International Harvester
International Harvester was an American manufacturer founded in 1902 by the merger of McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and Deering Harvester Company, among others. Although known primarily for its agricultural equipment, International Harvester also produced a variety of vehicles, most notably trucks, and the Scout SUV. The Scout, introduced in 1961, was a two-door SUV similar in design and purpose to the Jeep, and it’s often considered a precursor to modern SUVs. Despite its successes, the company faced financial difficulties in the 1980s due to labor disputes, decreased demand for agricultural equipment, and strong competition in the truck market. The company sold its agricultural division in 1985 and changed its name to Navistar International Corporation, focusing on trucks, buses, and engines. The International Harvester brand of trucks and SUVs was discontinued in 1980, marking the end of its vehicle production under that name. Others: Imperial, Inter-State, and Iroquois.
Jensen
Jensen Motors was a British manufacturer of sports cars and commercial vehicles, established by brothers Alan and Richard Jensen in 1934. The company is best known for the Jensen Interceptor, a grand touring car renowned for its distinctive design and high performance, produced from 1966 to 1976. Despite the popularity of its cars, Jensen Motors faced financial difficulties and management issues, leading to its closure in 1976. After the original company’s closure, there were several attempts to revive the brand, but none were able to sustain long-term success. Factors contributing to Jensen’s demise included the 1973 oil crisis, which negatively affected the market for high-performance, gas-guzzling cars, and financial mismanagement. The brand was not merged with another automaker. Others: Jackson, Jewett, and Jordan.
Knox
The Knox Automobile Company was an American manufacturer of automobiles and trucks founded in 1900 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Its most notable product was the “Knoxmobile”, a three-wheel vehicle, and later it produced four-wheel cars and trucks. The company’s vehicles were known for using air-cooled engines, which was unique at the time. However, by 1914, the company switched to more conventional water-cooled engines. Despite its early success and innovation, the Knox Automobile Company faced financial difficulties and growing competition in the automotive industry. The company ceased production of passenger vehicles in 1915 and focused on trucks until 1924. After the truck line also ended, the company was eventually dissolved. It was not merged into another automaker. Others: Kaiser, Kelsey, and Kissel.
LaSalle
LaSalle was an American brand of luxury automobiles manufactured and marketed by General Motors’ Cadillac division from 1927 through 1940. Alfred P. Sloan, GM’s President, developed LaSalle as a companion marque to fill the pricing gap between Buick and Cadillac vehicles. The brand is renowned for its stylish and elegant designs, heavily influenced by the work of Harley Earl, a pioneering automotive stylist. Despite its initial success, LaSalle was discontinued in 1940 due to a variety of factors including economic conditions, a narrowing price gap with Cadillac vehicles, and a changing consumer preference for the Cadillac brand. While LaSalle was not directly merged into another automaker, its discontinuation allowed Cadillac to gain a larger market share in the luxury car segment. Others: Lexington, Logan, and Lozier.
