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The Chatham Motor Car Co. was formed in 1906 by Joseph O'Keefe and D.N. McMullen. They built one model--a five-passenger touring car called The Chatham. The Chatham contained a four cylinder, 25 h.p., water-cooled engine. The bodies were designed by William Gray of the Chatham carriage firm Wm. Gray & Sons Ltd (and later of the Gray-Dort Motor Co.) The Chatham Car did well, gaining respect and loyalty from its buyers. An action, however, was brought against the company by a Detroit Firm resulting in an auction of the plant and assets. The successful bidder was a Chatham dentist named G.W. Cornell who resumed production, and produced the 1908 Chatham 30, a substantially remodeled design with a 'tulip-style' body and 30 h.p. engine. The new Chatham appeared at exhibitions and ran endurance runs with success. During the summer of 1908 a Chatham 30 was driven 3000 miles from Arcola, Saskatchewan back to Chatham by a man named J.B. Stauffer who reported to have passed or pushed the famous makes of Oldsmobile, Packard and Ford. In all, between 75 and 100 vehicles were produced by the company before the depression took its toll. Production ceased in 1909. By March 1910 the factory was purchased by the Anhut Motor Car Co. of Detroit.
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