The Kermath was an automobile built in Detroit, Michigan by the Kermath Motor Car Company from 1907-08. They built a small four-seater runabout with a tear-drop shaped radiator and bonnet. It was offered with a 26 hp, four-cylinder engine with a three-speed transmission and shaft drive. The front axle was tubular.
The Kermath car was built by James Kermath, who immigrated to the Detroit area from Toronto, Canada and from Scotland to Canada. His great grandchildren still live in the Detroit area, Joan, Jeff and Linda. Great great grandchildren of James Kermath are Jamie Eddy, Max Eddy, Kailey Kermath, Nicole Kermath, and Sydney Kermath
Other direct descendants in the Detroit area as well as out of state of James Kermath are Lorne R. Kermath III, Hollace L. Kermath-Vick, Craig A. Kermath (deceased), Cosette J. Rowland (Kermath-Bolvari), Jeffrey J. Kermath, Virginia B. Nakozy (Kermath-Marosi), Christian C. Kermath, Brian M. Kermath, Diane A. Vedder (Kermath), James C. Kermath.
Kermath Marine Engines produced engines from sometime in 1910 until sometime in the 1950s in models from single cylinders to V-12's. The Kermath slogan was "a Kermath always runs". Many engines were ahead of their time, with various models having one or more of the following features: Overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, and dual magnetos.
Kermath Marine engines were commonly used by Garwood, Chris Craft, and Matthews as well as many other boat builders of the period. During World War II the Army Air Corps used the Kermath V-12 550 horsepower Sea-Raider to power 104 foot rescue boats out of Sagstad. The Kermath marine engine is highly collectible today.