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{{short description|Automobile manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Marquette
| name = Marquette Motor Car Company
| former_names =
| logo = [[File:Marqueete car logo .gif|150px]]
| logo = Marquette brand logo.png
⚫
| foundation = 1909
| founder =
| logo_size = 150
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| defunct = 1930
⚫
| industry = [[automotive industry|Automotive]]
| location =
| fate = Company closed in 1912. The "Marquette" brand was later revived for [[Buick]] in 1929
⚫
| industry = [[Automotive]]
⚫
| foundation = {{start date|1909}}
| predecessor = [[Rainier (automobile company)|Rainier Motor Car Company]]
| successor =
| founder = [[William C. Durant]]
| defunct = {{end date and age|1912}}
| location = [[Saginaw, Michigan]], U.S.
| products = [[Luxury vehicles]]
| products = [[Luxury vehicles]]
| successor = [[Buick]]
| parent = [[General Motors]] (1909–12)
| brands =
| parent = [[General Motors]]
|homepage =
| subsid =
| owner =
| homepage =
}}
}}
'''Marquette''' was an American [[automobile]] manufacturer established by [[General Motors]] in 1909 after the purchase of the [[Rainier (automobile company)|Rainier Motor Car Company]]. The Marquette Company did not last long and in 1912 GM announced the company would be closed.


The ''Marquette'' [[brand]] had been used before by the [[Berwick (automobile)|Berwick Auto Car Company]] in 1904, and then by the [[Buick]] division of GM for a car series released in 1929. The brand was then discontinued by GM and has not been used since.
⚫
[[File:1930 Buick Marquette (11373518476).jpg|right|thumb|250px|1930 Marquette]]

'''Marquette''' was a brand used on several different automobiles, most recently on [[Buick]]'s companion make.


==History==
==History==
===Early history===
⚫
The name Marquette was first used for an automobile when the [[Berwick (automobile)|Berwick Auto Car Company]] of [[Grand Rapids]], [[Michigan]] frequently took it as a model designation for their electric car in 1904.


=== Company ===
⚫
For [[General Motors]], [[William C. Durant|William Durant]] bought the [[Rainier (automobile company)|Rainier Motor Car Company]] in May 1909, which was in severe financial trouble. A new company, the '''Marquette Motor Company''' was established in [[Saginaw]], Michigan to continue production of the luxurious Rainier motor car until 1911. Further, they manufactured parts for another luxury make belonging to General Motors, the [[Welch (automobile company)|Welch]] (1903–1911), and its cheaper sister car, the [[Welch-Detroit (automobile company)|Welch-Detroit]] (1910–1911). Management was controlled by [[Buick]] officers. After Durant left GM for the first time in September 1910, it was tried to make both the Rainier and the Welch profitable. Therefore, with the Marquette, a new make was introduced. It produced two car lines, both with huge 4-cylinder engines. The 40 hp line, basically an improved and elongated Rainier (122 instead of 120 in. wheelbase), was available in four open body styles:
⚫
The name ''Marquette'' was first used for an automobile when the [[Berwick (automobile)|Berwick Auto Car Company]] of [[Grand Rapids]], [[Michigan]], frequently took it as a model designation for their electric car in 1904.

⚫
One of the [[General Motors]] founders, [[William C. Durant|William Durant]], bought the [[Rainier (automobile company)|Rainier Motor Car Company]] in May 1909. Rainier was in severe financial trouble at the moment of the purchase. Following that, a new company, the Marquette Motor Company was established in [[Saginaw]], Michigan, to continue production of the luxurious 'Rainier' motor car until 1911. They manufactured parts for another luxury make belonging to General Motors, the [[Welch Motor Car Company]] (1903–1911), and its lower-priced sister car, the [[Welch Motor Car Company|Welch-Detroit]] (1910–1911).

Management was controlled by [[Buick]] officers. After Durant left GM for the first time in September 1910, it was tried to make both the Rainier and the Welch profitable with the Marquette, a new make was introduced. It produced two car lines, both with huge 4-cylinder engines. The 40 hp line, essentially an improved and elongated Rainier (122 instead of 120 in. wheelbase), was available in four open body styles:


*Model 22 2-passenger runabout
*Model 22 2-passenger runabout
Line 28: Line 39:
*Model 27 7-passenger touring
*Model 27 7-passenger touring


The chassis had a wheelbase of 122 inches. Each sold for $3,000.
The chassis had a wheelbase of 122 inches. Each sold for US$3,000. (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|3000|1910}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars {{inflation-fn|US}})


