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Pioneers of the U.S. Automobile Industry uses four separate volumes to explore the essential components that helped build the American automobile industry - the people, the companies and the designs. This volume tells the fascinating story of the Big Three in American automotive history - Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler - and the people who made those companies grow. Pioneers covered in this volume include: Henry Ford Louis Chevrolet William Durant General Motors John and Horace Dodge Walter Chrysler

Pioneers of the U.S. Automobile Industry uses four separate volumes to explore the essential components that helped build the American automobile industry - the people, the companies and the designs. This volume offers a look at the financial minds who drove the early automotive industry. These financial wizards are portrayed through unique stories and more than 180 photos. Pioneers covered in this volume include: Allison/Fisher/Newby/Wheeler and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Benjamin Briscoe Hugh Chalmers Frederick Chandler E.L. Cord Harry Jewett Henry Leland Charles Matheson David Parry Albert Pope Edward Rickenbacker Thomas White John Willys

Pioneers of the U.S. Automobile Industry uses four separate volumes to explore the essential components that helped build the American automobile industry - the people, the companies and the designs. This volume uses nearly 270 photos to go behind the scenes to explore the people who created car designs that have become famous with the American car industry. Pioneers covered in this edition include: Elmer and Edgar Apperson Vincent Bendix James Scripps Booth Alanson Brush David Buick Joseph Cole Clyde Coleman Claude Cox Herbert Franklin and John Wilkinson Elwood Haynes Frederick Haynes Thomas Jeffery Edward Jordan Charles King Howard Marmon Jonathan Maxwell Percy Owen Raymond and Ralph Owen Andrew Riker Frank Stearns Thomas J. and Thomas L. Sturtevant C. Harold Wills Alexander Winton

Pioneers of the U.S. Automobile Industry uses four separate volumes to explore the essential components that helped build the American automobile industry - the people, the companies and the designs. This volume uses more than 450 photos to help weave the story of the risk-takers who helped shape the automotive industry from the very beginning. Pioneers and companies covered in this edition include: Charles and Frank Duryea Studebaker The Pratt Family and the Elcar Motor Care Company Joseph Moon Russell Gardner Louis Clarke George Pierce and Charles Clifton Packard/Joy/Macauley and the Packard Motor Car Company Edwin Thomas Ransom Olds Peerless Fred and August Duesenberg Kissel Brothers Hupp / Drake / Hastings / Young and the Hupp Motor Car Corporation Walter Flanders Chapin / Coffin / Bezner / Jackson / Hudson / McAneeny and The Hudson Motor Car Company Harry Stutz Harry Ford Graham Brothers Charles Nash

When the raucous, fragile, imperfect American automobile made its debut there was much concern and consternation. The costs, complexities, choices and confusion in the marketplace resulted in an ultra conservative attitude towards untested innovation or new technology. Its frailties made the American car no match for its European counterparts and despite an early movement in the direction of a small inexpensive sturdy car to handle atrocious roads, most early manufacturers opted to produce expensive more profitable large models. However, many innovative minds worked to solve the early problems and imperfections of the automobile and although their efforts were not initially approved or accepted, they provided the framework or perhaps the inspiration for later development.

In the relatively short span of 100 years, the American automobile has traveled a somewhat rocky and circuitous road from unwanted child and wealthy toy to the greatest symbol of personal freedom known to man. The imperfect American horseless carriage was introduced at a time when paved roads were virtually nonexistence, fuel was not readily available, and authorities sought to restrict its progress. Yet the automotive pioneers prevailed and literally changed the face of the country as well as its economy and technology. The changes, however, evoked criticism, regulation, and challenges which have endured.