GRAY

Gray Motor Corp. (1922-1926)
Detroit, Michigan

This is a Gray radiator emblem (1923-1925)      mjs
Size: 71mm wide 44mm high     MM: Fox

The Gray was a low priced, 20 hp four-cylinder car intended to compete with the Model T Ford. A stock Gray touring car was driven from San Francisco to New York in the autumn of 1922 averaging 33.8 miles per gallon of fuel, thereby setting a new gasoline mileage record. The Gray was advertised as the "Aristocrat of Small Cars" and offered the buyer "world record economy". Gray predicted annual sales of around 250,000 but this never happened. A total of 1,772 Grays were built by the end of 1923.

The Gray became larger and more expensive over the next two years but it was all over by 1926 after a total production of just under 15,000 cars. Two commercial versions were made of the Gray car, a 1/2-ton van and a 1-ton van, both using the same engine as the passenger car.

Emblems

The Gray radiator had a shield shaped recess to accommodate the radiator emblem. The following blue enamel Gray radiator emblem was the first Gray emblem and was used from 1922 to 1923. This Gray radiator emblem is rare.

This is a Gray radiator emblem (1922-1923)    mjs
Size: 70mm wide 45mm high    MM: Bastian Bros

The shape of the Gray emblem remained the same but the color was changed to the white and blue enamel Gray radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below from 1923 to 1925. This Gray radiator emblem is scarce.

This is a Gray radiator emblem (1923-1925)     mjs
Size: 71mm wide 44mm high    MM: Fox

The following is a larger version of the Gray radiator emblem shown above. This may possibly have been used on one of the Gray commercial vehicles but I cannot confirm this. This larger Gray radiator emblem is rare.

This is a Gray radiator emblem (poss 1923-1925)    kmc
Size: 89mm wide 44mm high    MM: Bastian Bros

The following blue and white enamel Gray radiator emblem is believed to have been used for 1925-1926 but I cannot confirm this. This Gray radiator emblem is scarce.

This is a Gray radiator emblem (poss 1925-1926)     mjs
Size: 70mm wide 45mm high     MM: Bastian Bros

The following photo of a Gray radiator emblem appears to show a transparent blue enamel version of the previous Gray emblem. If this is an original Gray radiator emblem with transparent blue enamel and no "Motor Corporation Detroit" inscription, it would be very rare. However, this may be a much smaller emblem and not used as a radiator emblem.

This appears to be a Gray radiator emblem (dates unknown)  flickr
Size: Unknown   MM: Unknown

The following poor quality photo appears to show a Gray emblem with the advertising slogan "Aristocrat Of Small Cars" in place of "Motor Corporation Detroit". If this is an original Gray radiator emblem, it would be extremely rare.

This appears to be a Gray radiator emblem (dates unknown)  ms
Size: Unknown    MM: Unknown

The following small oval shaped Gray emblems are a completely different design and may have no connection with the Gray Motor Corporation. Gray also made marine engines and possibly these are marine engine emblems. If you can identify these Gray emblems, please let me know, in order to update this post.

This is a Gray emblem (dates unknown)    mjs
Size: 66mm wide 25mm high    MM: Bastian Bros

This is a Gray emblem (dates unknown)    mjs
Size: 66mm wide 25mm high    MM: Bastian Bros