The 45 hp line consisted of one model only, the Model 28 7-passenger touring. It had a wheelbase of 119 inches, and sold for $4,000.
The 45 hp line consisted of one model only, the Model 28 7-passenger touring. It had a wheelbase of 119 inches, and sold for $4,000. (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|4000|1910}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars {{inflation-fn|US}}


This reorganization was not successful, and GM announced the end of the Marquette in 1912. It appears that some of the last pre-war Marquettes were labeled "Peninsular".<ref name="Kimes"/> The plant then closed in 1913. During World War I, the plant was reopened and used to manufacture mortar shells for the US Ordnance Corps, then was repurposed for engine block casting when operations at Northway Motor and Manufacturing Division ended in 1925. The factory was repurposed as Chevrolet Saginaw Parts Plant which made many different types of parts and closed in 1983 and was demolished in 1984. Located on corner of 6th & Washington Avenues.
It seems that this reorganization was not successful, as GM announced the end of the Marquette still in 1912. Probably, some of the last Marquettes were labeled as [[Peninsular (automobile company)|Peninsular]].


===As a companion make===
=== Buick brand ===
⚫
[[File:1930 Buick Marquette (11373518476).jpg|right|thumb|250px|1930 Marquette]]
The Marquette nameplate was revived when the [[Buick]] Division of [[General Motors]] launched their own sister make for model year 1930. Along with [[Viking automobile|Viking]] and [[LaSalle (automobile)|LaSalle]], the Marquette was conceived to span a price gap in [[General Motors Companion Make Program|General Motors' market segmentation plan]], and shared the [[GM B platform]]. Marquette was placed below Buick, but above Viking which was to be sold in [[Oldsmobile]] dealerships. The Marquette "arrived" in dealer showrooms on June 1, 1929.<ref name="Kimes">{{cite book|last=Kimes|first=Beverly Rae|title=The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942|year=1996|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, IA|isbn=0873414284|pages=1612}}</ref>
The ''Marquette'' nameplate was revived when the [[Buick]] [[division (business)|division]] of [[General Motors]] launched their junior brand for model year 1930. Along with [[Viking automobile|Viking]], [[LaSalle (automobile)|LaSalle]], and [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]], the ''Marquette'' was conceived to span a price gap in [[General Motors Companion Make Program|General Motors' market segmentation plan]], and shared the [[GM B platform]] with the [[Buick Standard Six]] and [[Buick Master Six]]. ''Marquette'' was placed below Buick, but above ''Viking'' which was to be sold in [[Oldsmobile]] dealerships. The ''Marquette'' arrived in dealer showrooms on June 1, 1929.<ref name="Kimes">{{cite book|last=Kimes|first=Beverly Rae|title=The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942|year=1996|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, IA|isbn=0873414284|page=930}}</ref>


The Marquette line rode on an {{convert|114|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheelbase and was powered by an "L" head six {{convert|212.8|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} producing {{convert|67|hp|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Kimes" /> Marquette was built to sell in the $1,000 range, and was available in a single car range. This Series 30 consisted of six body styles:
The ''Marquette'' line rode on an {{convert|114|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheelbase and was powered by an [[Flathead engine|L-head]] straight six {{convert|212.8|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} producing {{convert|67|hp|abbr=on}} which was uncharacteristic of Buick products using overhead valves.<ref name="Kimes" /> ''Marquette'' was built to sell in the $1,000 range, and was available in a single car range. This Series 30 consisted of six body styles:


*Model 30 Two-Door Sedan
*Model 30 Two-Door Sedan
Line 46: Line 58:
*Model 37 Sedan<ref name="Kimes" />
*Model 37 Sedan<ref name="Kimes" />


Unlike Harley Earl's total LaSalle design, the Marquette's most unusual styling feature was its herring-bone patterned grille.<ref name="Kimes" /> Reviewers at the time described it either looking like a small Oldsmobile or small Cadillac.
The ''Marquette's'' most distinctive styling feature was its [[Herringbone pattern|herringbone]] grille.<ref name="Kimes" /> Reviewers at the time described it either looking like a small Oldsmobile or small Cadillac.


Compared to Oldsmobile's Viking, which only enjoyed a total production run of 7,224 over three model years (1929, 1930, 1931) Marquette produced 35,007 vehicles in the U.S. during its brief one year life span;<ref name="Kimes" /> additionally, GM Canada turned out another 6,535 Marquettes.
Compared to Oldsmobile's ''Viking,'' which enjoyed a total production run of only 7,224 over three model years (1929, 1930, 1931) ''Marquette'' produced 35,007 vehicles in the U.S. during its brief one year life span;<ref name="Kimes" /> additionally, GM Canada turned out another 6,535 ''Marquettes.''


