Makes › Amherst Canada › Amherst 40 (1911) · Prototype · Visionary project · 1911 Ultra Rare

Amherst
Amherst 40 (1911)

A Canadian 40 hp touring car that could be converted into a light truck, built in three examples by the Canadian Two-in-One Auto Co. of Amherstburg before the company closed and series production never began.

Still being researched: identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · AMHERST AMHERST 40 (1911) 1911
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
3BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
3 Built
Years
1911
Engine
Not yet verified
Power
29.8 kW / 40.6 PSFactory: 40 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Amherst 40 was the only car of the Canadian Two-in-One Auto Company, a short-lived venture backed by Detroit promoters and by the town of Amherstburg, Ontario. It was promoted as the first conventional-looking touring car that could be changed into a light truck. Only three cars were completed, so it is a small but well-documented episode of early Canadian motoring.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityUltra Rare 3 · Built1
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productioncars completed (one prototype plus two more) before the company was wound up 31 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The company was formed late in 1911 by a group of Detroit promoters and some local Canadians, and the town took a major financial role in it. A prototype built from imported parts was close enough to completion by August to tow a broken-down vehicle almost 20 miles over rough roads back into town.

The finished 40 hp car was shown to the town on 24 August and was then shipped to the Canadian National Exhibition. In September the Detroit promoters were dropped for refusing to pay their share of the stock. Two more cars were completed before the company was forced into bankruptcy, and a local doctor drove one of them for several years.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Amherst 40 (1911).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutNot yet verified
DisplacementNot yet verified
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 29.8 kW / 40.6 PSFactory: 40 hp · converted2Nominal rating quoted as '40 h.p. vehicle'.
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Canadian Two-in-One Auto Co., Amherstburg (Windsor Public Library, local industry history) Level C
    • 3 cars completed (one prototype plus two more) before the company was wound up
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    Canadian Two-in-One Auto Co., Amherstburg, 1912-1914 Level C Windsor Public Library (archived page)
    • the completed 40 h.p. vehicle was displayed
    Accessed 2026-11-13