AHC: A Canadian Car Company
- Thread starter The Dude
- Start date
NothingNow
Banned
After the Arrow is discontinued, have Avro Canada start building cars, starting with a license built Volvo Amazon, and then moving over to building it's own cars in the mid sixties, being specifically designed for the Canadian market.
Edit: upscale City Cars, (like the 500/Panda family) are an integral part of Avro Canada Automotive's lineup, as are very Scandinavian designs, with trick Part-time AWD being a common feature (including a neat feature where the transfer case automatically switches over to Neutral when parked, enabling it to be towed without damage to the drive train.)
Edit: upscale City Cars, (like the 500/Panda family) are an integral part of Avro Canada Automotive's lineup, as are very Scandinavian designs, with trick Part-time AWD being a common feature (including a neat feature where the transfer case automatically switches over to Neutral when parked, enabling it to be towed without damage to the drive train.)
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The Dude
Banned
Yes.Does every AH about Canada have to involve the Avro Arrow at some point?
No. It has to be an original company with it's own unique models. The bonus points are awarded to companies that are bought by Ford at some point in they're history.Er, if you want a Canadian car company owned by Ford, wouldn't the Ford Motor Company of Canada count?
In my living room is an organ once belonging to the McLauglin family. The "C's" don't work. Sam McLauglin made some carriages in Enniskilin, where my sister and I went for a walk with the dogs last weekend. There's an historical marker, a small glass fronted display building inside which reside a couple of his vintage carriages, just west of Tyrone. What if Sam never liked Will Durant? Sam went on making carriages with motors. The name McLauglin Buick ended in 1942, didn't it?
NothingNow
Banned
No. But the Arrow's like Zepplins, and I wanted to make Canada's take on SAAB.Does every AH about Canada have to involve the Avro Arrow at some point?
Mine does because Avro bought the main Canadian car company!Does every AH about Canada have to involve the Avro Arrow at some point?
There was a Canadian car company, Bricklin, in 74 to 76.
It was a corrupt, nepotistic trainwreck that hosed the New Brunswick government.
Bricklin Vehicle Corporation
It was a corrupt, nepotistic trainwreck that hosed the New Brunswick government.
Bricklin Vehicle Corporation
The Dude
Banned
Yes, I know about this. I was asking for a major car company, preferably not a supercar manufacturer. I liked NothingNow's Canadian Saab idea, though.
For almost two and a half years, Studebaker's were only manufactured in Ontario. Near the end of that time, Brooks Stevens came up with a small car that could have been produced with a good profit margin. Four door, transverse mounted inline engine, front wheel drive, and the fiberglass body used as many indentical pieces as possible, which would have reduced tooling costs. The front same as the back, front doors same as opposite side door on back. Maicos did the same thing. Unfortunately, he finished this idea shortly after Studebaker had decided to totally get out of the car business. Bad timing. Here's several scans of an article about it. [page 1], [page 2], [page 3], and [source]. I think we have that magazine here. Anyway, if the timing changes a little so that Brooks pitches this idea before resignation totally sets in, i think they have a reasonable chance. IIRC, Studebaker made a small profit every year after they closed the South Bend plant. IMO, a name change would occur at this point, as in the company stays Studebaker but they're not badged or marketed as such. IIRC, this almost happened with the introduction of the Lark and later the Champ and Avanti.
If you want some more thought on this, i've seen some good books around here and maybe would have some time later in the week to do a little looking.
If you want some more thought on this, i've seen some good books around here and maybe would have some time later in the week to do a little looking.
Bombardier starts selling the VW Itlis in Canada/U.S to the civilian market licence under the Bombardier brand name...?
(V.W sold Bombardier the licence to make the Itlis, for the Canadian armed forces, & this would be a logical extension of the above...).
I have a possible genesis to a Canadian car company. A man by the name of Moise L. Menard started a small car company here in Windsor, Ontario in 1908 called Menard Auto Buggy Company. Eventually he moved into producing trucks and was eventually bought out by a company from Montreal in 1920. He ended up going into local politics. Perhaps Menard never starts building trucks and sticks with cars, and lands a wealthy local investor...
Windsor, Ontario - 1908. Moise L. Menard, a local blacksmith, hobbyist, wagon maker and entrepreneur enlists the help of Detroit automobile designer M.B. Covert to design an automobile intended for mass production. A successful prototype is developed called the Menard Mark-I. By 1909 the Mark-I was re-branded the "Essex". It boasted a 180 cubic inch 3 litre engine in a straight-4 configuration with a top speed of 50 mph designed and developed by the Dodge Brothers, whom Moise Menard gave carte blanche in their design. The Essex was greatly received at the 2nd annual Detroit Auto Show where the Essex attracted the attention of the whiskey baron Edward Chandler Walker, son of Hiram Walker, founder of the Canadian Club brand of whiskey who was looking to diversify his holdings and saw the automobile as the next big money maker in the brand new 20th century.
Menard Motor Company set up shop in a former warehouse near the Walker distillery in Windsor, Ontario and by the end of 1909 had produced 1,500 cars in 5 months of being in operation. Menard sold primarily to the Canadian and British Commonwealth markets, competing with Ford and boasting a more efficient and powerful engine that held up better in colder climates than the Model T and Menard offered colour options - black, red, grey, brown.
