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71-628: Attorney and historian Clarence M. Burton donated his collections to the Detroit Public Library in 1914, leading to the development of the Detroit Historical Museum. In December 1921, Burton brought together 19 prominent local historians to found the Detroit Historical Society, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the city's history. In 1927, membership offices were leased and Society treasurer J. Bell Moran

142-455: A cerebral hemorrhage and died. An incomplete list: General Motors General Motors Company ( GM ) is an American multinational automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit , Michigan, United States. The company is most known for owning and manufacturing four automobile brands: Chevrolet , Buick , GMC , and Cadillac . By total sales, it has continuously been

213-514: A 15% stake in AeroVironment . In 1989, GM acquired half of Saab Automobile 's car operations for $ 600 million. In August 1990, Robert Stempel became CEO of the company, succeeding Roger Smith . GM cut output significantly and suffered losses that year due to the early 1990s recession . In 1990, GM debuted the General Motors EV1 (Impact) concept, a battery electric vehicle , at

284-521: A British producer of high-performance sports cars . In 1987, in conjunction with AeroVironment , GM built the Sunraycer , which won the inaugural World Solar Challenge and was a showcase of advanced technology. Much of the technology from Sunraycer found its way into the Impact prototype electric vehicle (also built by Aerovironment) and was the predecessor to the General Motors EV1 . In 1988, GM acquired

355-504: A breakthrough in heat treating still in use today as ASTM A255. GM established Detroit Diesel the next year. In 1939, the company founded Motors Insurance Corporation and entered the vehicle insurance market. The same year, GM introduced the Hydramatic , the first affordable and successful automatic transmission , for the 1940 Oldsmobile. During World War II , GM produced vast quantities of armaments, vehicles, and aircraft for

426-472: A continuation of its diversification plans, GMAC formed GMAC Mortgage and acquired Colonial Mortgage as well as the servicing arm of Norwest Mortgage in 1985. This acquisition included an $ 11 billion mortgage portfolio. The same year, GM acquired the Hughes Aircraft Company for $ 5 billion in cash and stock and merged it into Delco Electronics . The following year, GM acquired 59.7% of Lotus Cars ,

497-900: A controlling interest in North American Aviation and merged it with the General Aviation Manufacturing Corporation . The GM labor force participated in the formation of the United Auto Workers labor union in 1935, and in 1936 the UAW organized the Flint Sit-Down Strike , which initially idled two key plants in Flint, Michigan, and later spread to 6 other plants including those in Janesville, Wisconsin and Fort Wayne, Indiana . In Flint, police attempted to enter

568-637: A facility with improved lighting, signage and building upgrades. The museum closed again May 21 through November 22, 2012 for renovation. Several new exhibits were installed including the Allesee Gallery of Culture ; Detroit: Arsenal of Democracy that explores the city's role in World War II ; a sign from Tiger Stadium ; the Kid Rock Music Lab , created through a $ 250,000 gift from performer Kid Rock , and

639-609: A literary society bent on studying and discussing Detroit history, its direction changed in 1927 when under the leadership of one of the DHS directors, J. Bell Moran, the Society founded the Detroit Historical Museum (DHM). Since the first museum opened in the Barlum Tower as "Detroit's best kept secret," prominent Detroiters as trustees of the Society and the public have added to the collection. As of today, it has over 200,000 items. However, by

710-543: A newly constructed building of their own. In April 1915, Burton organized the Burton Investment Co, for the purpose of erecting 100 modestly priced homes in Detroit. On February 6, 1896, Burton's wife Harriet died, leaving Burton as the sole parent to eight children. He lost himself in his work, but eventually met Lina O. (Shoemaker) Grant. The two were married on Christmas Day, 1897. However, in 1898, Lina died as

781-529: A program to develop a lightweight two-stroke diesel engine for possible usage in automobiles. Soon after, GM acquired Electro-Motive Company and the Winton Engine Co. , and in 1941, it expanded EMC's realm to locomotive engine manufacturing. In 1932, GM acquired Packard Electric (not to be confused with the Packard car company, which merged with Studebaker years later). The following year, GM acquired

