Story and photos by Norm Mort
Photo Gallery:
Detroit Decades, 1908-1998
In 1864, Sylvester Hayward Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts built a steam carriage. The March 1864 issue of "Scientific American" reported that Roper's carriage weighed 650 lb. and was powered by a 2-hp steam engine. The family steam carriage he had built was capable of an amazing 25 mph.
Roper's steam carriage arrived in Detroit with the Spalding and Rogers' Great Ocean Circus in 1864. It was purportedly the first vehicle to drive on the streets of Detroit and was at the circus for public demonstration of this "horseless carriage."
Roper went on to build ten similar steam-powered vehicles over the next 20 years, as well as fit steam engines to bicycles throughout the 1880s. So rare and far between were these horseless carriages that circuses became venues for inventors to show their vehicles and perhaps raise the needed capital to begin production.
By 1899, Detroit, Michigan was a major industrial city and boasted of at least six automobile inventors including Henry Ford, Barton Peck, James Rogers and C.W. Koch. Auto inventor and wagon maker C.W. Koch reported at the time that because of bicycles, electric vehicles and rubber tires the wagon and carriage business was becoming far less profitable. As a result more and more blacksmiths and carriage companies were beginning to experiment with horseless carriages as a way of creating revenue.
1918 Chevrolet. Click image to enlarge |
William Metzger owned a bicycle shop in Detroit and after having visited one of the world's first car shows in England in 1895, went on to become Detroit's first Automobile dealer. In 1899, along with Seneca G. Lewis of the Fletcher Hardware Co., Metzger leased the Light Guard Armory and organized the Tri-State Sportsman's and Automobile Association for the exhibit of sporting goods and automobiles.
The successful show became an annual event and by 1902, Detroit's five auto dealerships, and the Tri-State Association decided to hold an event primarily for motor vehicles, thus eliminating the dog show, but still providing some space for guns, fishing tackle and other outdoor sports exhibits. In fact, rifle and revolver contests were held throughout the show and an orchestra played each evening.
The Armory was decorated with coloured bunting, moss, plants and vines. Special wiring was added for electric signs. The cars were placed along the sides of the walls, while booths in the centre sold parts, accessories and bicycles.
That was also the year a young Henry Ford left the Detroit Automobile Company to form his own establishment, while Henry C. Leland - who would eventually found Lincoln Motor Cars, succeeded Ford at and reorganized it as the Cadillac Motor Car Co. with Metzger as the first sales manager.
In 1907, Detroit's automobile dealers decided to hold their own event, but soon discovered Metzger and Tri-State held an exclusive lease on the Light Guard Armory. Not to be thwarted, they held their show at a former dance hall at Riverview Park in the "Coney Island" section of Detroit. The exhibit of 30 different makes and 76 models was a huge success and led to the formation of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association in 1909.
The location of the Detroit Auto Show would continue to change on a regular basis over the years. In 1918 due to America's entry into World War 1, the auditorium used in 1917 was unavailable in 1918. As a result the DADA accepted the invitation of Willys-Overland agent Guy Simmons to use his five-storey service station. The first three floors of the garage were used. One hundred exhibitors and fifty automobile manufacturers displayed two hundred and thirty-four models.
1928 LaSalle. Click image to enlarge |
In 1918, steel shortages were impacting on production, yet steel wheels were offered on some models for the first time. An army contract made Nash the world's largest truck producer in 1918 and Chevrolet joined General Motors.
The 1928 Detroit Auto Show was held at the Convention Hall which was formerly the John H. Thompson Arcade. The big news at the show were the number of high compression engines being offered; the fact four-wheel brakes were fitted to nearly all cars; and that many cars featured oil, fuel and air filters. The body colours were far less gaudy in 1928 than they were in 1927, while the interiors were generally more comfortable with improved ingress and egress.
One hundred and fifty models were on display that year with the Chevrolet attracting attention because of its improved steering.
Other news included the announcement of the Hudson Super Six, Cadillac's synchromesh transmission on its Fisher-bodied Imperial sedan, and Buick's fitting of Lovejoy hydraulic shock absorbers on its double-drop frame cars. But the car that stole the spotlight at this end of January 1928 event was the new Ford Model A. In the first thirty-six hours following its unveiling on December 2, 1927 an estimated ten million had flocked to see the new Ford.
