LaFayette Motors

LaFayette Motors Corporation was an American automobile manufacturer established in 1919 and named after the Marquis de la Fayette. The company used a cameo image of the French military leader and American Revolutionary War participant as its emblem, giving the marque a distinctive historical identity. LaFayette began building automobiles in 1920 from its original base in Mars Hill, Indianapolis, Indiana, before moving its facilities to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1922. The company initially occupied the luxury segment. Its early cars were powered by V8 engines and were positioned as technically ambitious, high-priced motor cars. The first LaFayette automobiles were introduced at approximately $5,000, an exceptionally high price for the period. Their equipment included an electric clock, an innovation presented as a notable convenience feature in an automobile. Despite their engineering and luxury positioning, sales were weak because the cars were expensive and the company lacked the scale and market reach of more established luxury manufacturers. LaFayette's corporate independence was limited from the beginning of the 1920s. Charles W. Nash, who was already president of Nash Motors, became LaFayette's president in 1921. Nash Motors was the principal shareholder while the two organizations initially continued to exist as separate companies. LaFayette functioned in part as a halo marque: its luxury vehicles could enhance the prestige of the Nash orbit even though they were not volume products. Contemporary speculation also connected LaFayette with possible combinations involving Pierce-Arrow, Rolls-Royce, and General Motors, but no merger between LaFayette and Pierce-Arrow was completed. Nash Motors became the full owner of LaFayette in 1924. The original LaFayette operation was then discontinued, and its factories were quickly redirected to the production of Ajax automobiles, a more commercially practical use of the facilities. The LaFayette name did not disappear permanently, however. Nash revived it in 1934 for a smaller and less expensive line marketed as “LaFayette Built By Nash.” These cars retained selected Nash engineering and equipment while using conservative styling associated with Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. They were intended to broaden Nash's reach during the Great Depression, but sales did not meet expectations amid difficult economic conditions. Nash introduced the Nash 400 for 1935 to occupy what management viewed as a gap between the LaFayette and the regular Nash range. The company later concluded that the market distinction was insufficient and that its model portfolio had become too broad. For the 1937 model year, the LaFayette and Nash 400 were consolidated as the Nash LaFayette 400. At that point LaFayette ceased to be treated as a separate automobile make, although the name remained part of the model designation. The Nash LaFayette 400 was priced at about $595 and competed with mass-market Ford and Plymouth products. Its specifications included a wheelbase longer than those of key competitors, an advanced inline-six engine with seven main bearings, large brakes, and a one-piece all-steel body. Body styles included a four-door sedan, a two-door Victoria sedan, coupe variants, and a cabriolet. For 1938, the model was renamed simply the Nash LaFayette and continued as Nash's least expensive offering through the 1940 model year. Nash replaced it for 1941 with the new unibody Nash 600. LaFayette therefore survives primarily as an important short-lived American marque and as a transitional name within Nash's changing product strategy.

LaFayette Motors Corporation was founded in the United States in 1919 and took its name from the Marquis de la Fayette. Its branding used a cameo representation of the Marquis. The company was originally headquartered in Mars Hill, Indianapolis, Indiana, and entered automobile production in 1920. The first LaFayette cars were luxury vehicles equipped with V8 engines. They were introduced at a price of about $5,000, placing them well above the reach of most American car buyers. LaFayette also promoted technical features such as an electric clock, which was an unusual automobile amenity at the time. The combination of high pricing, limited scale, and difficult market conditions resulted in low sales despite the cars' engineering ambitions. In 1921, Charles W. Nash became president of LaFayette. Nash simultaneously led Nash Motors, which was LaFayette's principal shareholder. Although the companies initially retained separate corporate identities, LaFayette operated within Nash's broader strategic orbit and served as a prestige or halo marque. During the early 1920s, observers speculated about possible combinations involving LaFayette and other automobile companies, including Pierce-Arrow, Rolls-Royce, and General Motors. A proposed LaFayette-Pierce-Arrow merger did not take place. LaFayette moved its facilities to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1922. Nash Motors became the company's full owner in 1924, after which the original LaFayette automobile operation was retired. The factories were soon used for Ajax production, reflecting Nash's preference for a more commercially productive use of the manufacturing assets. Nash revived the LaFayette name in 1934, but with a substantially different market role. Instead of a stand-alone luxury marque, LaFayette became the name of a smaller and less expensive Nash-related car line. The vehicles were promoted as LaFayette Built By Nash and incorporated selected Nash features. Their styling was described as conservative and was associated with designer Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. The reintroduced line was intended to attract value-conscious buyers during the Great Depression, but sales remained below expectations. Nash added the Nash 400 in 1935 to occupy a supposed space between LaFayette and the core Nash models. Management later decided that the distinction was not sufficiently valuable and that the company's range contained too many overlapping models. For 1937, the LaFayette and Nash 400 were merged into the Nash LaFayette 400, ending LaFayette's identity as a separate make. The Nash LaFayette 400 was priced at approximately $595 and competed with popular Ford and Plymouth models. It offered a relatively long wheelbase, an inline-six engine with seven main bearings, large brakes, and a one-piece all-steel body. Available configurations included a four-door sedan, two-door Victoria sedan, coupe versions, and a cabriolet. The model became simply the Nash LaFayette for 1938 and remained Nash's lowest-priced offering through 1940. For the 1941 model year, Nash replaced it with the new unibody Nash 600. The LaFayette name consequently disappeared from Nash's active model range, leaving a legacy that spans both luxury-car experimentation and later mass-market rationalization.