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852-688: A small farm on the outskirts of Hastings . Dr. Burton started another newspaper, the Hastings Banner (which is still published today) in addition to reviving his medical practice. The Burtons had three more children: William, Ella, and Edward. Clarence Burton grew up in Hastings, attending the local public schools there until 1869, when he followed his brother Charles to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor . He began studying science, but in 1872 entered

923-422: A strategy by CEO Roger Smith to derive at least 10% of its annual worldwide revenue from non-automotive sources. GM also intended to have EDS handle its bookkeeping, help computerize factories, and integrate GM's computer systems. The transaction made Ross Perot the largest shareholder of GM; however, disagreements with Roger Smith led the company to buy all shares held by Ross Perot for $ 750 million in 1986. In

994-606: The Fortune 500 and 50th on the Fortune Global 500 . In 2023, the company was ranked 70th in the Forbes Global 2000 . In 2021, GM announced its intent to end production of vehicles using internal combustion engines by 2035, as part of its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. By 1900, William C. Durant 's Durant-Dort Carriage Company of Flint, Michigan , had become the largest manufacturer of horse-drawn vehicles in

1065-813: The Allies of World War II . In 1940, GM's William S. Knudsen served as head of U.S. wartime production for President Franklin Roosevelt , and by 1942, all of GM's production was to support the war. GM's Vauxhall Motors manufactured the Churchill tank series for the Allies, instrumental in the North African campaign . However, its Opel division, based in Germany, supplied the Wehrmacht with vehicles. Politically, Sloan, as head of GM at

1136-582: The American Antiquarian Society in 1907. Burton continued to collect books and manuscripts throughout his life, slowing down in the mid-aughts when original material became scarce. Later, he concentrated more on writing, producing works that included The Building of Detroit in 1912, Barnabas Campau and his descendants in 1916, and the five-volume The City of Detroit in 1922. Throughout his life, Burton held positions of public trust, occasionally flirting with elected office. In 1896, he

1207-515: The Cadillac V8-6-4 variable-cylinder engines. GM sold Frigidaire in 1979. Although Frigidaire had between $ 450 million and $ 500 million in annual revenues, it was losing money. Robert Lee of GM invented the neodymium magnet , which was fabricated by rapid solidification, in 1984. This magnet is commonly used in products like a computer hard disk. The same year, GM acquired Electronic Data Systems for $ 2.5 billion from Ross Perot as part of

1278-674: The City Directory. In 1895, he turned his attention to writing histories, beginning with A Sketch of the Life of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Founder of Detroit, which was published that year. A Chapter in the History Of Cleveland followed soon after, and one of his most famous works, In the Footsteps of Cadillac, was published a few years later in 1899. Burton was elected a member of

1349-589: The Gallery of Innovation and Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad that allows visitors to simulate the journey of a runaway slave traveling through Detroit to Canada. In October 2019, the museum announced it would resume charging admission November 1, due to a deficit of $ 297,000 the prior year. The museum established admission for adults at $ 10 with reduced rates for children, seniors, active military and some other groups. On March 13, 2020,

1420-505: The General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), which provides financing to automotive customers, was formed. In 1920, du Pont orchestrated the removal of Durant once again and replaced him with Alfred P. Sloan . At a time when GM was competing heavily with Ford Motor Company , Sloan established annual model changes, making previous years' models "dated" and created a market for used cars . He also implemented

1491-664: The LA Auto Show . It was the first car with zero emissions marketed in the US in over three decades. The Impact was produced as the EV1 for the 1996 model year and was available only via lease from certain dealers in California and Arizona. In 1999–2002, GM ceased production of the vehicles and started to not renew the leases, disappointing many people, allegedly because the program would not be profitable and would cannibalize its existing business. All of

