
Lost Car Companies of Detroit
2016
First Published
3.82
Average Rating
146
Number of Pages
Among more than two hundred auto companies that tried their luck in the Motor City, just three Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. But many of those lost to history have colorful stories worth telling. For instance, J.J. Cole forgot to put brakes in his new auto, so on the first test run, he had to drive it in circles until it ran out of gas. Brothers John and Horace Dodge often trashed saloons during wild evenings but used their great personal wealth to pay for the damage the next day (if they could remember where they had been). David D. Buick went from being the founder of his own leading auto company to working the information desk at the Detroit Board of Trade. Author Alan Naldrett explores these and more tales of automakers who ultimately failed but shaped the industry and designs putting wheels on the road today.
Avg Rating
3.82
Number of Ratings
114
5 STARS
32%
4 STARS
29%
3 STARS
32%
2 STARS
5%
1 STARS
3%
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Author
Alan Naldrett
Author · 6 books
Alan Naldrett was an insurance agent for many years and soon had a wall full of sales awards and plaques. But as soon as his main topic of conversation was actuarial tables and all his friends had more than adequate insurance coverage and were all avoiding him he decided it was time for a change. Using his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State, after he turned fifty he acquired a couple of Master’s Degrees in Library and Information Science and Archival Science. He took a few anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and other relevant courses and became a medical librarian. He then spent many years as an academic librarian chastising college students about their literary choices and inadequate APA styling. Along the way he rediscovered an interest in writing and history which interestingly enough led to writing about history. He attempted to justify this as a member and sometime Vice-Chairman (even though he claims to know nothing about vice) of the local county historical commission and also the local library board. After writing five books and many historical writings in newspapers, magazines and newsletters, he still spends an inordinate amount of time playing with the F Street Blues, a blues band that plays a lot of rock songs.