It’s no secret that Detroit has played a vital role in the history of automobile production. After all, they don’t call us the Motor City for nothing, and there’s something undeniably fascinating about taking a trip down memory lane to revisit the earliest days of Detroit’s automotive production prowess. Here are 11 incredible photos from the history of the auto industry that will surely fascinate.
- This capture from 1917 shows the Kessler-Detroit Motor Car Company Factory, one of the earliest examples of the auto industry’s influence here in the Motor City. Talk about a blast from the past!
Wikimedia Commons/Detroit Public Library
- It’s no secret that the modern assembly line has its roots here in Detroit. This photo from the Carter Car Motorcar Company shows an average day in the “Final Assembling Department.”
Wikimedia Commons/Detroit Public Library
- This photo, taken in the early 1940s, shows a so-called “Detroit Auto Graveyard.” These vehicles would later be shipped to scrap yards and repurposed by the Great Lakes Steel Plant.
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
- Taken around 1910, this photo shows the main Cadillac assembly plant, situated near Amsterdam Street and Cass Avenue in the Motor City. Have you ever owned a Cadillac?
Wikimedia Commons/Detroit Publishing Company
- The Auto Show has always been a point of pride for Detroit’s auto industry and a fun outing for locals. Here’s a throwback from the 1969 show, featuring a Ford Scrambler. Do you remember this vehicle?
Wikimedia Commons/Bill Cook
- During World War I, the American Red Cross hosted classes and other activities at the Packard Factory in Detroit. This photograph from the mayor’s office was taken around 1918.
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
- This black and white capture from 1909 shows the original Hudson Motor Car Company Factory, situated at the corner of Beaufait and Mack Avenues here in Detroit.
Wikimedia Commons/Detroit Public Library
- Have you or any of your loved ones worked in the automotive industry throughout the decades? Here’s a more recent capture from 1973 that shows a transmission being installed in the Wayne Cadillac plant.
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
- Did you know that the Detroit Packard Plant was also used to produce La Pere airplanes during wartime? This capture from the WWI era demonstrates how the Motor City’s factories were repurposed.
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
As these photographs demonstrate, Detroit’s important role in the history of car production simply can’t be overstated. Did the pictures above spur any memories of your own experiences within the automotive industry? Do you have any vintage photos to share? Let us know below, or highlight another piece of Detroit history by filling out our nomination form here!
Wikimedia Commons/Detroit Public Library
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Wikimedia Commons/Detroit Publishing Company
Wikimedia Commons/Bill Cook
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
For another dose of Motor City history, read about some of Detroit’s most unique inventions.
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