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1562-545: The Rapid Motor Vehicle Company of Pontiac, Michigan , and the Reliance Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan (predecessors of GMC ) in 1909. Durant, with the board's approval, also tried acquiring Ford Motor Company , but needed an additional $ 2 million. Durant over- leveraged GM in making acquisitions, and was removed by the board of directors in 1910 at the order of the bankers who backed

1633-724: The Yellow Cab Manufacturing Company the same year, and its president, John D. Hertz , joined the board of directors of GM; it acquired the remainder of the company in 1943. In 1926, the company introduced the Pontiac brand and established the General Motors Group Insurance Program to provide life insurance to its employees. The following year, after the success of the 1927 model of the Cadillac LaSalle designed by Harley Earl , Sloan created

1704-472: The corporate spin-off of Electronic Data Systems . In 1997, GM sold the military businesses of Hughes Aircraft Company to Raytheon Company for $ 9.5 billion in stock and the assumption of debt. In February 2000, Rick Wagoner was named CEO, succeeding Smith. The next month, GM gave 5.1% of its common stock, worth $ 2.4 billion, to acquire a 20% share of Fiat . In December 2000, GM announced that it would begin phasing out Oldsmobile . The brand

1775-532: The "Art and Color Section" of GM and named Earl as its first director. Earl was the first design executive to be appointed to leadership at a major American corporation. Earl created a system of automobile design that is still practiced today. At the age of 24, Bill Mitchell was recruited by Earl to the design team at GM, and he was later appointed as Chief Designer of Cadillac. After Earl retired in December 1958, Mitchell took over automotive design for GM. Also in 1926

1846-584: The DHS and instituted a building campaign in 1942. By this time, the Museum was in the former Homer Wiliams home on Merrick Street across from what is now the Cass Avenue entrance to the Detroit Public Library . The Williams home, where future Michigan Governor G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams grew up, has been replaced by part of the Wayne State University Campus. After a 1946 referendum spearheaded by

1917-531: The DHS and the City of Detroit, the City of Detroit Historical Commission was created to manage the Detroit Historical Museum. The Detroit Historical Society turned its collection and sizable building fund over to the city and assumed the role of being the principal outside financial backer to the museum. By the 1990s, the Museum rode a wave of success. In 1993, the Detroit Historical Society raised nearly $ 4 million for exhibits, educational programs and an endowment fund for

1988-617: The Detroit Recreation Department. Shortly after the death of The Detroit News style columnist Charlotte "Tavy" Stone in 1985, the museum established the Tavy Stone Fashion Library. The library and costume gallery consolidate the museum's holdings on historical costumes and design in space on the second floor. The Detroit Historical Society ( DHS ) was founded in December 1921 with prominent Detroit historian Clarence M. Burton , its first president. Initially,

2059-575: The EV1s were eventually returned to General Motors, and except for around 40 which were donated to museums with their electric powertrains deactivated, all were destroyed. The documentary film Who Killed the Electric Car? covered the EV1 story. In November 1992, John F. Smith Jr. became CEO of the company. In 1993, GM sold Lotus Cars to Bugatti . In 1996, in a return to its automotive basics, GM completed

2130-607: The Great Lakes, the J. T. Wing . It operated the ship as a museum until 1956 when it shuttered because of its deteriorating condition. On July 24, 1961, it was replaced by the Dossin Great Lakes Museum which opened on Belle Isle Park as a branch of the Historical Museum devoted to maritime history. From 1949 through 2006, the museum also operated Fort Wayne , a former military installation constructed in 1845 on

2201-583: The Law Department at the university and received his degree in 1874. On Christmas Day, 1872, while he was still attending law school, Burton married Harriet Jane Nye. The couple eventually had eight children, the first of whom, Mary Agnes, was born in Ann Arbor. On November 19, 1874, the day after his twenty-first birthday, Burton was licensed to practice law in Wayne County, Michigan . He went to work for

