Bour-Davis

Bour-Davis was an American automobile marque and manufacturer active during the first postwar period of the United States automobile industry. The name combined the surnames of two of the company's founders, Charles J. Bour and Robert C. Davis. Production began in Detroit in 1916, initially positioning the Bour-Davis as a relatively expensive car rather than a basic mass-market automobile. Contemporary models were notable for several styling and construction details, particularly the slightly forward-set radiator and, on the Detroit- and Frankfort-built Model 17 and Model 18B, a distinctive radiator shell that was both pointed and subtly slanted. The business changed hands and locations several times. In 1917, the company was reorganized after being taken over by the Shadburne brothers of Chicago, with manufacturing transferred from Detroit to Frankfort, Indiana. The new owners announced plans to produce automobiles of their own design, although available historical accounts indicate that it is uncertain whether those proposed vehicles ever reached production. In 1918, the Bour-Davis manufacturing rights were acquired by the Louisiana Motor Car Company. Production subsequently moved south, first to Louisiana and ultimately to Shreveport, where the company sought to give the automobile a strong regional identity. Under Louisiana ownership, Bour-Davis was promoted as the “Pride of Shreveport.” The company also sponsored a contest through the Shreveport Times to find a new name for the car. The winning suggestion was “Louisianne,” but the proposed replacement name was never adopted, and the Bour-Davis identity remained in use. The Louisiana-built cars retained distinctive design features, including a radiator mounted slightly ahead of the front axle and a leather front-seat treatment that continued over the top of the seat and down toward the rear floor. Later models included the Model 20, Model 21, and Model 21S. The Model 21 and Model 21S used Continental straight-six engines, reflecting the period's reliance on purchased engines among smaller automobile manufacturers. Bour-Davis vehicles were priced at the upper end of the market for their era: listed prices rose from approximately $1,250–$1,500 in 1916 to about $1,650 in 1919, while a 1920 Model 20 touring car was priced at $1,700 and a 1922 Model 21S touring car at $2,300. These prices placed the cars above many inexpensive American automobiles and suggest that the marque competed on equipment, styling, and perceived quality rather than volume. In 1923, the business was taken over by J. M. Ponder and the Ponder Motor Manufacturing Company. Financial weakness prevented the new ownership from restarting production, and the Bour-Davis marque disappeared. Approximately 1,500 Bour-Davis cars were produced between 1916 and 1922. The surviving cars are now primarily of interest to collectors and historians of early American automobile manufacturing, particularly because they illustrate the industry's regional production shifts, frequent ownership changes, and dependence on limited-volume manufacturing operations.

Bour-Davis emerged during the expansion of the American automobile industry in the 1910s. The marque took its name from Charles J. Bour and Robert C. Davis, two of the company's founders, and began manufacturing automobiles in Detroit in 1916. Its cars were not positioned as the cheapest vehicles available. Prices in the first production year were reported at approximately $1,250 to $1,500, placing the marque in a higher-priced segment of the market. The early cars included the Model 17 and Model 18B. Examples built in Detroit and later in Frankfort were recognizable by a slightly slanted, pointed radiator design. Other construction and styling details included a radiator set somewhat ahead of the front axle and a leather front seat whose covering extended over the seat top and down toward the rear floor. These features gave the cars a visual and material identity at a time when small manufacturers sought ways to distinguish themselves from larger producers. In 1917, the company was taken over by the Shadburne brothers of Chicago. Following a reorganization, manufacturing moved from Detroit to Frankfort, Indiana. The new owners stated that they intended to build cars based on their own designs, but historical accounts do not establish that these plans resulted in a separate production line. The company changed ownership again in 1918, when the Louisiana Motor Car Company acquired the Bour-Davis manufacturing rights. Production was moved to Louisiana and ultimately centered in Shreveport. The Louisiana Motor Car Company attempted to connect the marque closely with its new manufacturing base. Its advertising presented Bour-Davis as the “Pride of Shreveport,” and a contest held through the Shreveport Times invited suggestions for a replacement name. “Louisianne” won the contest, but the name was never put into regular use. The car therefore continued to be marketed under the Bour-Davis name despite the change in ownership and location. Later production included the Model 20, Model 21, and Model 21S. The Model 21 and Model 21S were equipped with Continental straight-six engines. Prices continued to reflect the company's limited-volume, comparatively upscale position: the 1920 Model 20 touring car was listed at about $1,700, while the 1922 Model 21S touring car reached approximately $2,300. The brand's production run ended after 1922, with total output estimated at roughly 1,500 automobiles. In 1923, J. M. Ponder and the Ponder Motor Manufacturing Company acquired the business. The new owner lacked sufficient financing to restart production, so no meaningful continuation of Bour-Davis manufacturing followed. The marque consequently became a defunct automobile brand. Surviving examples, including restored touring cars, preserve evidence of the company's distinctive designs and provide a record of the difficult operating conditions faced by small American automobile manufacturers that relied on multiple ownership changes and regional production moves.

