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LaFayette

1919 – 1924 — USA

LaFayette

LaFayette Motors Corporation, named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, was an American luxury car manufacturer founded in 1919. Initially based in Mars Hill, Indianapolis, Indiana, the company produced luxury motor vehicles distinguished by innovative features, including the introduction of the first electric clock in an automobile. By 1921, Charles W. Nash had taken the helm, steering the company while it remained a separate entity from Nash Motors, of which he was also president. The early 1920s were a tumultuous period for LaFayette, marked by rumors of mergers with prominent manufacturers like Pierce-Arrow, Rolls-Royce, and General Motors. However, by 1922, the company had moved its facilities to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in 1924, Nash Motors took full ownership, subsequently retiring the LaFayette name and repurposing its factories for the production of Ajax motor cars. The LaFayette name saw a brief revival in 1934 as Nash reintroduced it for a line of less expensive cars aimed at filling perceived market gaps. This revival was short-lived; by 1941, the LaFayette models were replaced by the new unibody Nash 600, ending the marque's standalone identity. The history of LaFayette Motors highlights a brief but impactful presence in the luxury automotive market, embodying both innovation and the challenges of the early automotive industry.

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LaFayette

1919 – 1924 — USA

LaFayette

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