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2272-678: The Museum. A new permanent exhibit, made possible by the success of the campaign, opened in 1995 – The Motor City Exhibition. This exhibit traces Detroit's development into the Automobile Capital of the World and includes an operating assembly line with a two-story body drop from the General Motors Cadillac Division Clark Street Plant . In 1998, the Museum opened another permanent exhibition, Frontiers to Factories: Detroiters at Work 1701–1901. This exhibit depicts

2343-490: The United States government and military, the vehicle safety, security, and information services provider OnStar , the auto parts company ACDelco , a namesake financial lending service , and majority ownership in the self-driving cars enterprise Cruise LLC . The company originated as a holding company for Buick established on September 16, 1908, by William C. Durant , the largest seller of horse-drawn vehicles at

2414-665: The United States. Durant was averse to automobiles, but fellow Flint businessman James H. Whiting , owner of Flint Wagon Works , sold him the Buick Motor Company in 1904. Durant formed the General Motors Company in 1908 as a holding company , borrowing a naming convention from General Electric . GM's first acquisition was Buick , which Durant already owned, then Olds Motor Works on November 12, 1908. Under Durant, GM went on to acquire Cadillac , Elmore , Welch , Cartercar , Oakland (the predecessor of Pontiac ),

2485-458: The banks of the Detroit River approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) southwest of the city's downtown area. Portions of the fort were deactivated after World War II and the barracks and fortification were turned over to the City of Detroit to operate as a museum. The remaining parts of the installation were ceded by the army to the city through 1976. In 2006, operation of the fort was given to

2556-471: The business, and Ward and Skinner gave him much of the responsibility for running it. Skinner, however, had never really warmed to this business, and in 1881 he sold his share of the title company to Burton. Two years later, Burton was admitted as partner in Ward and Skinner, and he later bought all of John Ward's interest in the business. In 1886, Burton moved again to Brainard Street, where his next son Frank

2627-404: The city's first two hundred years, as it grew from a French fur trading post to a major industrial center. In March 2006, the Detroit Historical Society once again assumed operational responsibility for the Museum, after signing a formal agreement with the City of Detroit. Four months later, the Museum closed for an extensive "Museum Makeover" reopening on September 29, 2006, with six new exhibits,

2698-448: The company acquired Fisher Body , its supplier of automobile bodies. GM acquired Allison Engine Company and began developing a 1,000 horsepower liquid-cooled aircraft engine in 1929. The same year, GM acquired 80% of Opel , which at that time had a 37.5% market share in Europe, for $ 26 million. It acquired the remaining 20% in 1931. In the late-1920s, Charles Kettering embarked on

2769-477: The company in 1915 after a disagreement with Durant. GM was reincorporated in Detroit in 1916 as General Motors Corporation and became a public company via an initial public offering . By 1917, Chevrolet had become successful enough that Durant, with the backing of Samuel McLaughlin and Pierre S. du Pont , reacquired a controlling interest in GM. The same year, GM acquired Samson Tractor . Chevrolet Motor Company

2840-698: The diesel-hybrid market, the Opel Astra diesel engine hybrid concept vehicle was rolled out in January 2005. Later that year, GM sold its Electro-Motive Diesel locomotive division to private equity firms Berkshire Partners and Greenbriar Equity Group. GM paid $ 2 billion to sever its ties with Fiat in 2005, severing ties with the company due to an increasingly contentious dispute. GM began adding its " Mark of Excellence " emblem on all new vehicles produced and sold in North America in mid-2005. However, after

2911-440: The family moved to a more well-to-do section of the city on Brady Street. Here, two more sons were born: Fred in 1882 and Louis in 1884. During this time, Burton joined the title abstract firm co-owned by John Ward, a partner in Ward and Palmer. Ward and his nephew, Eugene Skinner , had started the business in 1866, and by the time Burton joined the business, the abstract records had been collected. Burton devoted himself to