Despite its promising first year sales, two factors worked against the Marquette. The first involved Oldsmobile, which lost sales to Marquette; the second was that Buick executives didn't feel that enough Marquettes were sold to warrant the extra burden on the bottom line given the state of the economy. Buick gave no advance warning of the termination of the Marquette; just four months before the shutdown, 4,000 Marquette signs were shipped to dealers in the hope of better days ahead.<ref name="Kimes" />
Despite its promising first year sales, two factors worked against the ''Marquette''. The first involved Oldsmobile, which lost sales to ''Marquette''; the second was that Buick executives did not feel that enough ''Marquettes'' were sold to warrant the extra burden on the bottom line given the state of the economy. Buick gave no advance warning of the termination of the ''Marquette;'' just four months before the shutdown, 4,000 ''Marquette'' signs were shipped to dealers in the hope of better days ahead.<ref name="Kimes" /> The entry-level position held by ''Marquette'' was replaced by the new entry-level [[Buick Special]].<ref name="Kimes" />

After the shutdown of Marquette, the engine production tools were shipped to Germany, where it was used to power the original [[Opel Blitz]].<ref name=KL49>{{citation | ref = KL1 | title = Opel: wheels to the world; a seventy-five year history of automobile manufacture | first = Karl E. | last = Ludvigsen | publisher = Princeton Publishing | date = 1975 | isbn = 0-915038-01-3 | pages = 49–50 }}</ref> This was the first link between Opel and Buick, a sporadic tie-up which was to last until General Motors finally severed ties with Opel in the 21st century.


==References==
==References==
Line 56: Line 70:


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
* [http://local.aaca.org/siraaca/images/1929%20Marquette.jpg Photo of restored 1930 Model 34 Sport Roadster]
*[http://www.whiteglovecollection.com/2whiteglovecollection/publish/article_101.shtml Marquette (1930) at White Glove Collection]
{{Coord|43.417778|-83.964444|display=title}}
*[http://wiki.gmnext.com/wiki/index.php/The_Two_Marquettes_of_General_Motors|The Two Marquettes of General Motors at gmnext.com]
{{commons category}}
⚫
*[http://local.aaca.org/siraaca/images/1929%20Marquette.jpg Photo of restored 1930 Model 34 Sport Roadster]
{{commons category|Buick Marquette|<br>Marquette automobiles|position=left}}


{{General Motors brands}}
{{General Motors brands}}
{{General Motors}}
{{Buick vehicles}}
{{Automotive industry in the United States}}


[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:Flint, Michigan]]
[[Category:General Motors marques]]
[[Category:General Motors marques]]
[[Category:Buick]]
[[Category:Buick]]
[[Category:Brass Era vehicles]]
[[Category:Defunct brands]]
[[Category:Vintage vehicles]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies based in Michigan]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1909]]
[[Category:Companies based in Flint, Michigan]]
⚫
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1930]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:1930 disestablishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:1930 disestablishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Michigan]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1909]]
[[Category:Defunct brands]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1912]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1929]]
⚫
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1930]]
[[Category:Brass Era vehicles]]
[[Category:Vintage vehicles]]
[[Category:Pre-war vehicles]]
⚫
[[Category:1910s cars]]
[[Category:1920s cars]]
[[Category:1930s cars]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1909]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1929]]

Latest revision as of 17:51, 24 April 2024

Marquette Motor Car Company
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomotive
PredecessorRainier Motor Car Company
Founded1909 (1909)
FounderWilliam C. Durant
Defunct1912; 112 years ago (1912)
FateCompany closed in 1912. The "Marquette" brand was later revived for Buick in 1929
HeadquartersSaginaw, Michigan, U.S.
ProductsLuxury vehicles
ParentGeneral Motors (1909–12)

Marquette was an American automobile manufacturer established by General Motors in 1909 after the purchase of the Rainier Motor Car Company. The Marquette Company did not last long and in 1912 GM announced the company would be closed.

The Marquette brand had been used before by the Berwick Auto Car Company in 1904, and then by the Buick division of GM for a car series released in 1929. The brand was then discontinued by GM and has not been used since.

History

[edit]

Company

[edit]

The name Marquette was first used for an automobile when the Berwick Auto Car Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, frequently took it as a model designation for their electric car in 1904.

