Chrysler introduced the DeSoto as the corporation’s new brand
Sunday 6th May 1928 Chrysler introduced the DeSoto as the corporation’s new brand. The Detroit Free Press reported: “Probably no development of the past five years has created so profound a stir in the automobile industry as the current announcement that the new De Soto Six, which will be presented to the public in the…
John “Jack” Mack, who co-founded what would become one of North America’s largest makers of heavy-duty trucks, was killed when his car collided with a trolley in Pennsylvania
Tuesday 14th March 1922 John “Jack” Mack, who co-founded what would become one of North America’s largest makers of heavy-duty trucks, was killed when his car collided with a trolley in Pennsylvania. In 1890, Jack Mack went to work for Fallesen & Berry, a carriage and wagon company in Brooklyn, New York. Three years later,…
Nils Ivar Bohlin
Saturday 17th July 1920 Born on this day, Nils Ivar Bohlin, Swedish inventor of the three-point safety belt while working at Volvo. Born in Härnösand, Sweden, he received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Härnösand Läroverk in 1939. In 1942, he started working for the aircraft maker Saab as an aircraft designer and…
Born on this day, Pietro Frua, one of the leading Italian coachbuilders and car designers during the 1950s and 1960s
Friday 2nd May 1913 Born on this day, Pietro Frua, one of the leading Italian coachbuilders and car designers during the 1950s and 1960s. His creations included the Volvo P1800, Maserati Mistral and AC Frua. Frua’s professional career began at the age of 17, when he joined Stabilimenti Farina as a draftsman.[1] At the age…
The Renault corporation was founded as the Societe Renault Freres in Billancourt, France as a family firm by three Renault brothers Louis, Marcel and Fernand with a capital of 60,000 francs
Thursday 30th March 1899 The Renault corporation was founded as the Societe Renault Freres in Billancourt, France as a family firm by three Renault brothers Louis, Marcel and Fernand with a capital of 60,000 francs. From the very beginning, Louis managed to show innovation when he invented and later patented a direct drive system on…
Armand Peugeot set up his own company, Société Anonyme des Automobiles Peugeot
Thursday 2nd April 1896 Armand Peugeot set up his own company, Société Anonyme des Automobiles Peugeot. He built a factory at Audincourt, dedicated to the manufacture of cars with an internal combustion engine. By 1899 sales cars for Peugeot got up to 300, which is pretty decent considering that during that year only 1200 cars…
Assar Gabrielsson
Thursday 13th August 1891 Born on this day, Assar Gabrielsson, Swedish industrialist and co-founder of Volvo.
Erik Gustaf Larson
Friday 8th July 1887 Born on this day, Erik Gustaf Larson, Swedish engineer and co-founder of the Volvo marque. Larson was responsible for the technical design of the first Volvo model ÖV 4, introduced in 1927. He and Assar Gabrielsson founded Volvo He was appointed vice president and technical manager for AB Volvo in Göteborg,…