Automobile companies come and go. This has happened many times even as long as I’ve been around. Literally hundreds of manufacturers have gone the way of the Dodo since the late 1800’s. Some lasted just a few years, some were absorbed by larger companies like Ford, Chrysler, or General Motors. This is part one of a list of defunct car companies that you may have actually heard of.

American Motors Corporation (AMC)

AMC was founded in 1954, but the company’s automotive roots go back even further as it was formed by merging Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson Motors. It is one of three companies on this list that once manufactured the Jeep. This would help lead to its demise, as Chrysler took over AMC in order to control the popular 4×4. The actual year AMC went defunct is a little blurry, but as a Jeep expert, I can tell you that the first Wrangler model produced by Chrysler was 1987.

Many other models were produced besides Jeep. The Eagle division made America’s first true crossover as well as the Premier and Spirit. AMC itself had such classics as the Pacer, Hornet, Rambler, and Gremlin. The last Eagle-badged vehicle was the Talon up until 1998, when Chrysler shuttered that division.

AMC is the ancestor of the modern AM General, the company that manufacturers the HMMWV (Humvee) for the U.S. military. AM General has been around since 1971 and General Motors eventually bought the rights for the civilian Hummer H1 and H2’s.

General Motors

I know, General Motors still exists in name, but there was all kinds of corporate circus nonsense that happened because GM technically went bankrupt. The General Motors Company was founded in 1908 and changed its name to The General Motors Corporation in 1916. Over the next 100 years or so, GM bought up other manufacturers like Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Saab and more. Back in 2011, GM changed it’s name to Motors Liquidation Company and went bankrupt. This allowed a new company to be formed with the General Motors name. They even pulled the same switcharoo stunt with their stock symbol.

While the ‘new’ GM managed to transfer most of its original divisions from the sacrificial lamb company, they did manage to lose Hummer, Saturn and Saab. As a consequence of the restructuring, Pontiac and Oldsmobile were discontinued as well, though neither had vehicles selling under their names at the time.

Hupp Motor Car Company

If you’ve never heard of this one, don’t feel bad. I was in my mid 30’s before I found out what a Hupp was. The Hupp Motor Car Company was founded in 1909 by Bobby Hupp with guys from Oldsmobile and Packard. They managed to last 31 years until 1940. Like most auto manufacturers, Hupp made cars in Detroit, Michigan. As market share declined, a plan was hatched in 1938 to rejuvenate the company by making a lower-priced Cord design known as the Skylark. Production delays were rampant and the vehicle didn’t start being delivered until late 1939. By then it was too late.

I actually knew a guy from northern Pennsylvania that had several of these things. Unfortunately, he passed away last year, but I would have never known about Hupps without him.

International (Harvester)

Most people think of farming equipment when they think of International Harvester. Country music fans know that Craig Morgan has a whole song about it. For decades, International was also the manufacturer of automobiles and trucks. Founded in 1902 by J.P. Morgan (and others), the company managed to keep going until 1985. The farming equipment division went to Case which was eventually bought by Fiat. The truck division became part of Navistar which is now owned by Volkswagen. Another classic American company that became split up by the Europeans.

My absolute favorite vehicle from International is the Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, it was created to compete with the Jeep. The Scout was larger, I’d compare it more with Ford’s Bronco or the Chevy K Blazer. All of which had removable tops.

Kaiser Motors

The history of Kaiser is kind of complicated. Technically, Kaiser Motors only existed from 1945-1953. However, Kaiser merged with Willys-Overland (which is where it’s Jeep history comes from) and was later renamed to Kaiser Jeep. This existed until 1970 when it was purchased by AMC, whom we read about earlier. Kaiser manufactured several models over the years, but it’s bread and butter came from the Jeep lineup: CJ-5, Wagoneer, Jeepster, and all the military versions.

Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile would be one of the oldest auto manufacturers in the world if GM wouldn’t have shut it down in 2004. Originally founded in 1897 by Ransom E. Olds as the Olds Motor Vehicle Company , it was later named Olds Motor Works and eventually Oldsmobile. General Motors bought the company way back in 1908.

This company brought a lot of firsts to automobiles: production speedometers, chrome plating, automatic transmissions, electric defoggers, production turbochargers – just to name a few.

Oldsmobile is apparently known as a luxury vehicle, though I certainly never viewed them that way. My grandfather always drove one, so that might explain why I associate the name Oldsmobile with elderly people.

I know, I mentioned that there are three companies that manufactured the Jeep on this list… you’ll have to wait for part two for the third one.