Motorette Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | September 1945 |
| Founder | John C. Parkin, Stephen A. Bucholtz, Kenneth Breckenridge |
| Defunct | July 1948 |
| Headquarters | Buffalo, New York , United States |
Area served | United States, Asia, Latin America |
| Products | Motorette three-wheeled vehicle, Truckette commercial vehicle |
The Motorette Corporation, an automaker based in Buffalo, New York, operated between 1945 and 1948. The company was recognized for manufacturing the Motorette, a compact three-wheeled vehicle intended as a supplementary option to conventional automobiles in the crowded post-World War II environment. Roughly 6,000 units were distributed throughout the United States, Asia, and Latin America.
History
Founded in September 1945, the Motorette Corporation stemmed from a prototype created by engineer John C. Parkin of Curtiss-Wright Corporation to facilitate movement within their Buffalo aircraft facility. Following World War II, Parkin collaborated with former Curtiss-Wright colleagues Stephen A. Bucholtz and Kenneth Breckenridge to establish the Motorette Corporation to bring this vehicle to market. By March 1946, the enterprise had secured four distributors and established a network of 28 dealers across the country.
The firm manufactured close to 6,000 units, predominantly sold domestically—including southern Florida—as well as internationally. A significant milestone occurred in 1948 when Motorette obtained a $130,000 contract to supply 210 vehicles to an Indian maharajah shortly after India's independence; this represented the largest letter of credit issued by the newly sovereign nation at that time. Despite its swift expansion, Motorette halted production in July 1948 due to changing economic circumstances. Subsequently, its assets were sold at auction for $55,000 to Delavan Welding Corporation of Buffalo, which discontinued automobile production.
Vehicles
The Motorette was a minimalist three-wheeled roadster lacking doors and a roof, with an optional windshield available. Its design emphasized simplicity and incorporated advanced features for its era, such as a two-speed automatic clutch paired with an electric self-starter activated by push-button. Steering was managed through a handlebar-style wheel, while the mechanical drive brake also functioned as a parking brake, resulting in only two pedals. The vehicle was powered by a single-cylinder, 4.1 horsepower air-cooled Wisconsin engine without a reverse gear; its lightweight 375-pound frame allowed it to pivot within its own turning radius or be manually pushed backward using the foot. Dimensions measured 90 inches in length and 44 inches in width, with a chrome-steel frame and aluminum body panels. It rode on 4"x8" balloon tires and could reach speeds up to 39 miles per hour. Fuel consumption averaged around 80 miles per gallon from a one-gallon fuel tank. The rear-mounted engine configuration provided 6 cubic feet of storage space beneath the rear hood. Initially priced between $400 and $500, it was offered in four colors: red, blue, green, and yellow. Notably, comedian Bob Hope was among its early purchasers and endorsers.
Introduced in 1947 as a commercial adaptation of the Motorette, the Truckette utilized the same chassis but was equipped with a more powerful six-horsepower engine capable of reaching 45 miles per hour while carrying loads up to 500 pounds. Measuring 90 inches long by 48 inches wide, it was only marginally wider than the Motorette yet remained considerably smaller than typical sedans from that period.