The U
Thursday 1st January 1942 The U.S. Office of Production Management prohibited sales of new cars and trucks to civilians. All automakers dedicated their plants entirely to the war effort. By the end of the month, domestic car manufacture had stopped. Automobile plants were converted wholesale to the manufacture of bombers, jeeps, military trucks, and other…
Parade magazine called it “the Army’s most intriguing new gadget – a tiny truck which can do practically everything
Friday 1st August 1941 Parade magazine called it “the Army’s most intriguing new gadget – a tiny truck which can do practically everything.” During World War I, the U.S. Army began looking for a fast, lightweight all-terrain vehicle, but the search did not grow urgent until early 1940. At this time, the Axis powers had…
The 1,000,000th Volkswagen Kubelwagen was produced
Friday 20th December 1940 The 1,000,000th Volkswagen Kubelwagen was produced. The “Tub” car, previously mostly used for rail, industrial or agricultural hopper cars) was a light military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS). Based heavily on the Volkswagen…
Edsel Ford telephoned William Knudsen of the US Office of Production Management (OPM) to confirm Ford Motor Company’s acceptance of Knudsen’s proposal to manufacture 9,000 Rolls-Royce-designed engines to be used in British and US airplanes
Wednesday 12th June 1940 Edsel Ford telephoned William Knudsen of the US Office of Production Management (OPM) to confirm Ford Motor Company’s acceptance of Knudsen’s proposal to manufacture 9,000 Rolls-Royce-designed engines to be used in British and US airplanes. In May, Roosevelt had called on Knudsen, a former Ford executive who became president of General…
The compact Crosley was introduced to the press and dealers by Powel Crosley Jr at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana, US
Saturday 29th April 1939 The compact Crosley was introduced to the press and dealers by Powel Crosley Jr at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana, US. Crosley was a small, independent American manufacturer of subcompact cars, bordering on microcars. At first called the Crosley Corporation and later Crosley Motors Incorporated, the Cincinnati, Ohio firm was active…
The first “Wienermobile”, an automobile shaped like a hot dog used to advertise Oscar Mayer products, created by Oscar’s nephew, Carl G
Saturday 18th July 1936 The first “Wienermobile”, an automobile shaped like a hot dog used to advertise Oscar Mayer products, created by Oscar’s nephew, Carl G. Mayer, rolled out of General Body Company’s factory in Chicago, Illinois, US. The cost of the promotional vehicle was 5000 dollars. Although gas rationing kept the Wienermobile off the…
The American Bantam Car Company was incorporated with Roy S Evans as President
Tuesday 2nd June 1936 The American Bantam Car Company was incorporated with Roy S Evans as President. It was originally formed in 1929 as American Austin Car Company and then in 1936 reorganized as American Bantam after filing for bankruptcy and was a manufacturer of limited number of smaller British cars. Its opportunity for growth…
John North Willys of the Willys-Overland Corporation became the first U
Monday 17th March 1930 John North Willys of the Willys-Overland Corporation became the first U. S. ambassador to Poland. Willys had rescued the ailing Overland firm from its woeful production of 465 cars in 1908. By 1916, Willys-Overland produced over 140,000 cars per year. Willys subsequently left the day-to-day operations of the company, moving his…
The Nash Motor Company, based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, US, was founded by former General Motors president Charles W
Tuesday 11th April 1916 The Nash Motor Company, based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, US, was founded by former General Motors president Charles W. Nash after acquiring the Thomas B. Jeffery Company. Jeffery’s best-known automobile was the Rambler whose mass production from a plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin began in 1902. The 1917 Nash Model 671 was the…
Karl Probst
Saturday 20th October 1883 Born on this day, Karl Probst, automotive pioneer credited with the design of the Jeep in 1940. The original Jeep was created by American Bantam Car Company in Butler, Pennsylvania, designed for use by the U.S Army during World War II. Probst drafted the design for the Jeep in two days,…