• 1941

  Production role ends with the Nash 600

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Nash replaces the LaFayette with the all-new unibody Nash 600.

• 1937

  Nash LaFayette 400 consolidates the lines

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The LaFayette and Nash 400 are combined, and LaFayette ceases to be treated as a separate make.

• 1935

  Nash 400 is introduced

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Nash launches the Nash 400 to address a perceived gap between LaFayette and the regular Nash range.

• 1934

  LaFayette name returns as a Nash line

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Nash reintroduces the name for smaller, lower-priced cars marketed as LaFayette Built By Nash.

• 1924

  Nash Motors takes full ownership

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Nash Motors becomes LaFayette's full owner, and the original marque is retired soon afterward.

• 1922

  Facilities move to Milwaukee

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  LaFayette transfers its manufacturing facilities from Indianapolis to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

• 1921

  Charles W. Nash becomes president

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Charles W. Nash assumes the presidency while Nash Motors remains the principal LaFayette shareholder.

• 1920

  Luxury automobile production begins

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins producing V8-powered luxury automobiles and introduces an electric clock as a notable equipment feature.

• 1919

  LaFayette Motors is founded

  [1]LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  LaFayette Motors Corporation is established in the United States and named after the Marquis de la Fayette.

LaFayette began as a prestige-oriented luxury marque and later became Nash's entry-level passenger-car line. Its early identity emphasized V8 power, high equipment levels, and exclusivity; its later identity emphasized value, engineering, and accessibility within the Nash range.

• Luxury automobile · 1920

  LaFayette V8

  The original LaFayette automobiles were luxury cars introduced in 1920. They used V8 power and were sold at a premium price of approximately $5,000. Their equipment included an electric clock, reflecting the company's effort to distinguish its cars through engineering and convenience features. Although positioned as prestigious motor cars, their high price contributed to weak sales.

• Popular-priced passenger car · 1934

  LaFayette Built By Nash

  Introduced in 1934, this revived LaFayette line was smaller and less expensive than the original luxury cars. It carried Nash-related engineering and features and was styled in a conservative manner associated with Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. The line was designed for the mass market during the Great Depression but did not achieve the sales Nash expected.

• Passenger car · 1937

  Nash LaFayette 400

  The Nash LaFayette 400 resulted from the 1937 consolidation of the LaFayette and Nash 400 lines. It was priced around $595 and competed with Ford and Plymouth. Features included a relatively long wheelbase, an advanced inline-six engine with seven main bearings, large brakes, and a one-piece all-steel body. Body styles included sedans, coupes, and a cabriolet.

• Entry-level passenger car · 1938

  Nash LaFayette

  For 1938, the Nash LaFayette 400 name was shortened to Nash LaFayette. It remained Nash's lowest-priced offering through 1940 and represented the final stage of the LaFayette name before its replacement by the Nash 600 for 1941.

• 1937

  Nash combines LaFayette with the Nash 400Strategy

  Background

  Nash concluded that the perceived price gap between LaFayette and Nash 400 was not important enough to justify separate model lines.

  Action taken

  The two lines were merged into the Nash LaFayette 400, and LaFayette ceased to function as a separate make.

  Aftermath

  The LaFayette name continued as a Nash model designation until the line was replaced by the Nash 600 for 1941.

  Source

• 1934

  LaFayette is repositioned as a lower-priced Nash lineStrategy

  Background

  Nash sought a smaller and more affordable offering during the Great Depression.

  Action taken

  Nash revived LaFayette as a popular-priced line marketed as LaFayette Built By Nash.

  Aftermath

  Sales did not meet expectations, and Nash subsequently introduced the Nash 400 and rationalized the overlapping model range.

  Source

• 1924

  Nash Motors consolidates ownership of LaFayetteM&A

  Background

  LaFayette's expensive luxury cars had low sales, while Nash Motors was already its principal shareholder and strategic partner.

  Action taken

  Nash Motors took full ownership of LaFayette and retired the original marque soon afterward, converting the facilities to Ajax production.

  Aftermath

  The independent luxury-car operation ended, although Nash later revived the LaFayette name for a lower-priced model line.

  Source

1. 1LaFayette Motorsen.wikipedia.org