One of the General Motors founders, William Durant, bought the Rainier Motor Car Company in May 1909. Rainier was in severe financial trouble at the moment of the purchase. Following that, a new company, the Marquette Motor Company was established in Saginaw, Michigan, to continue production of the luxurious 'Rainier' motor car until 1911. They manufactured parts for another luxury make belonging to General Motors, the Welch Motor Car Company (1903–1911), and its lower-priced sister car, the Welch-Detroit (1910–1911).

Management was controlled by Buick officers. After Durant left GM for the first time in September 1910, it was tried to make both the Rainier and the Welch profitable with the Marquette, a new make was introduced. It produced two car lines, both with huge 4-cylinder engines. The 40 hp line, essentially an improved and elongated Rainier (122 instead of 120 in. wheelbase), was available in four open body styles:

  • Model 22 2-passenger runabout
  • Model 24 4-passenger tourabout
  • Model 25 5-passenger touring
  • Model 27 7-passenger touring

The chassis had a wheelbase of 122 inches. Each sold for US$3,000. ($98,100 in 2023 dollars [1])

The 45 hp line consisted of one model only, the Model 28 7-passenger touring. It had a wheelbase of 119 inches, and sold for $4,000. ($130,800 in 2023 dollars [1]

This reorganization was not successful, and GM announced the end of the Marquette in 1912. It appears that some of the last pre-war Marquettes were labeled "Peninsular".[2] The plant then closed in 1913. During World War I, the plant was reopened and used to manufacture mortar shells for the US Ordnance Corps, then was repurposed for engine block casting when operations at Northway Motor and Manufacturing Division ended in 1925. The factory was repurposed as Chevrolet Saginaw Parts Plant which made many different types of parts and closed in 1983 and was demolished in 1984. Located on corner of 6th & Washington Avenues.

Buick brand

[edit]
1930 Marquette

The Marquette nameplate was revived when the Buick division of General Motors launched their junior brand for model year 1930. Along with Viking, LaSalle, and Pontiac, the Marquette was conceived to span a price gap in General Motors' market segmentation plan, and shared the GM B platform with the Buick Standard Six and Buick Master Six. Marquette was placed below Buick, but above Viking which was to be sold in Oldsmobile dealerships. The Marquette arrived in dealer showrooms on June 1, 1929.[2]

The Marquette line rode on an 114 in (2,896 mm) wheelbase and was powered by an L-head straight six 212.8 cu in (3.5 L) producing 67 hp (50 kW) which was uncharacteristic of Buick products using overhead valves.[2] Marquette was built to sell in the $1,000 range, and was available in a single car range. This Series 30 consisted of six body styles:

  • Model 30 Two-Door Sedan
  • Model 34 Sport Roadster
  • Model 35 Phaeton
  • Model 36 Business Coupe (2 pass.)
  • Model 36S Special Coupe (2/4 pass.)
  • Model 37 Sedan[2]

The Marquette's most distinctive styling feature was its herringbone grille.[2] Reviewers at the time described it either looking like a small Oldsmobile or small Cadillac.

Compared to Oldsmobile's Viking, which enjoyed a total production run of only 7,224 over three model years (1929, 1930, 1931) Marquette produced 35,007 vehicles in the U.S. during its brief one year life span;[2] additionally, GM Canada turned out another 6,535 Marquettes.

Despite its promising first year sales, two factors worked against the Marquette. The first involved Oldsmobile, which lost sales to Marquette; the second was that Buick executives did not feel that enough Marquettes were sold to warrant the extra burden on the bottom line given the state of the economy. Buick gave no advance warning of the termination of the Marquette; just four months before the shutdown, 4,000 Marquette signs were shipped to dealers in the hope of better days ahead.[2] The entry-level position held by Marquette was replaced by the new entry-level Buick Special.[2]

After the shutdown of Marquette, the engine production tools were shipped to Germany, where it was used to power the original Opel Blitz.[3] This was the first link between Opel and Buick, a sporadic tie-up which was to last until General Motors finally severed ties with Opel in the 21st century.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kimes, Beverly Rae (1996). The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942. Iola, IA: Krause Publications. p. 930. ISBN 0873414284.
  3. ^ Ludvigsen, Karl E. (1975), Opel: wheels to the world; a seventy-five year history of automobile manufacture, Princeton Publishing, pp. 49–50, ISBN 0-915038-01-3
[edit]

43°25′04″N 83°57′52″W / 43.417778°N 83.964444°W / 43.417778; -83.964444

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