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Detroit Automobile Company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Detroit Automobile Company was organized in Detroit Michigan on July 24, 1899, the first automotive venture involving Henry Ford. At this point in time, Ford had built his third vehicle, this one a large delivery truck. Based both on Ford's engineering accomplishments and the man himself, a group of about two dozen investors were assembled. Ford and approximately 13 co-workers moved into 1343 Cass Avenue, the former home of the Detroit Motor Company, a prior venture of his friend and one of his backers, Detroit mayor William Murphy.
Though Ford's truck received favorable coverage on the front page of the Detroit News in February 1900, it was not without flaws. Ford was a perfectionist and he continually re-engineered and rebuilt, unable to proclaim the vehicle ready for production. This caused a degree of disgust in some of the investors, who left. Ford's fourth vehicle, once again a small open car, was also built in this period. Too soon, the money ran out and the Detroit Automobile Company was formally dissolved on February 7, 1901.
But a group of core investors still had firm faith in Ford, purchasing the D.A.C.'s assets at the receivership sale and putting Ford right back to work in the same building on Cass Avenue. This second venture involving Ford was named more personally; the Henry Ford Company, though it would not last even as long as the D.A.C..
Ford later recollected the D.A.C. built between "19 or 20" and "about 25" vehicles.