Founded | 1905 |
---|---|
Defunct | 1907 |
Fate | Sold |
Successor | Marvel Motor Car Company |
Headquarters | Detroit, Michigan, |
Key people | J. P. La Vigne |
The Paragon and La Petite were automobiles produced by the Detroit Automobile Manufacturing Company in Detroit, Michigan from 1905 to 1907. [1]
J. P. La Vigne built his first automobile in 1898, and with his daughter Olive continued with experimental cars and other inventions until 1905 when the Detroit Automobile Manufacturing Company was set-up. The factory at 284–290 Rivard Street in Detroit first produced the La Petite which was displayed at the Detroit Automobile Show. [2] J. P. La Vigne was unhappy with his engine manufacturer and left the company. [1]
Detroit Automobile Manufacturing change the name of the car to Paragon and produced it through 1906. The La Petite and Paragon were a small two-seat runabout weighing only 650 pounds. They were equipped with a 0.7 liter, single-cylinder 5-hp engine and sold for $375, equivalent to $13,124in 2024. The only difference between the two was La Petite had a 65-inch wheelbase and the Paragon was 68-inches. [1]