
Yes, there was a car named Grant, but it was a historical automobile brand, not a modern production model. The Grant Motor Company operated from 1913 to 1922, manufacturing several thousand vehicles in the United States before ceasing operations. No major automaker currently produces a mass-market vehicle officially named “Grant.” Today, the name primarily surfaces in the classic car hobby, custom vehicle projects, or fictional contexts, but it holds no standing as a contemporary car model from any established manufacturer.
The definitive “Grant” car refers to the products of the Grant Motor Company. Founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1913, the company relocated to Findlay, Ohio, shortly after. It produced a range of four- and six-cylinder automobiles during its nine-year history. Historical production estimates suggest the company manufactured approximately 3,000 vehicles in total before closing in 1922. Notably, some of its cars were exported to England and sold under the “Whiting-Grant” nameplate.
This era, from the 1910s to the late 1920s, saw hundreds of small, independent American carmakers. Grant was a part of this landscape, competing with other now-defunct brands. Its vehicles were mid-priced offerings for their time. The table below outlines key details based on automotive historical records:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Grant Motor Company |
| Operational Years | 1913 – 1922 |
| Production Volume | Estimated ~3,000 units total |
| Engine Types | Four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines |
| Market Position | Mid-priced American automobile of the 1910s |
| Notable Fact | Exported to UK as the “Whiting-Grant” |
You might encounter the name “Grant” in other automotive contexts, but these are not related to the original brand. For instance, “Grant” is a well-known brand of aftermarket steering wheels and automotive accessories, founded in 1977. In popular culture, a modified 1974 Gran Torino was named “Grant” in the British TV series Heartbeat. These uses contribute to the name’s occasional appearance in car-related discussions but do not represent a production car model.
For classic car enthusiasts, a Grant automobile is a rare find. According to valuation experts like Hagerty, surviving models are scarce, with values heavily dependent on condition, model year, and originality. Authentic restoration requires niche expertise due to the limited number of spare parts and specific historical knowledge of the marque. Discovering one at auction or a specialist classic car show is the most likely way to see a genuine Grant car today.
If you are searching for a modern “Grant” car, you will not find one. Your search may be referencing the historical brand, the aftermarket parts company, a fictional vehicle, or a personalized nickname for a custom car. The most direct answer remains that the Grant car is a piece of early 20th-century automotive history, not a current vehicle available for purchase.

I’ve been a collector for forty years, and I’ve only seen two genuine Grant cars in person. They’re real, all right—dusty history you can touch. My friend in Ohio owns a 1917 Grant Six Touring. Getting parts for it is a nightmare; you mostly have to fabricate them or hunt through old barn finds. It’s not a car you buy to drive every day. You preserve it. When someone asks if it’s a real model, I show them the brass nameplate on the radiator. That settles it. They were sturdy cars for their day, but only a handful of us keep that memory on wheels now.

Think of the early car industry like the app store today—tons of startups, most of which failed. Grant Motor Company was one of those startups from 1913. They built cars in Ohio for about a decade. It’s fascinating because they even did early “global marketing,” exporting some cars to England with a different badge (Whiting-Grant). That was pretty ambitious for a small company.
The main reason you don’t know the name is simple: they didn’t survive the industry’s consolidation. By the 1920s, bigger companies with more efficient production, like , dominated. Small makers like Grant couldn’t compete on scale or price. So, a Grant car is a textbook example of a pre-Depression era independent automaker. It’s a solid answer for a history quiz, but you won’t see it at your local dealership. Its legacy is in old factory photographs and the few museum pieces that remain.

Nope, there’s no new car you can buy called a Grant. If you heard the name, it’s probably one of three things: First, someone talking about an old, classic car from like a hundred years ago. Second, they might mean “Grant” the brand for custom steering wheels you can buy to upgrade your current car. Or third, it could just be a nickname someone gave their own car. So while you can’t go to a or Ford dealer and ask for the “Grant” model, the name does pop up in the car world in these other ways. It’s just not a modern make or model.

I was browsing online classifieds for a unique project car and saw an ad for a “1920 Grant.” I had never heard of it, so I dug in. Turns out, it’s a legitimate antique. The seller was an older gentleman whose grandfather had owned it. The car was mostly original but hadn’t run in decades. He was asking a few thousand dollars.
Before considering it, I did my homework. I checked classic car guides and forums. The consensus was that Grant cars have a very small, dedicated collector base. Their value isn’t astronomical—it’s not a Duesenberg—but it’s stable for a obscure marque. The real cost and challenge are in the restoration. Parts are essentially non-existent. You need a mechanic who specializes in brass-era automobiles, and that labor is expensive.
I decided against it because my garage and budget weren’t ready for that level of commitment. It’s a car for a specialist, not a first-time restorer. If you’re looking at one, understand you’re buying a historical artifact that needs museum-level care, not just a old car to fix up. The “Grant” name on the title comes with a century of rarity attached.