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2982-454: The firm of Ward and Palmer in Detroit for a yearly salary of $ 100 (soon boosted to $ 300). Burton and his wife, Harriet, lived in relative poverty for the first few years of Burton's career, living first in a rented three-room house on Henry Street and then buying a house at Brooklyn and Trumbull on the edge of Corktown . They had two more children during this time: Charles in 1876 and Clarence in 1878. However, Burton worked hard, and in 1881

3053-482: The first hydrogen fuel cell car ever produced. Though fuel cells have existed since the early 1800s, General Motors was the first to use a fuel cell, supplied by Union Carbide , to power the wheels of a vehicle with a budget of "millions of dollars". In the 1960s, GM was an early proponent of V6 engines , but quickly lost interest as the popularity of muscle cars increased. GM demonstrated gas turbine vehicles powered by kerosene , an area of interest throughout

3124-497: The gasoline was harmful to various biological organisms including humans. Evidence shows that corporate executives understood the health implications of tetraethyllead from the beginning. As an engineer for GM, Midgley also developed chlorofluorocarbons , which have now been banned due to their contribution to climate change . Under the encouragement of GM President Alfred P. Sloan Jr., GM acquired Vauxhall Motors for $ 2.5 million in 1925. The company also acquired an interest in

3195-479: The general election. In 1922 he ran for Congress, but was defeated by Vincent M. Brennan . In 1907, he spent copious time involved with the 1907 State Constitutional Convention, and in 1913 sat on the Detroit Charter Commission. In 1908, Burton was elected City Historiographer for Detroit, a position he held until his death in 1932. In 1913, as a result of his keen interest in local history, Burton

3266-637: The industry, but abandoned the alternative engine configuration due to the 1973 oil crisis . In partnership with Boeing , GM's Delco Defense Electronics Division designed the Lunar Roving Vehicle , which traversed the surface of the Moon, in 1971. The following year, GM produced the first rear wheel anti-lock braking system for two models: the Toronado and Eldorado. In 1973, the Oldsmobile Toronado

3337-487: The largest automaker in the United States, and was the largest in the world for 77 years before losing the top spot to Toyota in 2008. General Motors operates manufacturing plants in eight countries. In addition to its four core brands, GM also holds interests in Chinese brands Baojun and Wuling via SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile . GM further owns a namesake defense vehicles division which produces military vehicles for

3408-450: The late 1930s the Society had become more of a social club than a Historical Society. In 1941, the Society recruited The Detroit News columnist George Stark into membership. It was later said the DHS was seeking mention in Stark's daily column, but "what they got was George instead." With J. Bell Moran being called into government service due to the war, George Stark took over the leadership of

3479-619: The loans to keep GM in business. The action of the bankers was partially influenced by the Panic of 1910–1911 that followed the earlier enforcement of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 . In 1911, Charles F. Kettering of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO) and Henry M. Leland invented and patented the first electric starter in America. In November 1911, Durant co-founded Chevrolet with race car driver Louis Chevrolet , who left

3550-654: The museum along with other institutions in Michigan announced it would close through April 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer . The closure was later extended into June. On June 25, several museums in the city announced they would reopen July 10, 2020, after devising a coordinated plan that included requirements and protocols to keep staff and visitors safe. 42°21′35″N 83°04′02″W  /  42.3596°N 83.0673°W  / 42.3596; -83.0673 Clarence M. Burton Clarence Monroe Burton (November   18, 1853 – October   23, 1932)

3621-408: The new museum was dedicated in an elaborate ceremony. In attendance were such dignitaries as Governor G. Mennen Williams , Mayor Albert E. Cobo , U.S. Senator Homer S. Ferguson , the French and British ambassadors and Detroit native and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Ralph Bunche of the United Nations . In 1949, the Detroit Historical Museum acquired one of the last commercial sailing vessels on

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3692-433: The plant to arrest strikers, leading to violence; in other cities, the plants were shuttered peacefully. The strike was resolved on February 11, 1937, when GM recognized the UAW as the exclusive bargaining representative for its workers and gave workers a 5% raise and permission to speak in the lunchroom. Walter E. Jominy and A.L. Boegehold of GM invented the Jominy end-quench test for hardenability of carbon steel in 1937,

