Piedmont (automobile)

Piedmont Motor Car Company
Type	Incorporation (business)
Industry	Automotive
Fate	Bankruptcy
Founded	1916; 108 years ago
Founder	Wallace A. Taylor, Sr.
Defunct	1923; 101 years ago
Headquarters	Lynchburg, Virginia, United States
Products	Automobiles
Brands	Piedmont, Lone Star, Brush, Alsace, Norwalk
Production output	2,470 (1917-1922)

Short description: Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

1923 Piedmont at the Virginia Museum of Transportation

The Piedmont was a vintage automobile made by the Piedmont Motor Car Company of Lynchburg, Virginia from 1917 to 1922.^[1]

History

The Piedmont was produced in a variety of closed and open body styles and was powered by 4-cylinder Lycoming and 6-cylinder Continental engines.^[1] The company also made cars for other companies, such as the Alsace, Bush, Norwalk and Lone Star.^[2] These were Piedmonts, but fitted with badges, hubcaps and other identification of the company who ordered the cars.^[1]

This badge engineering for other companies had a direct impact on the cars actually marketed and sold under the Piedmont name. With the outside orders taking priority, Piedmont dealers in Virginia were sometimes unable to provide a car for customers who placed an order, which gave the make a poor reputation, thus hindering further sales.^[1]

In December 1920 the company attempted to increase publicity and sales by advertising in the Lynchburg News ten Model 4-30 and ten Model 6-40 cars for sale to residents of Lynchburg, Campbell, Bedford, Amherst and Appomattox only, with prices reduced by $500 for each car.^[2] Sales manager George Hay also persuaded the Lynchburg Police Department to use Piedmont cars, as it would "look better for the company" if they did so.^[2]

Closure

In anticipation of an ever-increasing flood of orders from outside producers, Piedmont had overstocked its inventory, which with the Depression of 1920-1921 led to the company going into receivership in October 1922.^[2] There was over $225,000 worth of parts in stock.^[2]

Surviving cars

In June 2010 the Virginia Museum of Transportation received a donation of a 1923 Bush touring car, which was built by Piedmont.^[3]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Georgano, Nick (2000). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: Stationery Office. pp. 1792. ISBN 0117023191.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Kimes, Beverly Rae (1996). The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942. Iola, IA: Krause Publications. pp. 1612. ISBN 0873414284.
↑ Marrano, Gene. "New Vintage Wheels for Transportation Museum". www.TheRoanakeStar.com. http://theroanokestar.com/2010/07/01/new-vintage-wheels-for-transportation-museum/. Retrieved 1 September 2013.

External links

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[Georgano-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Georgano, Nick (2000). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: Stationery Office. pp. 1792. ISBN 0117023191.

[Kimes-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Kimes, Beverly Rae (1996). The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942. Iola, IA: Krause Publications. pp. 1612. ISBN 0873414284.

[3] Marrano, Gene. "New Vintage Wheels for Transportation Museum". www.TheRoanakeStar.com. http://theroanokestar.com/2010/07/01/new-vintage-wheels-for-transportation-museum/. Retrieved 1 September 2013.

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