Packard, Detroit, Michigan USA. 1899 – 1958
Packard
Tag: US Car Manufacturers
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan, USA 1896 – 2004
Established in 1896 by Ransom E. Olds. Part of General Motors since 1909. Oldsmobile became the technical leader within the GM concern after WW2. The 1949 oversquare 4.9 litre V8 ‘Rocket’ engine was the first of its kind to appear. By 1951 the old sixes were dropped altogether. GM’s X frame was standard on all models.
Kaiser
Kaiser (US) 1946-1954
Kaiser-Frazer Corporation to 1953, from 1954 Kaiser-Willys Sales Corp. Kaiser were known for their advanced designs and technical innovation, such as torsion suspension, front-wheel drive (only on prototypes) and the Traveller, a forerunner of the “hatchback’. The U.S. designed and marketed Kaiser Manhattan was subsequently manufactured in Cordoba, Argentina from 1958 to 1962 (renamed the “Carabela”). The company, Industrias Kaiser Argentina, had manufactured Jeep products before the Kaiser went into production and when the Carabela was dropped (reputedly because the body dies were worn out) they replaced it with old American Motors designs that fared rather well. In 1970 the IKA operation was sold to Renault.
Dodge
Dodge Brothers, Detroit, Michigan USA. 1914-1928
Chrysler Corp. , Detroit, Michigan USA. 1928 to date
Before manufacturing their own cars, John and Horace Elgin Dodge produced components for Henry Ford.
De Soto
De Soto (US) 1928 – 1960
Chrysler Motors Corp., Detroit, Michigan.
Introduced in 1928 as a make to compete with Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Nash. Chrysler’s problems in the late 50s resulted in the De Soto division being merged with Plymouth. The last De Soto was the 1961 model.
Some cars shown here are export models
DeSoto offered a separate, smaller line of cars for export that were different than the DeSoto models sold primarily in the U. S. and Canada. The export-only De Sotos were called DeSoto Diplomats and were usually based on Plymouths or Dodges.
However, U. S.-style De Sotos were available to foreign markets in limited numbers and limited models.
American cars are listed by Model Year.
Chrysler
Chrysler Corporation, Detroit Michigan, USA. 1923 to date
I have listed Chrysler Cars by Model Year. Most of the images on this website are from European brochures and advertising. Some models were badged differently in the USA.
See menu.
Plymouth
Chrysler Corporation, Detroit Michigan, USA. 1928-2001
The logo is a depiction of the Mayflower ship which landed at Plymouth Rock. The name Plymouth however was derived from Plymouth Binder Twine, a brand popular throughout the USA at the time.
Plymouth was founded in 1928 as Chrysler’s low-priced offering. Plymouths were slightly more expensive than similar Fords and Chevrolets, but had a higher spec. Plymouths were sold primarily in the United States. The brand was withdrawn from the market in 2001. The Plymouth models that were produced up to then were either discontinued or rebranded as Chrysler or Dodge.
American car models are listed by Model Year.
Chevrolet
Detroit,Michigan, USA. 1911 to date
Chevrolet was established by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant on 8 November 1911. Part of General Motors since 1917.
See the menu for a list of Model Years and certain specific models.
Cadillac
Detroit, Michigan. 1903 to date
American car models are listed by Model Year.
Buick
Buick 1904-date
David Buick first produced motor cars under the name of Buick Manufacturing Company in 1901. However the company was sold to the Briscoe brothers who established the Buick Motor Company, which was subsequently sold on in 1904. The managing director of the Buick Motor Company established General Motors in 1908. Buick was one of the founding members of the group. Buick got off to a slow start, selling only 21 cars in 1904, but by the time David Buick left his company in 1906 was producing (and selling) automobiles in increasing numbers. Numbers shot up from 1400 in 1906 to 30,500 in 1910.
American car models are listed by Model Year.