First Time Investor's Quick Links:
Powerball - Kitco Pool Account - Coca Cola -
Precious Metals - Kmart - Kodak - Sears -
Turner Broadcasting - Walmart

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Where Are They Now?

As of 2008, Chrysler has been in business 83 years. General Motors? 100 years. And The Ford Motor Company, 105 years.

288 combined years of producing American iron for American highways.

After the controversial Bank Bailout of 2008, today there is talk about bailing out The Big Three, America's current big name automobile manufacturers, Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Two hundred eighty-eight years of service to the public is a lot to throw away if we don't, isn't it?

But before you break out the crying towel, take a look at some statistics.


A Little Automaking History

What do the following companies have in common - Rambler (1958-1969), LaSalle (1927-1940) and Rolls Royce (1921-1935)? They are American automobile manufacturers having been in business 10-15 years that are now defunct.

American Motors (aka AMC) (1966-1987) and Duesenberg (1913-1937) - gone after 20-25 years in business.

Stanley Steamer (1897-1927), DeSoto (1928-1961), Pierce-Arrow (1900-1938), Nash (1917-1957), Willys-Overland (1912-1953) and Hudson (1909-1957) - no sign of them after 30-50 years of automobile manufacture.

Packard (1899-1958), Studebaker (1902-1966), Checker (1922-1982) and International Harvester (1907-1975) never to make autos for the US again, after 50-70 years of doing so.

And finally, REO (1905-1975) and White (1902-1981) have put in 70-80 years of auto making - defunct.


Where Are They Today?

Are you familiar with any of those auto companies? Well, they're all gone. In fact, according to wikipedia article "List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers," over 1800 US auto makers are no longer in business, with more than a thousand having seven years or less in the auto industry.

The Big Three are not the first US automakers to face financial failure, and they won't be the last.

Maybe some of the 1800 automakers might still be here if the Gov't had "bailed them out?"
.