The Bour-Davis brand, an emblematic slice of American automotive history, traces its origins to 1916, founded by Robert C. Davis and Charles J. Bour. Initially based in Detroit, Michigan, the company moved its production operations to Frankfort, Indiana in 1917, and then to Shreveport, Louisiana under the Louisiana Motor Car Company in 1918. This move marked a new chapter as the cars began to be marketed as the "Pride of Shreveport."
The early models like the Model 17 and Model 18B, produced in Detroit and Frankfort, were notable for their distinctively slanted and pointed radiators. Priced between $1,250 and $1,500 in 1916, these models reflected the premium nature of the Bour-Davis cars, which later saw prices rising to $1,650 by 1919.
However, the company's journey was tumultuous. It saw multiple ownership changes, including a takeover by the Shadburne Brothers of Chicago in 1917, who attempted but failed to produce their own car designs. The brand's final models, including the Model 21 and Model 21S, featured a six-cylinder Continental engine, and were manufactured until the company's operations ceased in 1923 due to financial difficulties. Over its brief lifespan, Bour-Davis produced approximately 1,500 vehicles, leaving a modest legacy in the annals of automotive history
