Old American Car Brands: A Guide to the Names That Built the U.S. Auto Industry

Old American car brands include enduring names like Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Dodge, Jeep, and Lincoln, as well as many defunct marques such as Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Plymouth, American Motors (AMC), Studebaker, Packard, DeSoto, Nash, Hudson, Kaiser, Willys, Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, and Pierce-Arrow. This overview explains which historic brands still exist, which have disappeared, and how America’s car industry evolved through booms, busts, wars, and consolidation.

What “old” means in the American context

In the United States, “old” car brands generally refers to marques founded during the industry’s formative decades—from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century. Some of these names are still active today under large corporate groups, while many others vanished due to economic downturns, shifting consumer tastes, regulatory change, and mergers. The lists below group notable examples by status and era.

Long-running American marques still operating (pre-World War II origins)

These brands were established before or during World War II and remain in production today, though many now sit within larger conglomerates. They represent the longest continuous threads in U.S. automotive history as of 2025.

• Ford (founded 1903) — The archetypal American automaker, from the Model T to today’s F-Series and Mustang.
• Chevrolet (1911) — GM’s volume brand, spanning everything from family sedans to the Corvette.
• Cadillac (1902) — GM’s luxury flagship with a continuous lineage since the brass-era.
• Buick (1903) — GM’s oldest active division; a cornerstone of its early growth.
• GMC (1911) — GM’s truck and utility brand with roots in early commercial vehicles.
• Chrysler (1925) — A major Detroit marque, now part of Stellantis.
• Dodge (1914) — Started as a parts supplier, then cars and trucks; now under Stellantis.
• Jeep (1941) — Born from WWII military vehicles; continuous civilian production since the 1940s.
• Lincoln (1917) — Ford’s luxury division, known for large sedans and modern SUVs.

While corporate ownership and product portfolios have changed, these names trace their identities back to the earliest decades of American motoring.

Major mainstream American brands that disappeared

These familiar mass-market marques once sold in large volumes but were discontinued—often due to corporate restructuring, shifting demand, or economic crises. Years indicate primary U.S. passenger-car activity.

• Pontiac (1926–2010) — GM performance and value brand axed during GM’s post-2009 restructuring.
• Oldsmobile (1897–2004) — One of America’s oldest marques; retired by GM after declining sales.
• Mercury (1938–2011) — Ford’s mid-tier brand between Ford and Lincoln; shuttered to streamline.
• Plymouth (1928–2001) — Chrysler’s value brand; folded into Dodge/Chrysler lines.
• DeSoto (1928–1961) — Chrysler companion marque ended amid internal overlap.
• American Motors (AMC) (1954–1988) — Formed by Nash–Hudson merger; acquired by Chrysler, Jeep continued.
• Rambler (1901; revived 1950–1969) — Nash/AMC economy line, phased out in the U.S.
• Saturn (1985–2010) — GM’s “different kind of car company,” closed after the financial crisis.
• Geo (1989–1997) — GM small-car badge (with partnerships) absorbed back into Chevrolet.
• Eagle (1988–1998) — Chrysler brand launched from AMC assets; discontinued after sales waned.
• Hummer (1992–2010) — Stand-alone brand ended; the name returned as GMC Hummer EV models from 2020, not a separate brand.

These closures reflect consolidation waves, especially around the 1970s fuel crises and the late-2000s recession that reshaped Detroit’s Big Three.

Classic pre-war luxury and performance marques (now defunct)

Before World War II, the U.S. hosted a vibrant luxury and performance scene. The Great Depression and changing market economics ended most of these storied names.

• Packard (1899–1958) — Once a premier luxury maker; merged with Studebaker late in life.
• Studebaker (cars 1902–1966) — Innovative independent; ceased U.S. production mid-1960s.
• Pierce-Arrow (1901–1938) — Prestige luxury known for craftsmanship and engineering.
• Duesenberg (1913–1937) — Legendary performance luxury; “It’s a Duesy.”
• Auburn (1900–1937) — Style-forward brand tied to Cord and Duesenberg.
• Cord (1929–1937) — Front-drive pioneer with iconic design.
• Stutz (1911–1935) — Early performance leader; later revivals were short-lived.
• Marmon (1902–1933) — Engineering-driven luxury; known for the V16.
• Franklin (1902–1934) — Air-cooled luxury cars with advanced features.
• Peerless (1900–1931) — Part of the “Three Ps” with Packard and Pierce-Arrow.
• Locomobile (1899–1929) — Began with steam; later premium gasoline cars.
• Hupmobile (1909–1940) — Mid-priced brand that couldn’t weather the 1930s.
• Kissel (1906–1931) — Regional maker famed for sporty “Gold Bug” models.
• Moon (1905–1930) — St. Louis-based marque from the brass and nickel eras.

