Inventor Name
Carter, Allen Pierce
Repository
Hagley Museum and Library
PO Box 3630
Wilmington, DE 19807-0630
302-658-2400
https://www.hagley.org/research
Physical Description
0.4 linear ft.
Summary
Allen Pierce Carter was born near Wilmington, Del., on March 8, 1906. In 1926, Carter was hired by E. Paul du Pont as an apprentice at Du Pont Motors, Inc., a builder of custom-made luxury cars. After a year, he was promoted to manager of the Service Dept. He acted as mechanic and manager for du Pont’s entries in the 1929 Le Mans race and the 1930 Indy 500. The Depression forced Du Pont Motors, Inc., to cease production in 1931, having built a total of 625 cars. Carter then managed the Du Pont Motors Service Company, which provided parts and repairs to the existing Du Pont cars, a number of which survive in working order as prized collector’s items. Carter also worked with Richard Chichester du Pont, Sr., in developing his aviation inventions. During World War II, Carter was sent by E. Paul du Pont to his Indian Motorcycle Company at Springfield, Mass., as a test engineer, helping to develop motorcycles for the Army. He returned to Wilmington around 1946. Carter then resumed the management of Du Pont Motors Service Company until his retirement in 1997. During the 1950s, he also became a service representative for Rolls Royce/Bentley and a dealer in Harley Davidson motorcycles. He was noted for his skill in restoring vintage luxury and racing cars, motorcycles and bicycles. He also acted as head racing mechanic for Francis I. du Pont & Co. partner Charles Moran, Jr., who had been the driver for Du Pont Motors at the 1930 Indy 500, racing Cunningham and Lotus cars on the world racing circuit until 1957. Carter died near Wilmington on March 17, 2006, shortly after celebrating his 100th birthday. The Allen P. Carter papers are a series of fragments covering his association with Du Pont Motors, Inc., and automobile racing and restoration. The collection includes a samll amount of correspondence (1926-2003), some from E. Paul du Pont’s widow, Jean Kane Foulke du Pont, noting his continuing service to the family enterprises. There are some photos of Du Pont automobiles, including a view of the Du Pont showroom on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles ca. 1929, and close-up and group shots at the 1930 Indy 500. Newsclippings and copies of "Automobile Quarterly" and "Car Life" contain good articles describing the history of Du Pont Motors, Inc., and Carter’s career. There is a list of Du Pont Model G Speedsters with there special features and names of their first owners. There is also a copy of Carter’s obituary and a program from a 1957 mountain rally in Austria.