3763-528: The pricing strategy used by car companies today. The pricing strategy had Chevrolet , Pontiac , Oldsmobile , Buick , and Cadillac priced from least expensive to most, respectively. In 1921, Thomas Midgley Jr. , an engineer for GM, discovered tetraethyllead (leaded gasoline) as an antiknock agent, and GM patented the compound because ethanol could not be patented. This led to the development of higher compression engines resulting in more power and efficiency. The public later realized that lead contained in

3834-487: The reorganization in 2009, the company no longer added the logo, saying that emphasis on its four core divisions would downplay the GM logo. In 2005, Edward T. Welburn was promoted to the newly created position of vice president, GM Global Design, making him the first African American to lead a global automotive design organization and the highest-ranking African American in the US motor industry at that time. On July 1, 2016, he retired from General Motors after 44 years. He

3905-567: The result of an operation, leaving Burton alone once more. In the spring of 1900, Burton married his third wife, his cousin Anna (Monroe) Knox. She had four children from a previous marriage, and, in 1901, bore another daughter, Elizabeth. Burton had always been interested in collecting books. He had begun in 1874 by collecting historical works pertaining to his interests, tracing down as many works as possible on that subject. He eventually began concentrating on American historical documents, and finally on Michigan and Detroit. In particular, he

3976-449: The time, was an ardent opponent of the New Deal , which bolstered labor unions and public transport . Sloan admired and supported Adolf Hitler . Nazi armaments chief Albert Speer allegedly said in 1977 that Hitler "would never have considered invading Poland" without synthetic fuel technology provided by General Motors. GM was compensated $ 32 million by the U.S. government because its German factories were bombed by U.S. forces during

4047-479: The time. The first half of the 20th century saw the company grow into an automotive behemoth through acquisitions; going into the second half, the company pursued innovation and new offerings to consumers as well as collaborations with NASA to develop the earliest electric vehicles . The current entity was established in 2009 after the General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization . As of 2024 , General Motors ranks 25th by total revenue out of all American companies on

4118-414: The war. Effective January 28, 1953, Charles Erwin Wilson , then GM president, was named by Dwight D. Eisenhower as United States Secretary of Defense . In December 1953, GM acquired Euclid Trucks , a manufacturer of heavy equipment for earthmoving , including dump trucks , loaders and wheel tractor-scrapers , which later spawned the Terex brand. Alfred P. Sloan retired as chairman and

4189-521: Was a Detroit lawyer and businessman, historian , and philanthropist . In 1849, Dr. Charles Seymour and Annie Monroe Burton, along with their young son Charles Francis, moved from New York to the town of Battle Creek , Michigan . There, Dr. Burton founded the Battle Creek Journal and ran the newspaper until he was bitten by the gold bug in 1853. The family packed up and moved to the tiny California mining town of Whiskey Diggings in Sierra County , 85 miles from Marysville . Clarence M. Burton

4260-420: Was appointed the Detroit School Inspector, a job he held for 17 years, resigning in 1913 when his other duties and interests became too great. In 1897, he prepared to run for city alderman, but withdrew from the race. In 1900, he wrote a letter for the Detroit Century Box time capsule . In 1903, he was announced as the Republican candidate for the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan , but lost

4331-416: Was appointed to set up a museum. A curator was hired and on November 19, 1928, the "highest museum in the world" opened in a one-room suite on the 23rd floor of the Barlum Tower, now the Cadillac Tower . William Edward Kapp , architect for the firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls designed the building. On July 24, 1951, the 250th anniversary of Detroit's founding by Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac ,

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4402-570: Was born in Whiskey Diggings on November 18, 1853, while his father was away attending another patient. Dr. Burton soon tired of the rugged mining life, and in 1854 the family left Whiskey Diggings and sailed for the east coast. However, their ship, the Yankee Blade , was hijacked and sunk off Point Arguello . Hundreds of passengers drowned, but all the Burtons survived; they returned to San Francisco , staying there until 1855, when they sailed back to New York to reunite with Annie's family. The Burtons moved back to Michigan, this time settling on