• 1923

  Ponder takeover fails to restart production

  [1]Bour-Davisen.wikipedia.org

  J. M. Ponder and the Ponder Motor Manufacturing Company acquire the business, but a lack of financing prevents production from resuming.

• 1922

  Final reported production year

  [1]Bour-Davisen.wikipedia.org

  The Model 21S touring car is offered at approximately $2,300, and Bour-Davis production ends after an estimated total of about 1,500 cars.

• 1920

  Model 20 touring car offered

  [1]Bour-Davisen.wikipedia.org

  The Model 20 touring car is listed at approximately $1,700, reflecting Bour-Davis's relatively high price positioning.

• 1918

  Louisiana Motor Car Company acquires manufacturing rights

  [1]Bour-Davisen.wikipedia.org

  The Bour-Davis rights are acquired by the Louisiana Motor Car Company, and production moves to Louisiana, later operating from Shreveport.

• 1917

  Ownership changes and production moves to Frankfort

  [1]Bour-Davisen.wikipedia.org

  The Shadburne brothers take over and reorganize the company, transferring production from Detroit to Frankfort, Indiana.

• 1916

  Bour-Davis automobiles enter production

  [1]Bour-Davisen.wikipedia.org

  Manufacturing begins in Detroit. Early cars are sold at prices of approximately $1,250 to $1,500, and the marque develops a distinctive pointed, slightly slanted radiator treatment.

A relatively high-priced, low-volume American automobile marque emphasizing distinctive styling, touring-car bodywork, and regional identity rather than mass production.

• Passenger automobile

  Model 17

  An early Bour-Davis passenger car associated with the Detroit and Frankfort production period. Its most recognizable feature was the marque's slightly slanted and pointed radiator treatment, which helped distinguish the car from competing vehicles of the period.

• Passenger automobile

  Model 18B

  A Bour-Davis model built during the company's early production years in Detroit and Frankfort. Like the Model 17, it was identified with the distinctive pointed radiator design used by the marque before production shifted fully to Louisiana.

• Touring car · 1920

  Model 20

  A touring model offered during the Louisiana production period. The 1920 Model 20 tourer was priced at approximately $1,700, placing it above many lower-cost American automobiles and reinforcing Bour-Davis's limited-volume, comparatively upscale positioning.

• Passenger automobile

  Model 21

  A later Bour-Davis automobile powered by a Continental straight-six engine. It formed part of the marque's final generation of cars and retained the company's emphasis on relatively expensive, full-size American automobiles.

• Touring car · 1922

  Model 21S

  A final-generation touring model using a Continental straight-six engine. The 1922 Model 21S tourer was listed at approximately $2,300, making it one of the most expensive Bour-Davis offerings before the marque ceased production.

• Pride of Shreveport

  United States

  After production moved to Shreveport, the Louisiana Motor Car Company emphasized the automobile's connection with its new home and promoted Bour-Davis as the “Pride of Shreveport.”

  Outcome. The campaign reinforced the car's regional identity, although the marque ultimately remained a small-volume manufacturer and ended production after 1922.

  Source
• Louisianne naming contest

  United States

  A contest conducted among readers of the Shreveport Times sought a new name for the Bour-Davis automobile after the production move to Louisiana.

  Outcome. “Louisianne” was selected, but the name was never adopted and the automobile continued to use the Bour-Davis name.

  Source

• 1923

  Ponder Motor Manufacturing Company takeoverM&A

  Background

  After Bour-Davis production ended, the business was transferred to another prospective operator.

  Action taken

  J. M. Ponder and the Ponder Motor Manufacturing Company took over the business.

  Aftermath

  Insufficient financing meant that production did not resume, ending the marque's manufacturing history.

  Source

• 1918

  Sale of Bour-Davis manufacturing rights to Louisiana Motor Car CompanyM&A

  Background

  Bour-Davis changed ownership again after its Detroit and Frankfort operating periods.

  Action taken

  The Louisiana Motor Car Company acquired the manufacturing rights and moved production to Louisiana, later locating operations in Shreveport.

  Aftermath

  The new owner promoted Bour-Davis as a Shreveport-based automobile and continued production through 1922.

  Source

• 1917

  Reorganization and relocation to FrankfortStrategy

  Background

  Following the Shadburne brothers' takeover, Bour-Davis required a new operating structure and manufacturing base.

  Action taken

  The company was reorganized and production was transferred from Detroit to Frankfort, Indiana. The owners also announced plans for cars of their own design, although it is uncertain whether those cars were produced.

  Aftermath

  The Frankfort period became an intermediate stage before the manufacturing rights were sold to the Louisiana Motor Car Company in 1918.

  Source

1. 1Bour-Davisen.wikipedia.org