Fleetwood-Knight (Canada) - AllCarIndex

Fleetwood Knight was an automobile brand established in 1923 by the Davis Dry Dock Company, located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The company, known for its high-quality yachts, launches, and lifeboats, aimed to extend its reputation into the automotive industry with the introduction of a car that adhered to its standards of excellence.

The initial design featured a six-cylinder Knight sleeve-valve engine, and the vehicle was originally intended to be a tourer. However, the project evolved under the direction of John Davis' son, Lloyd, who completed the vehicle as a sedan. Unfortunately, the prototype suffered significant damage due to a fire and was subsequently rebuilt as a roadster. Despite its innovative design, the projected price of CAD 5,000 to 6,000 proved to be prohibitively high, leading to the decision not to produce any additional vehicles.

The prototype remained in the possession of the Davis family for many years and was reported to still be operational in Renfrew, Ontario, as late as 1967, having accumulated over 300,000 miles. The brief existence of Fleetwood Knight highlighted the challenges faced by small manufacturers in the early automotive market.