Over the decades, so many brands have burst into the automotive world, only to fade out and become by-gone names. Some of these fabled brands may today be without vehicles, but their indelible footprint can still be seen in matters’ design, technology, and culture. They are ten forgotten names, and each has made a legacy within the industry.
1. Tucker – (1944-1951)
A legacy: The Tucker 48, popularly known as the “Tucker Torpedo,” had really innovative safety features, including a center-mounted headlight that turned with the steering wheel, as well as a padded dashboard.
How It Changed the Industry: This was Preston Tucker’s vision of safety and innovation that led to the building of features considered standard today. The Tucker 48 is a pioneer of the modern safety standard, despite producing only 51 cars.
2. DeLorean Motor Company – (1975-1982)
Legacy: The DeLorean DMC-12 became an image because of its stainless body and gull-wing doors but earned its fame from the Back to the Future movie.
Why It Changed the Industry: The DeLorean was short-lived but became canon of futuristic design, reimagining itself as an enduring cultural icon to countless concept cars that followed.
3. Packard(1899-1958)
Legacy: Packard dignified it with a lavish introduction of the first production V12 engine in its cars along with modern air-conditioning systems.
Why It Changed the Industry: Packard, known for engineering excellence, set the standards of luxury and innovation against which all others were gauged, including Cadillac and Rolls-Royce.
4. Studebaker (1852-1966)
Legacy: From a maker of wagons, Studebaker turned into a fine car-maker with models such as the Studebaker Champion and Avanti.
How It Changed the Industry: First to introduce such things as automotive financing programs, as well as a more aerodynamic design that contributed to the direction the car would take post-WWII.
5. AMC-American Motors Corporation (1954–1987)
What It Incorporated: AMC with compact cars such as Gremlin and vehicles that were pathbreaking example like the Jeep Cherokee.
Why It Changed The Industry: “It raised the mini car segments and turn the tide toward the development of modern SUVs in America.”
6. Hispano-Suiza-Not that much but existed really, between the years 1904 and 1946
What It Incorporated: Advance Engineering Merging Luxury carmakers Spain and France were so famous for their creations.
Why It Changes Industries: Hispano-Suiza had also developed servo-assisted braking which would go on to be adopted by Rolls Royce and the rest of the luxury brand fraternity.
7. Cord- 1929-1937
What It Incorporated: All that would set Cord apart are its fantastic cars like the L-29 and 810/812 outweighing those with above all hidden headlights and front-wheel drive.
Why it changed the industry: Its use of front-wheel drive and streamlined Art Deco design inspired future automotive trends and influenced modern car aesthetics.
8. Pontiac: 1926-2010
What It Incorporated: The legacy of Pontiac lived in performance, what the tell-tale engines produced by such legendary names as GTO, Firebird, and Trans Am will become to very often define.
Why It Changed The Industry: Creating a whole new era-the muscle-car age whereby mainstream vehicles are engineered for performance.
9. Saab-1945-2012
What Incorporated: Saab was also very much known as a strange innovative design house-came up with turbocharging and characteristics such as aerodynamics that were almost like an aircraft.
Why it changed the industry: It took turbo engines to mass cars and along with this, safety, practical aspects, and performance in designing cars.
10. Duesenberg (1913-1937)
Legacy: It was the most luxurious- and performance-based models that described what Duesenberg cars were-the consuls of opulence and excellence before the war.
How It Changed the Industry: The company had a straight-8 engine, which made Duesenberg place the bar for luxury and power long before the high-end brands emulated it.
