The Indianapolis Automobile Industry

In 1893, Indianapolis carriage maker Charles Black created a rudimentary car--perhaps the first designed and built in America. Within 15 years, Indianapolis was a major automobile industry center rivaling Detroit, and known for quality manufacturing and innovation--the aluminum engine, disc brakes, aerodynamics, superchargers, and the rear view mirror were first developed there. When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909, hometown manufacturers Marmon, Stutz and Duesenberg dominated the track. The author covers their histories, along with less well known contributors to the industry, including National, American, Premier, Marion, Cole, Empire, LaFayette, Knight-Lyons and Hassler.

 In 1893, Indianapolis carriage maker Charles Black created a rudimentary car—perhaps the first designed and built in America. Within 15 years, Indianapolis was a major automobile industry center rivaling Detroit, and known for quality manufacturing and innovation—the aluminum engine, disc brakes, aerodynamics, superchargers, and the rear view mirror were first developed there. When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909, hometown manufacturers dominated the track—Marmon, Stutz and Duesenberg. The author covers their histories, along with less well known contributors to the industry, including National, American, Premier, Marion, Cole, Empire, LaFayette, Knight-Lyons and Hassler.

Indianapolis once had more automobile manufacturers than Detroit. Movie stars and kings once clamored for specific models made only in Indiana. The state was also home to several innovations, such as tilt steering, cruise control, and front-wheel drive. These facts show the importance of the role of automotive manufacturing in Indiana's history. Indiana Cars: A History of the Automobile in Indiana covers the facts, figures, and personalities that made automotive history in Indiana. This tour through history offers a look at * the classics, such as the Duesenberg Model J, Studebaker's Avanti, the Stutz Bearcat, and the HUMMER * the pioneers, such as Elwood Haynes, Fred and August Duesenberg, and Carl G. Fisher * the milestones in both the state's and the nation's progress in automotive manufacturing.

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 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

First published in 1992. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.