Frontenac [2] (United States)

Frontenac Motor Corporation was an American automobile manufacturer based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that operated from 1921 to 1924. The company was founded by Louis Chevrolet, a notable figure in automotive design and racing, alongside Cornelius W. van Ranst. Initially, Frontenac aimed to produce an advanced touring car, which was sometimes referred to as the Stutz-Frontenac due to backing from Stutz officials.

The first design featured a 3.2-litre single overhead cam (OHC) four-cylinder engine with thermo-syphon cooling, a feature that was relatively uncommon for high-performance American cars of that era. However, the Frontenac Motor Corporation faced financial difficulties, and the car never reached the market.

After the initial failure, the company reorganized with Chevrolet serving as president and began developing a new model powered by an eight-cylinder single-sleeve valve Burt-type engine. Chevrolet had secured the American rights to the Burt patent under a time-limited agreement. A phaeton prototype was completed, which included a 140-inch (3553 mm) wheelbase, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, and balloon tires with wire wheels. The Burt engine was capable of producing 80 brake horsepower at 2600 rpm.

Plans were made to showcase the new vehicles at the 1925 auto shows; however, production ceased when the time limit for the Burt engine's American rights expired, and the company was unable to secure the necessary funding to continue operations.