Storied Independent Automakers: Nash, Hudson, and American MotorsWith roots extending back to the first decade of the twentieth century, Nash Motor Company and the Hudson Motor Car Company managed to compete and even prosper as independent producers until they merged in 1954 to form the American Motors Company, which itself remained independent until it was bought in 1987 by the Chrysler Corporation. In Storied Independent Automakers, renowned automotive scholar Charles K. Hyde argues that these companies, while so far neglected by auto history scholars, made notable contributions to automotive engineering and styling and were an important part of the American automobile industry. Hyde investigates how the relatively small corporations struggled in a postwar marketplace increasingly dominated by the giant firms of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, which benefited from economies of scale in styling, engineering, tooling, marketing, and sales. He examines the innovations that kept the independents' products distinctive from those of the Big Three and allowed them to survive and sometimes prosper against their larger competitors. Hyde also focuses on the visionary leaders who managed the companies, including Charles Nash, Roy D. Chapin, Howard Coffin, George Mason, George Romney, and Roy D. Chapin Jr., who have been largely unexamined by other scholars. Finally, Hyde analyzes the ultimate failure of the American Motors Company and the legacy it left for carmakers and consumers today. Storied Independent Automakers is based on extensive research in archival collections generated by the three companies. Residing in large part in the DaimlerChrysler Corporate Collection, these sources have been seldom tapped by other scholars before this volume. Auto historians and readers interested in business history will enjoy Storied Independent Automakers. |
Contents
1 | |
From Indentured Servant to President of General Motors Charles W Nashs Michigan Years | 21 |
Nash Motors 191636 and Charles W Nash in Historical Perspective | 39 |
The NashKelvinator Corporation under George W Mason 193654 | 64 |
The Founding of the Hudson Motor Car Company and the Roy D Chapin Era 190936 | 93 |
Hudson under A E Barit 193654 | 136 |
George W Romney and American Motors 195462 | 168 |
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Storied Independent Automakers: Nash, Hudson, and American Motors Charles K. Hyde Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
aircraft AMC’s American Motors Corporation announced April August Auto automakers automobile industry Automobile Quarterly Automobile Topics automotive Barit became Bezner bicycle Big Three body brake horsepower Buick Catalog ofAmerican Motors chairman Chalmers-Detroit Chapin Jr Charles Nash Chevrolet Chrysler Coffin company’s contract Courtesy DCHC dealers December Detroit Durant-Dort early engine Essex factory February Flint Ford Genesee County George Mason George Romney Gremlin Gunnell Hornet Howard Coffin Hudson Motor Car Hudson Plant introduced January Jeep Jeffery company July June Kelvinator Kenosha Kimes late manager manufacturing March merger Michigan million models Motor Car Company Motor Company NAHC nameplate Nash Motors Nash-Kelvinator Corporation Nash’s November October offered Olds Motor operations Packard percent production profits Quad Rambler Renault Roy Abernethy Roy Chapin September shares six-cylinder sold Standard Catalog ofAmerican step-down stockholders Storrow styling Super-Six Terraplane Thomas touring car trucks units vehicles vice president wheelbase Wisconsin