Slideshow: The Stories Behind the Cars
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Bill Chapin ’72
Photo © Marvin Shaouni
Bill Chapin ’72, president of the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich., is part of Detroit’s automotive history. Chapin’s grandfather founded Hudson Motor Car Co., and his father was chair and CEO of American Motors. Today, Chapin teaches hall-of-fame visitors about the world’s automotive history and occasionally leads 90-minute tours of the exhibits. Chapin is shown sitting on the running board of a Ford Fordor, a 1927 four-door sedan.
1968 S800 Honda RSC
Photo © Marvin Shaouni
Soichiro Honda, a 1989 Automotive Hall of Fame inductee, co-founded the Honda Motor Co. in Japan shortly after World War II. Honda’s motorcycle line was successful, but the company’s first cars, which at that time were about one-third the length of the contemporary American-made Cadillac, were not well-received. Mr. Honda, who appreciated the value of marketing and media, used race cars—such as the 1968 S800 RSC shown here—to successfully change the public’s perception of his company’s automobiles. To the left of the Honda is a 1964 Volkswagen Beetle.
History of American Car Culture Timeline
Photo © Marvin Shaouni
This impressive timeline illustrates the history of American car culture in the 20th century. The mural, which is 12 feet high and 65 feet long, was painted on a wall in the Automotive Hall of Fame by American artist John Gable.
1958 BMW Isetta
Photo © Marvin Shaouni
This 1958 BMW Isetta has a single door in the front and rear wheels 19 inches apart. “The egg-shaped Isetta is a wonderful example of entrepreneurial vision,” says Chapin. “Money was tight in post-war Europe, and the market for BMW’s luxury cars was in dire financial shape. But the Isetta, made by an Italian motorcycle manufacturer, was practical and got more than 50 mpg. So in the early 1950s, BMW licensed the rights to Isettas, and they sold well. This daring and innovative move by the people at BMW is an important example of the creativity that saved the company.” Photo courtesy of Automotive Hall of Fame
1912 Flanders
Photo © Marvin Shaouni
In 1908, Walter Flanders left Ford Motor Co. to co-found the Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Co. in Detroit. The Flanders family donated this 1912 car to the Automotive Hall of Fame.
1948 Chrysler Town and Country woody
Photo © Marvin Shaouni
The Lincoln Highway, started in 1913, was the first transcontinental highway in the U.S., connecting New York City with San Francisco. The highway’s conditions weren’t always optimal, so “Road Out” signs, similar to the one shown here, often marked detours or alternative routes. Beyond the road sign is a 1948 Chrysler Town and Country woody.
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