back some of the lost money
The 1933 Continentals were marketed in three model ranges: the largest and most expensive was the six-cylinder Ace, next was a smaller six called the Flyer and also the low-priced four-cylinder Beacon. The 1933 Beacon roadster was the lowest price full-size car offered for sale in the United States in the 1930s, costing only $US335.
After just about 2 years, they had had enough, and decided to close the doors on the assembly line. They never left the engine manufacturing business, they just tried to salvage lost money on a deal gone bad.
They are still in business today as Teledyne Continental.
Joe DeBord found one, and hot rodded it. There are only 4 known to exist
That is a very interesting story, another rare find. your ability to search this stuff out continues to amaze and delight! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteawww shucks. Thanks! Compliment of the day!
DeleteYou're very welcome, I enjoy finding cool stuff as much as I enjoy sharing it.
My ability to find this rare stuff is only a result of spending an ridiculous amount of my time doing something that will earn me no better job, no increased income, and never achieve my goal of a Pulitzer, or job getting paid to do this thing I've been at for 15 years while on the road covering events around the world like Goodwood, Romo, Pebble Beach, Essen, etc.
What's really satisfying to me is the incredible stuff I've learned, found, and the friends made along the way.
This is a pretty cool way to spend my spare time.
Just remember, one of these days I'll stop and switch to studying music, and learn how to play the guitar with just as much focus and commitment.
And no one answered my invitation to take over the blog.
So, things will get pretty dusty over here when I switch to music.