1938 'Shark Nose' Graham. Click image to enlarge |
A decade later and in the midst of the depression, the Detroit Auto Show was still being held at Convention Hall. The 1938 theme was "A New World on Wheels." Twenty-two makes presented nearly two hundred models. The Studebaker stand featured the "Arrowbile," which was a Studebaker-powered flying car. Other glimpses of the future included a look at the cities and roads of the future -1960.
Rusty Heinz announced plans to build his sensational 1938 Phantom. Unfortunately production was halted due to his sudden death later that year. On a happier note GM built its first Y-Job dream car and famed Raymond Loewy put his name on the redesigned Studebakers.
Out of the tears of World War II came a far more optimistic 1948, yet there was no Detroit auto show. The first Detroit Auto Show since 1941 (1942 models), wouldn't be held until 1953 at the State Fair Grounds Coliseum building.
1948 Mercury truck. Click image to enlarge |
By 1958 it was a new and different world indeed. Chrome and fins were all the rage. There was a horsepower race and a few of the great marques were about to disappear, while the 21 foreign car makes outnumbered American manufacturers for the first time.
Presented at the Detroit Artillery Armory the two biggest attractions were an Oldsmobile featuring a rear seat television and the Edsel by Ford. Both failed to catch-on. Most auto officials felt a flying car by 2000 was a real possibility, particularly since Chrysler had just secured a military contract to develop a flying Jeep.
Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit became the permanent home for the Auto Show in 1960 and has remained there ever since. An important automobile introduction, particularly for Canadian auto enthusiasts and collectors, took place at the 1965 Detroit Auto Show. That year featured Studebakers models built solely in Canada, as well as an exciting new Dodge concept known as the Charger II.
1958 Chevrolet (top) and Pontiac GTO. Click image to enlarge |
In 1968, Mercury was hot to push its new sporty car and had a cage at the show full of live Cougars. The Dodge exhibit had a wild west theme with "Fort Rebellion" to coincide with its then popular "Join the Dodge Rebellion" slogan, while Oldsmobile had both Miss America and the Junior Miss America at its display area. The Japanese automakers were all there, but most of the world's manufacturers were not that impressed. Ten years later that view would change dramatically. Two show stoppers included the 1968 Corvette and Dodge Charger, while the younger set loved the new Plymouth Road Runner. And you could get a Hemi!
By 1978 many of the European manufacturers and nameplates were missing or a mere shadow of their former dominance - especially the French and British. Safety and fuel economy dominated the scene. Downsizing had been a keyword with American manufacturers for the past few years. Cars were smaller - even the Mustang that had grown steadily since its introduction in 1964 had shrunk in size and power. Cars causing crowds included the new Dodge Omni and the AMC Pacer. It was a time of vinyl roofs and funky vans.
1978 Chevrolet Corvette (top) and 1988 Pontiac Fiero. Click image to enlarge |
In 1988, over 500 cars and trucks were on display from 52 exhibitors. Chrysler brought Ricardo Montalban from television's "Fantasy Island" to tout its Chrysler LeBaron luxury models while Buick was convinced 20,000 buyers would want its new Reatta sports coupe (only 4,708 were sold!).
In 1998 the NAIAS had grown in size and featured more than 700 cars and trucks. Chrysler introduced its new Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Dakota and fresh Forward Look Concordes and Intrepids. Chevy showed its Corvette convertible, but dropped its GEO badge.
Since 1998 the NAIAS in Detroit has continued to grow both in size and importance. Cobo Hall was bursting at the seams in 1998, so the following year a 25-million dollar renovation was completed increasing floor space from 700,000 sq. ft. to 800,000 sq. ft. In 1997 there had been one stacked, vertical display; in 1998, four; and in 1999 there were 20. Designer's called it, "Detroit's first vertical show."
The years leading-up to the 2008 event have seen the rebirth of many makers such as Nissan, Mazda and GM; a new age of high performance cars like the next generation Viper, Ford Mustang, Corvette and the unforgettable Ferrari Enzo, not to mention the return of a Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger and more. Not all the vehicles were successes like the Chrysler PT Cruiser: the Pontiac Aztec and Ford 500 didn't quite hit the mark.
At the same time, over this past decade came the arrival of industry wide, cleaner running hybrids and the new Chinese automakers, which both have the potential to bring ever-lasting changes to the industry. And, those changes will continue to first be evident at the NAIAS in Detroit.
