Chrysler, Ford, Durant and Sloan: Founding Giants of the American Automotive Industry

by H. Eugene Weiss

Overview

The American automobile industry has been called the favorite child of capitalism. Four decades of exceptional earnings allowed Henry Ford, Walter Chrysler, William Durant and Alfred P. Sloan (both of General Motors), and their companies to make developments in production, design and marketing that have set the standard for consumer products and industrial firms. Four men are primarily responsible for these concepts and for the formation of "the big three." New research lends important insight into the relationship of Walter Chrysler's business career to the careers of the other three automotive giants.

This comparative study details the career histories and visions of each of the men, exploring their individual business methods, the innovations for which they were responsible, and their impacts on the industry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786416110
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	09/10/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	196
Sales rank:	114,429
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.39(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late H. Eugene Weiss spent nearly four decades with DaimlerChrysler. A lifelong interest in the automotive industry resulted in his three-year position organizing and researching in the Archives of the DaimlerChrysler Corporate Historical Collection, which gave him a unique viewpoint on the subject. Weiss divided his time between West Bloomfield, Michigan and Longboat Key, Florida.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface     

1. Henry Ford (1863–1947)     

Defining an American Industry     
The Ford Motor Company     
The Piquette Plant     
Ford Highland Park     
The Ford Dealership     
Dodge Brothers Lawsuit     
History Is Bunk     
H. Ford vs. H. Leland     
The Rouge Complex and the Model A and V8     
Accounting and Management     
The Arsenal of Democracy     
Lincoln and Mercury     
Summary of a Business Life     

2. William Durant (1861–1946)     

Salesmanship     
Buick     
General Motors     
Banker Usury     
General Motors Division of Chevrolet     
A New General Motors     
Durant After G.M.     
Summary of a Life     

3. Alfred Sloan (1875–1966)     

The Early Career     
A Professional Manager     
United Motors Corporation     
Reconstruction     
Marketing and Product     
Sloan as Head of G.M.     
Greatness     
Summary of a Life     

4. Walter Chrysler (1875–1940)     

The Railroad Years     
The Buick Years     
The Company Doctor: Willys     
ZSB     
The First Chrysler     
The Company Doctor: Maxwell     
The Elizabeth, N.J., Plant     
The New Chrysler Car     
The 1924 Chrysler     
Chrysler Corporation     
The Dodge Purchase     
Plymouth     
The Depression     
The Air.ow     
Chrysler Firsts     
Styling     
Non-Automotive     
A Time to Relax     
Summary of a Business Life     

Epilogue: Four Business Lives     
Career Goals and Commitment     
The Part of Luck     

Notes     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

Well-researched...masterfully weaves the stories into a rich tapestry that ties these visionaries together and presents a panoramic picture of the formative years of automobile manufacturing in this country. This in-depth comparative study utilizes recently discovered material to present these legendary men and the innovations for which they were responsible in a new light”—Cars & Parts; “It’s great reading!”—Old Cars Weekly.

From the Publisher

"it's great reading!"

Old Cars Weekly

well-researched...masterfully weaves the stories into a rich tapestry that ties these visionaries together and presents a panoramic picture of the formative years of automobile manufacturing in this country. This in-depth comparative study utilizes recently discovered material to present these legendary men and the innovations for which they were responsible in a new light

Cars & Parts