4473-485: Was born. In 1890, a sixth son, Ralph, was added, and a few years later, a second daughter, Harriet. In 1891, Burton organized the Burton Abstract Company from Ward and Skinner. The new company failed to show a profit for the first few years, but grew in size and importance as Detroit grew, and eventually turned a handsome profit. In 1893 the company moved its quarters to Griswold Street, then moved again in 1914 and 1919. In 1924, Burton Abstract moved one more time to

4544-408: Was consolidated into GM on May 2, 1918, and the same year GM acquired United Motors , a parts supplier founded by Durant and headed by Alfred P. Sloan for $ 45 million, and the McLaughlin Motor Car Company , founded by R. S. McLaughlin , became General Motors of Canada Limited. In 1919, GM acquired Guardian Frigerator Company , part-owned by Durant, which was renamed Frigidaire . Also in 1919,

4615-447: Was elected to the Michigan Historical Commission, a membership he also held until his death. In 1915, Burton built a new house on Boston Boulevard in Boston-Edison which boasted fireproof steel and concrete construction. At the same time, Burton gave his book collection to the Detroit Public Library , along with the deed to his Brainard Street residence. In September 1915, the Burton Historical Collection, located on Brainard Street,

4686-560: Was eventually discontinued in 2004, seven years after it had become the first American car brand to turn 100. In May 2004, GM delivered the first full-sized pickup truck hybrid vehicles , the 1/2-ton Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra trucks. These mild hybrids did not use electrical energy for propulsion, like GM's later designs. Later, the company debuted another hybrid technology, co-developed with DaimlerChrysler and BMW , in diesel-electric hybrid powertrain manufactured by Allison Transmission for transit buses. Continuing to target

4757-544: Was interested in Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac . Burton spent years searching for and bidding on old books and manuscripts. Those that he could not buy he copied, either longhand or with a camera. By the 1890s, Burton had amassed a considerable collection of historical documents. He had a special fireproof addition built onto his Brainard Street house to hold his library. Burton revered his collection, but he welcomed scholars, or even casual researchers, to use his library, even going so far as to advertise its availability in

4828-525: Was opened to the public. The collection donated by Burton included 30,000 volumes, 40,000 pamphlets and 500,000 unpublished papers; more material was added to the collection in subsequent years. In 1921, the collection was moved to the main library. In 1925 Burton's wife Anna died. Burton retired in 1930, leaving his business duties to his son Louis. After two years of retirement Burton began to ail. He became seriously ill for several months, and on Sunday, October 23, 1932, Clarence Monroe Burton suffered

4899-494: Was replaced by Michael Simcoe . In 2006, GM introduced a bright yellow fuel cap on its vehicles to remind drivers that cars can operate using E85 ethanol fuel . They also introduced another hybrid vehicle that year, the Saturn Vue Green Line . In 2008, General Motors committed to engineering half of its manufacturing plants to be landfill-free by recycling or reusing waste in the manufacturing process. Continuing their environmental-conscious development, GM started to offer

4970-410: Was succeeded by Albert Bradley in April 1956. In 1962, GM introduced the first ever turbocharged production car in the world in the Oldsmobile Cutlass Turbo-Jetfire. Two years later, the company introduced its " Mark of Excellence " logo and trademark at the 1964 New York World's Fair . The company used the mark as their main corporate identifier until 2021. GM released the Electrovan in 1966,

5041-444: Was the first retail car sold with a passenger airbag . Thomas Murphy became CEO of the company, succeeding Richard C. Gerstenberg in November 1974. GM installed its first catalytic converters in its 1975 models. From 1978 to 1985, GM pushed the benefits of diesel engines and cylinder deactivation technologies. However, it had disastrous results due to poor durability in the Oldsmobile diesels and drivability issues in

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