Dorris (United States) - AllCarIndex

Dorris was an American automobile manufacturer founded in 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri, by George P. Dorris and John L. French. Dorris had previously constructed horseless carriages in Nashville, Tennessee, in the late 1890s. The company initially operated as the St. Louis Motor Carriage Company, producing a four-cylinder automobile. In 1906, after French relocated operations to Peoria, Illinois, Dorris reorganized the company under his own name, launching vehicles equipped with a proprietary 30-horsepower four-cylinder engine at the New York City Automobile Show.

Throughout its existence, Dorris emphasized high manufacturing standards, mechanical excellence, and advanced design. The company transitioned to a six-cylinder engine, which became a staple of its vehicles, featuring a wheelbase of 132 inches and an output of 80 brake horsepower at 2,600 rpm. Dorris maintained a conservative market image, encapsulated in its slogan, "Built up to a standard; not down to a price." Production levels were modest, typically not exceeding 250 units annually before 1920, alongside a line of commercial vehicles introduced in 1911.

In 1920, Dorris raised its vehicle prices significantly, with the cost of a seven-seater touring car increasing from $4,350 to $5,800 for a limousine. That year marked the peak of production, with nearly 400 cars completed. However, the following year saw a dramatic decline in output, dropping by 65% due to an economic recession, and production never again surpassed 116 units. Plans to manufacture a light car in collaboration with Arrow Motors were abandoned in 1921. Dorris continued to produce large sedans and limousines on special order until it ceased automobile production in 1924, with its final models marketed as 1925 vehicles.