General Motors was founded by William C. Durant in Flint, Michigan in 1908. It became the world’s biggest car manufacturer, producing many iconic US brands, including Cadillac, Chevrolet and Buick, and creating designs that would become popular around the world.
THUNDER ROAD
The company manufactured some of the world’s best cars - but also some of its worst. The company began to lose money in the 1970s, with customers complaining of poor engines, cheap materials and excessive noise, and in 2009, the company went bankrupt. Fortunately, GM was saved by the US government who bought the company and re-established it that same year – minus some of its brands (Saturn, Pontiac and Hummer.)
I’M ON FIRE
In 2014, the company went through another terrible crisis. After a problem with a car engine caused 124 deaths, GM had to pay compensation to victims’ families and recall nearly thirty million cars. This cost the company $900 million.
TOUGHER THAN THE REST
Despite this, GM is still going. It is a big employer in the US, providing 50,000 people with jobs. Since 2009, it has invested more than $20 billion in the country, much of that in the state of Michigan, where it plans to manufacture its first self-driving cars next year.
GM’s Vintage American Cars: Top 5
1. Pontiac GTO Tri-Power 1964
This is one the world’s first ‘muscle cars’: economical high-performance cars that are sometimes used in ‘drag racing’. It has a big V-8 engine in a relatively small, light frame.
2. Cadillac Eldorado Seville 1959
The Seville is the convertible version of the popular Eldorado model. It has the tailfin style that was so popular in the 1950s and 60s, America’s golden age of automobile design.
3. Chevrolet Chevelle 1970
Chevrolet is one of GM’s oldest brands and is often synonymous with the company. This car comes in a variety of styles and has a more square-shaped design than previous models.
4. Ford Mustang Boss 1970
Ford Mustang had celebrity status in the 1960s, when it featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger. This particular model produced only 1,358 cars in total.
5. Buick GSX 1971
America’s oldest car brand, dating back to 1899, Buick was the pillar on which GM was founded. This model is part of the Gran Sport series, the most opulent sport models of that era.