1923 Gray-Dort 25 SM Sedan

Engine: Falls, inline, six-cylinder, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 3.2 L (196 ci)
Bore and Stroke: 79 x 108 mm (3.11 x 4.25 in)
Power: 34.3 kW (46 hp)
Transmission: 4-forward, 1-reverse, manual
Weight: 1088.62 kg (2,400 lb)
Capacity: 4 passengers
Original Cost: C $2245 (estimate)

Gray-Dort cars were so popular in Ontario, where they were manufactured, that they outsold lower-priced Chevrolets. This dark blue 1923 Gray-Dort 25 SM sedan is one of about 100 surviving Gray-Dort automobiles, and is the only known surviving 25 SM. In 2002, the Royal Canadian Mint took a 3D scan of this car and put it on a $20 coin as part of a collection about significant advances in transportation in Canada.

Gray-Dort Motors Ltd. was founded in Chatham, Ontario, Canada in 1915 and based off of the Dort, produced in Flint, Michigan, USA. Gray-Dort became one of Canada's most successful cars, even, for a time, out-selling the cheaper Chevrolets in Canada. While similar to the American Dorts, the Gray-Dorts were considered more stylish with nickle-plated radiator shells, wheel discs and Spanish leather upholstery. Gray-Dort also included a deluxe sports model in 1918 and the 1922 Special which had the first automatic reverse light as standard equipment, which their American counterpart did not produce. When Dort closed their doors in 1924, Gray-Dort scrambled to find another American partner, but nothing was settled and the company remained in business only one more year, until 1925, selling off the cars that had been produced in 1924. In total, Gray-Dort produced about 26,000 vehicles.

Chronology:

1856 - William Gray founded the William Gray and Company, carriage and sleigh manufacturers.
1900 - William Gray Company producing 15,000 carriages, wagons and sleighs per year.
1911 - Merged with Manson-Campbell Company and name changed to William Gray Son-Campbell Ltd.
1915 - Gray-Dort Company founded. The first models were almost all American-built cars with new badges and hubcaps.
1915-1923 - Used Lycoming engines.
1916 - Gray-Dorts made from Canadian-made components.
1918 - Gray-Dort introduced the Special of which 200 were exported to the US.
1922 - The 1922 Special model included the first automatic reverse light as standard equipment.
1923 - 1924 - Used Falls engines in their vehicles.
1924 - Dort Company, who had been struggling with loss of sales for last couple of years, decided to close their doors.
1924 - Gray-Dort tries to find a new American business partner.
1925 - Gray-Dort sells off any remaining vehicles produced in 1924 and cease production.