Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids).
May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president.
They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing. That company eventually merged with a few other companies with United Motor Corporation. Sloan became the president of that and shortly after that they were purchased by GM.
He served GM from 1923 to 1956 in some manner including board chairman.
Imagine the innovations he saw during his tenure!!! The corporate mergers, the V8, the Corvette, lucky guy!!
Alfred P. Sloan
May 12, 1969 (or 14th) – The last Chevy Corvair was produced.
Last Corvair build. If you know only a little about automotive history or maybe politics or the consumer safety revolution of the 60’s and 70’s you’ll know the name Ralph Nader. With a little Google’in you’ll find various search results linking him to the demise of the Chevy Corvair (and apple pie and America) – most are not flattering to Mr. Nader. According to most accounts the last Corvair carried 6000 as the last 4 digits of it’s serial number. The car was blanketed by the press when it rolled off the assemble, but then disappeared. There are various stories as to the actual disposition of car #6000 but it remains a mystery. We do know it was a two door, hard top, Monza, Olympic Gold was the color and it likely had a Service 140 replacement engine.
I’m seeing the Corvair but can’t help notice the Nova’s on the rail car.
The last Corvair convertible was #5997 which was a Forest Green Monza that has come up for sale a few times.
If you are a Corvair fan you’ll enjoy this read: 1969 Corvair: Finger Tip Facts by Corvair historian Dave Newell.
Thanks for reading
Tim
#Autofactoids