These marques symbolize the U.S. industry’s artisanal age, when hand-built luxury and engineering daring were the norm for high-end cars.

Pioneers, companion, and regional marques (mostly defunct)

Many early brands served as stepping-stones for today’s giants, acted as companion marques, or flourished regionally before consolidation swept the market.

• Maxwell (1904–1925) — Precursor to Chrysler after financial reorganization.
• Oakland (1907–1931) — GM brand replaced by Pontiac.
• Winton (1897–1924) — Early production pioneer; among the first cross-country drives.
• Overland (1903–1926) — Core of Willys-Overland; forerunner to Jeep lineage.
• Willys (1912–1950s, passenger cars) — Wartime Jeep producer; civilian Willys cars faded postwar.
• Kaiser (1946–1955) and Frazer (1946–1951) — Postwar upstarts; later became Kaiser-Jeep.
• Nash (1916–1957) — Merged into AMC; known for innovation and the Rambler.
• Hudson (1909–1957) — Performance and NASCAR success; merged into AMC.
• Essex (1918–1932) and Terraplane (1932–1938) — Hudson’s companion/value lines.
• Durant (1921–1932), Flint (1923–1926), Star (1922–1928) — William C. Durant’s post-GM ventures.
• Chandler (1913–1929) and Cleveland (1919–1926) — Cleveland makers absorbed by Hupp.
• Crosley (1939–1952) — Small, efficient cars ahead of their time in the U.S.
• American Bantam (1937–1941) — Early Jeep prototype originator; lost mass contract to Willys/Ford.
• Checker (1922–1982) — Famed taxi builder with limited retail sales.
• Rickenbacker (1922–1927) — Known for introducing four-wheel brakes at scale.

Though many of these names faded, their engineering ideas, supply chains, or corporate remnants fed directly into brands that survive today.

Early electric and specialty American marques (defunct)

Electric cars are not new to the U.S.—they thrived before 1920—while occasional specialty brands made brief but memorable appearances later in the century.

• Detroit Electric (1907–1939) — Popular with urban drivers in the pre-starter era.
• Baker Electric (1899–1914) — Early EV pioneer from Cleveland.
• Pope-Waverley (1904–1916) — Part of the Pope manufacturing network producing electrics.
• Milburn Electric (1915–1923) — Noted for quiet, clean urban runabouts.
• Tucker (1947–1949) — Short-lived but influential safety and design innovator.
• DeLorean (DMC) (1981–1983) — Stainless-steel icon; American company with NI assembly.
• Avanti (1965–2006, intermittent) — Continued the Studebaker Avanti concept in niche volumes.
• Vector (1989–1990s) — Low-volume American supercar experiments.

While brief, these ventures underscore America’s long-running appetite for innovation—from early EVs to ambitious boutique performance projects.

Why so many brands vanished

The ebb and flow of American marques reflects broader economic and regulatory tides. Several recurring forces reshaped the industry’s brand map over the last century.

• Economic shocks — The Great Depression, oil crises, and the 2008–09 recession hit weaker brands hardest.
• Consolidation — Mergers (e.g., Nash–Hudson into AMC) and big-group strategies reduced overlapping nameplates.
• Regulation and technology — Emissions, safety, and fuel-economy standards raised development costs.
• Changing demand — Shifts from sedans to trucks/SUVs and from mid-tier to premium/value squeezed “middle” brands.
• Global platforms — Multinational architectures favored fewer, larger brands for scale.

By the 2010s, the U.S. market coalesced around fewer, stronger badges offering broader lineups and globalized engineering.

