Chrysler, Ford, Durant and Sloan: Founding Giants of the American Automotive Industry

“Well-researched…masterfully weaves the stories into a rich tapestry that ties these visionaries together and presents a panoramic picture of the formative years of automobile manufacturing in this country. This in-depth comparative study utilizes recently discovered material to present these legendary men and the innovations for which they were responsible in a new light”―Cars & Parts; “It’s great reading!”―Old Cars Weekly.

The American automobile industry has been called the favorite child of capitalism. Four decades of exceptional earnings allowed Henry Ford, Walter Chrysler, William Durant and Alfred P. Sloan (both of General Motors), and their companies to make developments in production, design and marketing that have set the standard for consumer products and industrial firms. Four men are primarily responsible for these concepts and for the formation of “the big three.” New research lends important insight into the relationship of Walter Chrysler’s business career to the careers of the other three automotive giants. This comparative study details the career histories and visions of each of the men, exploring their individual business methods, the innovations for which they were responsible, and their impacts on the industry.

The late H. Eugene Weiss spent nearly four decades with DaimlerChrysler. A lifelong interest in the automotive industry resulted in his three-year position organizing and researching in the Archives of the DaimlerChrysler Corporate Historical Collection, which gave him a unique viewpoint on the subject. Weiss divided his time between West Bloomfield, Michigan and Longboat Key, Florida.