Lost Car Companies of Detroit

by Alan Naldrett

Overview

Among more than two hundred auto companies that tried their luck in the Motor City, just three remain: Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. But many of those lost to history have colorful stories worth telling. For instance, J.J. Cole forgot to put brakes in his new auto, so on the first test run, he had to drive it in circles until it ran out of gas. Brothers John and Horace Dodge often trashed saloons during wild evenings but used their great personal wealth to pay for the damage the next day (if they could remember where they had been). David D. Buick went from being the founder of his own leading auto company to working the information desk at the Detroit Board of Trade. Author Alan Naldrett explores these and more tales of automakers who ultimately failed but shaped the industry and designs putting wheels on the road today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625856494
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	01/25/2016
Series:	Lost
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Alan Naldrett divides his time between being a librarian, lecturer and author, having written and co-written three local history books and a Michigan history book as well as a number of history columns. He is a life member of the Chesterfield Historical Society and the New Baltimore Historical Society, and a past vice-chairman of the Macomb County Historical Commission. Alan earned a bachelor's degree at Michigan State University and master's degrees in information science and archival science.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 7

Introduction 9

1 Olds Motor Works Becomes the First Car Company 15

2 The Short Reign of Steam Cars 21

3 Electric Gars Short Circuit 29

4 The Rise of Detroit's Milwaukee Junction 33

5 Detroit Area Motorcar Companies 60

6 Small Companies Hit the Majors for a Quick Cup of Coffee 97

7 Independent Auto Companies Consolidate 103

8 The "Little Four" Become just Two 128

9 Aftermath: The Global Auto Market 134

Bibliography 137

Index 139

About the Author 144

Editorial Reviews

"From the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. and Jackson Motor to the Detroit Electric Car Co., which started in Port Huron, Naldrett's book takes readers on a journey through a relatively undocumented past." The Voice

From the Publisher