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Allen P. Carter papers

Creation: 1926-2006
 Collection
Accession: 2371

Abstract

Allen P. Carter (1906-2006) was the manager of the Service Department of Du Pont Motors Inc. and then Du Pont Motors Service Company. His papers are a series of fragments covering his association with Du Pont Motors Inc. and automobile racing and restoration.

Dates

  • Creation: 1926-2006

Creator

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet

Biographical Note

Allen P. Carter (1906-2006) was the manager of the Service Department of Du Pont Motors Inc. and then Du Pont Motors Service Company.

Carter was born March 8, 1906, near Wilmington, Delaware, to Elwood P. Carter (1872-1939) and Alice V. (Hilder) Carter (1879-1982). In 1926, he was hired by E. Paul du Pont (1887-1950) 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 Department. Carter 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, several survive and are in working order as prized collector's items. Carter also worked with Richard Chichester du Pont Sr. (1911-1943) in developing his aviation inventions. During World War II, Carter was sent by E. Paul du Pont to his Indian Motorcycle Company at Springfield, Massachusetts, 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 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. (1906-1978), 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.

Scope and Contents

The Allen P. Carter (1906-2006) papers are a series of fragments covering his association with Du Pont Motors Inc. and automobile racing and restoration. The collection includes a small amount of correspondence, some from E. Paul du Pont's (1887-1950) widow, Jean Kane Foulke du Pont (1891-1985), 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 (circa 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 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.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Allen P. Carter papers
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2021: Ashley Williams

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400