Piedmont Motor Car Company
 | |
| Company type | Incorporation (business) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founder | Wallace A. Taylor, Sr. |
| Defunct | Template:End date and age |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | Lynchburg, Virginia, |
| Products | Automobiles |
Production output | 2,470 (1917-1922) |
| Brands | Piedmont, Lone Star, Brush, Alsace, Norwalk |
The Piedmont was a classic automobile manufactured by the Piedmont Motor Car Company, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, with production spanning from 1917 through 1922.
History
The company produced both enclosed and open vehicle styles equipped with 4-cylinder Lycoming engines as well as six-cylinder powerplants from Continental. In addition to its own brand, Piedmont manufactured cars for other marques such as the Alsace, Bush, Norwalk, and Lone Star. These models were essentially Piedmont vehicles rebranded with unique emblems and hubcaps tailored for each badge.
This practice of badge engineering favored fulfilling external contracts over supplying Piedmont’s direct dealers, resulting in inventory shortages for local Virginia distributors and adversely affecting the brand’s market perception.
To stimulate local demand in December 1920, Piedmont implemented a $500 price reduction on ten units each of the Model 4-30 and Model 6-40, exclusively available to customers residing in Lynchburg and neighboring counties. Furthermore, sales manager George Hay negotiated a deal to equip the Lynchburg Police Department fleet with Piedmont automobiles to increase brand exposure.
Closure
Anticipating heightened orders from outside manufacturers, Piedmont accumulated excessive stock. However, the economic downturn during the Depression of 1920-1921 imposed severe financial challenges that culminated in the company entering receivership by October 1922, holding parts inventory valued at over $225,000.
Surviving cars
A 1923 Bush touring vehicle produced by Piedmont was donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in June 2010.
References
External links
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
- Lynchburg, Virginia
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1922
- American companies disestablished in 1922
- 1922 disestablishments in Virginia
- Defunct manufacturing companies based in Virginia
- Vintage vehicles
- 1910s cars
- 1920s cars
- Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Virginia
- Cars introduced in 1917
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1916
- Cars discontinued in 1922