Summary

America’s “old” car brands span living legends—Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Lincoln—and a long roster of classics now gone: Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Plymouth, AMC, Studebaker, Packard, DeSoto, Nash, Hudson, Willys, Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow, and many more. Together they chart the nation’s automotive arc from brass-era experimentation and pre-war luxury, through postwar mass-market expansion, to modern consolidation under a handful of enduring names.

What are classic US car brands?

Born to Run: Top 10 classic American cars

• Jeep (1941)
• Cadillac Eldorado (1953)
• Shelby AC Cobra (1962)
• Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963)
• Ford Mustang (1964)
• Chevrolet Camaro (1966)
• Dodge Charger (1968)
• Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (1970)

What were the American car brands in the 1940s?

At the beginning of the 1940s, Chrysler, Ford and GM accounted for 90 percent of all U.S. car sales, with the rest divided between Packard, Hudson, Nash-Kelvinator, Studebaker, Checker, Crosley and Willys-Overland/Jeep.

What car company no longer exists?

Many well-known car companies have gone out of business, including General Motors’ divisions like Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, and Hummer, as well as independent brands like Mercury, Plymouth, American Motors (AMC), Studebaker, and Saab. Other examples include the luxury brand Packard, the distinctive DeLorean, and even historical figures like Duesenberg and Tucker. 
Recently Discontinued (Last 25 Years) 

• Pontiac: Opens in new tabA General Motors brand known for its performance cars, discontinued in 2010. 
• Oldsmobile: Opens in new tabAnother GM division, it was a long-standing brand that faced declining sales and was discontinued in 2004. 
• Mercury: Opens in new tabA Ford Motor Company brand that closed in 2010 after failing to generate enough sales. 
• Saturn: Opens in new tabCreated by GM to reach new customers, it was shut down during the 2008 financial crisis. 
• Hummer: Opens in new tabOriginally a civilian version of a military vehicle, this brand also closed after the GM bankruptcy in 2010. 
• Plymouth: Opens in new tabA long-time Chrysler brand that ceased production in 2001. 
• Saab: Opens in new tabThe Swedish carmaker faced financial difficulties and went out of business around 2012. 
• Scion: Opens in new tabAnother Toyota experiment to capture a younger audience, its line was absorbed back into the Toyota brand by 2016. 

Historical Examples

• Studebaker: An iconic American brand with a long history, it went out of business in the mid-1960s. 
• American Motors Corporation (AMC): Formed from a merger of Nash and Hudson, AMC was later absorbed by Chrysler and sold its Jeep division. 
• Packard: A luxury car brand known for its high-quality vehicles, it was absorbed by Studebaker and eventually folded in 1956. 
• Duesenberg: A high-end luxury and performance brand from the early 20th century. 
• DeLorean: Famous for its “Back to the Future” appearance, this innovative sports car manufacturer lasted only a few years in the early 1980s. 
• Tucker: Preston Tucker’s innovative and visionary sedan was a short-lived venture in the late 1940s. 

What are the oldest American car brands?

The oldest surviving American car brand is Buick, founded in 1899, followed by Cadillac (1902) and Ford (1903). While the Duryea Motor Wagon Company was the first to mass produce cars in 1896, it is no longer in operation, and other early brands like Oldsmobile and Dodge are also defunct. 
Here’s a breakdown of some of the oldest American car brands still in existence:

• Buick: Opens in new tabFounded in 1899 by David Dunbar Buick, it began as the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company before becoming the Buick Motor Company in 1903. It is now owned by General Motors. 
• Cadillac: Opens in new tabFounded in 1902 by Henry Leland, who had previously been involved with the Henry Ford Company. Cadillac was acquired by General Motors in 1909 and remains a GM brand. 
• Ford: Opens in new tabThe Ford Motor Company was incorporated in 1903 by Henry Ford, revolutionizing car manufacturing with methods like the moving assembly line. 

Other early American car brands that are no longer in production include:

• Duryea: The first American company to mass-produce and sell gasoline-powered automobiles in 1896. 
• Oldsmobile: Founded in 1897, it was the oldest surviving American automaker until it shut down in 2004. 
• Dodge: Founded by the Dodge brothers in 1914.