Automobile Hall of Fame Announces 10 Inductees
12 February 1998
Katayama and Pigott Lead Ten Inductees Into Automotive Hall of Fame
DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 12 -- Yutaka Katayama and Charles
Pigott lead a group of nine 1998 Inductees into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Katayama, the visionary behind the success of Nissan in the United States
and Pigott, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PACCAR Inc. for three
decades, are joined by Andre Citroen, the Opel Brothers (Carl, Wilhelm,
Heinrich, Friedrich and Ludwig), and Fred M. Zeder.
The group will be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame during its
Induction and Awards Night, Tuesday, October 13, at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel,
Dearborn, Michigan.
Deceased inductees include Andre Citroen, creator of the Citroen car; the
Opel Brothers (Carl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Friedrich and Ludwig), famous for
production of the vehicles bearing their name; Fred M. Zeder, known for his
part in the creation of Chrysler Corporation; and Count Ferdinand von
Zeppelin, producer of automotive components and inventor of the dirigible
airship.
The Inductees were announced today by Automotive Hall of Fame Chairman
Thomas J. Feely, Vice President, Marketing, Dana Corporation. The selections
of the inductees were made by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors following
research and recommendations by an Advisory Panel of automotive historians and
editors and the Hall of Fame's Awards Committee.
Andre Citroen, 1878-1935, developed the vehicles bearing his name, and in
1928, employed 35,000 workers with plants in 11 countries. Citroen's TA model
(for Traction Avant, or front wheel drive) was in production for 23 years,
resulting in a total of three-quarters of a million cars.
Yutaka Katayama is the automotive pioneer behind Nissan's success in the
United States, introducing the pacesetting Datsun 518, the popular Datsun 240
Z and the first small pickup truck in America. He also established a vast
network of dealers and built technical schools to teach dealers and mechanics
the benefits of superior service.
The Opel Brothers -- Carl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Friedrich, and Ludwig were
producing 43 Opel models after World War II. In the mid-1920s, Opel became
Germany's largest automaker and in 1929, General Motors bought 80 percent of
Opel. Shortly thereafter, Opel became a wholly owned subsidiary of General
Motors Corporation.
Charles M. Pigott was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PACCAR Inc.
(Pacific Car and Foundry Company) for three decades. Under his direction,
sales rose from $320 million to $4.3 billion. Pigott's dedication to quality
and technical excellence led to the creation of the PACCAR Technical Center.
Fred M. Zeder, 1886-1951, helped forge the foundation that made it
possible for Walter Chrysler to found Chrysler Corporation. Zeder's
automotive background also includes running the laboratory at Evett-Metzger-
Flanders Company (E-M-F) where he initiated many innovations including
hydraulic brakes, air cleaners, oil filters and curved windshields.
Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, 1838-1917, best known as the creator of the
dirigible airship, also made significant contributions to the advancement of
space technology, road and air travel and ship building. Through his several
companies, von Zeppelin's work in automotive components includes automobile
transmissions, gears, axles and steering systems.
SOURCE Automotive Hall of Fame