Gray-Dort (Canada) - AllCarIndex

Gray-Dort Motors Ltd was a Canadian automobile manufacturer based in Chatham, Ontario, operational from 1915 until 1925. The company emerged from William Gray & Sons Co. Ltd, a carriage and sleigh-building business established in 1856. By the early 20th century, this company was producing approximately 15,000 wagons, carriages, and sleighs annually. In 1911, a merger with the Manson-Campbell Co. led to a rebranding as William Gray Sons-Campbell Ltd, from which Gray-Dort was formed as a subsidiary.

The initial models produced by Gray-Dort were primarily American-built vehicles, featuring modified badges and hubcaps. However, by 1916, the company began manufacturing cars using Canadian-made components. The vehicles were generally similar to those produced by the Flint company but included several deluxe sports models. Notable examples included the 1918 Special, which saw 200 units exported to the United States, and the 1922 Special, recognized for featuring the first automatic reversing light as standard equipment. Gray-Dort cars were often more stylish than their Flint counterparts, incorporating luxury features such as nickel-plated radiator shells and Spanish leather upholstery.

Throughout its production run, Gray-Dort utilized a 4-cylinder Lycoming engine, initially with a displacement of 2727cc, which increased to 3146cc by 1918. In 1924, the company introduced a 3205cc Falls six-cylinder engine, similar to those used in American Dorts. The closure of the Dort company at the end of 1924 prompted Gray-Dort to seek a new American partner, considering options such as Hudson and Nash. However, these negotiations did not materialize, and a potential partnership with Detroit-GRAY fell through when that company ceased operations before any agreements could be finalized. Gray-Dort continued to operate into 1925 to sell off remaining inventory, with total production estimated at around 26,000 vehicles.

After the company's closure, Bill Gray, the grandson of the founder, established a new enterprise focused on manufacturing and distributing automotive components, which thrived into the 1940s. Bill Gray passed away in 1971, marking the end of an era for the Gray family legacy in the automotive industry.