Rainier Motor Car Company

The Rainier Motor Car Company was an active between 1905 and 1909 American manufacturer of luxury automobiles. Vehicles of this brand created until 1911.

Founded in 1905 by John T. Rainier in Flushing, New York, the company specialized in the construction of prestigious automobiles. The headquarters was housed initially in John Rainier 's representation for Vehicle Equipment ( VE) automobiles.

Developed the Rainier Automobile chief designer of James G. Heaslet, who held the company during the whole production period faithfulness. Rainiers were large, conventional, well-built cars with high performance. Therefore, they were able to achieve some local successes at " Hill Climbs " and mountain races. As one of the first automobile companies Rainier ever was a 1-year warranty on " use without repair costs ."

Initially took place in Flushing only the final assembly of the Rainier automobiles. The chassis came from the Garford Company of Elyria, Ohio. This company also supplied a number of other manufacturers; its most important partner was Studebaker. Mid- 1907, it became clear that cooperation between Garford and Studebaker would deepen and that would fail as a result Garford lack of sufficient capacity as a supplier of chassis. Therefore, John Rainier decided to build its cars from now on completely himself. To this end, new production facilities were in Saginaw, Michigan, an early center of automobile production, created and taken for model year 1908 in operation.

A short but violent economic crisis in November 1907 hit the company in the worst possible moment. After the production of about 300 Rainier in Saginaw they had to declare bankruptcy in 1908 because it lacked as a result of large investments in the production of cash even for materials and wages in November. Was doubly bitter that, according to its own data exceeded the assets of the company, the liabilities at any time. On January 25, 1909, came to the auction of plants. The contract was for $ 20,000 to the attorney George C. Comstock, who tried on behalf of John Rainier save the company. However, additional resources needed did not come together so that the projects had to be abandoned. In May of the same year William Durant took over the company for General Motors.

For the purpose, on the one hand the Rainier continue to produce and on the other components for the GM luxury brands Welch and Welch - Detroit was establish in Saginaw founded a new company, Marquette Motor Company. Their management was controlled by Buick management. However, in September 1910, there was at GM to a momentous change of power: founder William Durant had to leave the company after it ran into financial difficulties because of its policy of expansion with numerous company acquisitions. The new GM management pursued a Konsolidationskurs the many corporate brands fell victim. For Rainier this change in strategy but not meant the end. Until the end of 1911 was an attempt to make the brand successful again. When this was not possible the production of Rainier and the Welch - Detroit were merged in Saginaw. These machines and tools for the production of the Welch - Detroit from Pontiac (Michigan) to Rainier had to be transferred.

He subsequently produced two new models, both elements of both past Rainier (Model F, 50 HP ), as well as the Welch - Detroit ( Model S, 45/50 HP ) combined in itself. Sold but they were as Marquette 40 HP and 45 HP. Selling prices with 3.000 $ 4.000 respectively at the level of the predecessor brands. After the very last models were sold as the Peninsular production ran from late 1912 final.

Model Overview 1905-1911

Buick reminded 2007-2008 with the SUV model Rainier of that pioneering brand.

Source

• Beverly Rae Kimes ( Ed. ) and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.: Standard Catalogue of American Cars. 2nd edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI 54990, ISBN 0-87341-111-0, pp. 1215-1216.

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• Former Automobile Manufacturers Association ( United States)
• General Motors
• Company (Michigan)