Detroit Automobile Co.

This was Henry Ford's first commercial automotive venture. Well backed financially by the mayor and local businessmen, it was open for a full year and never produced a single car. Despite the promotional piece in the Detroit Journal (bottom), which featured his second car, the vehicle to be produced in this facility is the delivery van in front of the factory (above).  It was only the third car that Henry Ford had built. He never finished developing the design, constantly changing and redesigning components so no complete cars were sold. The operation closed down in the fall of 1900. 

Sidney Olson, Young Henry Ford, A picture history of the first 40 years. Wayne State University, 1963