Windsor, Ontario - 1908. Moise L. Menard, a local blacksmith, hobbyist, wagon maker and entrepreneur enlists the help of Detroit automobile designer M.B. Covert to design an automobile intended for mass production. A successful prototype is developed called the Menard Mark-I. By 1909 the Mark-I was re-branded the "Essex". It boasted a 180 cubic inch 3 litre engine in a straight-4 configuration with a top speed of 50 mph designed and developed by the Dodge Brothers, whom Moise Menard gave carte blanche in their design. The Essex was greatly received at the 2nd annual Detroit Auto Show where the Essex attracted the attention of the whiskey baron Edward Chandler Walker, son of Hiram Walker, founder of the Canadian Club brand of whiskey who was looking to diversify his holdings and saw the automobile as the next big money maker in the brand new 20th century.
Menard Motor Company set up shop in a former warehouse near the Walker distillery in Windsor, Ontario and by the end of 1909 had produced 1,500 cars in 5 months of being in operation. Menard sold primarily to the Canadian and British Commonwealth markets, competing with Ford and boasting a more efficient and powerful engine that held up better in colder climates than the Model T and Menard offered colour options - black, red, grey, brown.
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1910 - Showing appreciation for Menard's total faith in their designs, and to compete directly with their unappreciative former customer Henry Ford, the Dodge Brothers set up an adjacent engine factory in Windsor to supply engines to the Menard Motor Company. Flush with cash from the Walker Distillery and their relentless overseas marketing and sales, MMC begin plans spearheaded by architect Albert Kahn for the design and construction of a massive new factory that seems to get larger on paper every day. Menard offers workers a 6 dollar a day wage, something at the time Henry Ford calls "preposterous and doomed to failure".
Menard works out several exclusive supplier deals during 1910 with the help of his largest investor, E.C. Walker who introduces him to his father's long time friend Harvey Firestone. Firestone loves the Essex and the oppourtunity to tap into the vast overseas market of the British Commonwealth, and agrees to an exclusive deal to supply tires to MMC. Menard also works out deals with Kelsey Hayes who have a large factory across town and will supply the wheels at a much cheaper price. In 1909 MMC offered 10,000 dollars to anyone who could develop a quick-dry paint that could be applied to the steel surface of the Essex and in May, 1910 a young chemist from the University of Toronto named Gregory Percival McMullen did just that after taking on the challenge as his Master's Thesis. After presenting McMullen with the princely sum Menard offered him a job on the spot, but McMullen declined wishing to obtain his Doctorate prior to working with MMC.
As 1910 drew to a close, the automobile world was shocked as a modified Essex soundly beat a modified Model T with a top speed of 96.5 miles per hour in a one off drag race at the brand new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. At first, Menard was weary about participating in what he called a "dog and pony show in the middle of nowhere", declining Ford's offer for a head-to-head race three times, but then Horace Dodge convinced him that the Essex was the superior machine. Also, and more importantly it would be excellent publicity for MMC in the United States - a market largely ignored by Menard thus far. Adding to the spirit of new technology the event on that cold October day was captured on a motion picture camera and was shown in movie houses all over America and Europe.
As a result of the win over the Model T, the film of the race, and the rave reviews of the Essex, MMC sold 11,240 units for the year 1910.
Menard works out several exclusive supplier deals during 1910 with the help of his largest investor, E.C. Walker who introduces him to his father's long time friend Harvey Firestone. Firestone loves the Essex and the oppourtunity to tap into the vast overseas market of the British Commonwealth, and agrees to an exclusive deal to supply tires to MMC. Menard also works out deals with Kelsey Hayes who have a large factory across town and will supply the wheels at a much cheaper price. In 1909 MMC offered 10,000 dollars to anyone who could develop a quick-dry paint that could be applied to the steel surface of the Essex and in May, 1910 a young chemist from the University of Toronto named Gregory Percival McMullen did just that after taking on the challenge as his Master's Thesis. After presenting McMullen with the princely sum Menard offered him a job on the spot, but McMullen declined wishing to obtain his Doctorate prior to working with MMC.
As 1910 drew to a close, the automobile world was shocked as a modified Essex soundly beat a modified Model T with a top speed of 96.5 miles per hour in a one off drag race at the brand new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. At first, Menard was weary about participating in what he called a "dog and pony show in the middle of nowhere", declining Ford's offer for a head-to-head race three times, but then Horace Dodge convinced him that the Essex was the superior machine. Also, and more importantly it would be excellent publicity for MMC in the United States - a market largely ignored by Menard thus far. Adding to the spirit of new technology the event on that cold October day was captured on a motion picture camera and was shown in movie houses all over America and Europe.
As a result of the win over the Model T, the film of the race, and the rave reviews of the Essex, MMC sold 11,240 units for the year 1910.
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Does every AH about Canada have to involve the Avro Arrow at some point?
True.
Another option would be simple. When Billy Durant was at Buick, his company purchased the McLaughlin Automobile Company in 1907. The easiest option here is that, if Billy Durant goes ahead and forms General Motors anyway, McLaughlin remains an independent marque, akin to Opel/Vauxhall. In this case, McLaughlin could fulfill Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Buick all in one marque.
No Avro Arrow needed, and no Avro Arrows were harmed in the making of this scenario.
I'm sure you could get that retuned, if you know someone who specializes in those instruments.
True.
Another option would be simple. When Billy Durant was at Buick, his company purchased the McLaughlin Automobile Company in 1907. The easiest option here is that, if Billy Durant goes ahead and forms General Motors anyway, McLaughlin remains an independent marque, akin to Opel/Vauxhall. In this case, McLaughlin could fulfill Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Buick all in one marque.
No Avro Arrow needed, and no Avro Arrows were harmed in the making of this scenario.
So, McLaughlin is to Canada what Holden is to Australia? That would be good indeed.
One other option might be to have Magna move into the automobile assembly business for real in the 1980s, after gaining such a major foothold in the world's auto parts business.