Stupid Facts - Car Names

Many car company names are named for real people.

• Buick: David Dunbar Buick (1854-1929), a Scotsman, merged the failing Buick Manufacturing Company with another to form the Buick Motor Car Company in 1903.

• Chevrolet: Louis Chevrolet (1878-1941) was a race car driver and designer who co-founded the company.

• Chrysler: Walter Chrysler (1875-1940) formed the Chrysler Corporation in 1925.

• Dodge: John (1864-1920) and Horace (1868-1920) Dodge founded the their own car company in 1914.

• Ferrari: Enzo Ferrari (1898-1988) racing car driver and designer founded the company in 1929.

• Ford: Henry Ford (1863-1947) founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

• Mercedes-Benz: Karl Benz (1844-1929) is believed by many to be the inventor of the automobile. Mercedes Jellinek was a daughter of a German diplomat and investor.

• Oldsmobile: Ransom Eli Olds (1864-1950) founded the Olds Motor Vehicle company in 1897.

• Porsche: Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951), automobile designer and manufacturer, started his own company in 1930.

• Rolls-Royce: A combination of Sir Henry Royce (1863-1933) and Charles Rolls (1877-1910 ). Royce founded the company in 1903 and Rolls promoted the car.