A fascinating aspect of US automotive history is how a few notable individuals had such lasting effects on the industry. Below, we’ll delve into some of the most important figures in American automotive history, from Henry Ford to the Duesenbergs.

Henry Ford

No list of accomplished figures in American auto history would be complete without perhaps the most influential and famous figure, Henry Ford. He is credited with bringing the automobile to the general population with his innovations in mass-production methods. Ford Motor Company sold 15 million Model Ts by 1927, making it the most common and famous car ever produced, at the time. Every modern automaker and mass-produced vehicle owes a debt to Henry Ford and his Model T.

Walter Chrysler

Walter Chrysler started as a Buick Motor Company executive and later became the company’s president. In 1924, he bought controlling interest in the fledgling Maxwell Motor Company and rebranded it as Chrysler, and the rest is history.

Along with Ford and General Motors (GM), the Chrysler Corporation would eventually be considered one of Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers, dramatically influencing the entire auto industry. Chrysler made its name with sophisticated luxury automobiles, which set it apart from Ford and GM.

The Duesenberg Brothers

The brief history of the Duesenberg brothers of Indiana is fascinating and filled with noticeable automotive advancements. The brothers worked as engineers before creating their own auto company in 1913. They pioneered revolutionary changes in performance cars, such as the straight-eight engine. They became superstars on the racetrack with their models, becoming the first Americans to win the French Grand Prix. To this day, many people consider the Duesenberg Model J one of the greatest vehicles ever made.

Henry Leland

Henry Leland, known as “the Grand Old Man of Detroit,” was one of the first high-level automakers and the founder of Cadillac Motor Car Division and Lincoln Motor Company. He initially created Lincoln to build aircraft engines for the US during the First World War, but once peace was achieved, Leland decided to turn the plane engines into automobile engines. Leland is credited with bringing more precise engineering and modern principles to mass-market auto production, including adapting interchangeable parts.

Lee Iacocca

Considered by many people to be one of the greatest salesmen and executives in American automotive history, Lee Iacocca is an important and fascinating figure. He was not an engineer, but he knew how to sell a vehicle—his most famous accomplishment was creating the Ford Mustang. After bringing Ford to new heights in the ’70s, Iacocca became president of Chrysler and saved it from bankruptcy, created the minivan, and acquired American Motors (Jeep).

Now you know a little more about the fascinating famous figures of the US automotive industry. Although these figures had their heydays decades ago, their influence and accomplishments still reverberate today.

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