Petoskey Motors: A Chronology of Cars [1940-1969]

[BobLoblaw]

Petoskey Motors began its debut in 1940 with the release of the Ace. A low-budget economy car to suit a nation that was still reeling from the Great Depression

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While lacking in reliability and comfort, sales were mainly driven by the low cost of the vehicle. The 22 CID Ecomax engine proved cheap to manufacture and helped to bring the automobile to a wider range of the population.

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The simplicity of the small motor combined with a two-speed manual transmission resulted in an inexpensive option for personal mobility. The biggest attraction to the Ace was the versatility of the model. A two door model was the base option, but a four door and delivery truck model was also available.

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Critics often cited the Ace for being slow, flimsy, and spartan. But even they cannot deny the practicality of such a vehicle in a nation stricken with poverty. For many people, the Ace was their chance to own a car.

[BobLoblaw]

While attention was largely given to the production of the Ace, the executives at Petoskey Motors could not ignore the other aspects of the market. So for their opening year in 1940 they also debuted the Model B: A mid-grade vehicle for the public.

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Like the Ace the Model B came in a two-door and four-door design. But the Model B was the first model to introduce what would later become a legend in Petoskey Motors history. The 261 inline six:

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This engine was produced in multiple variants for the 1940 model year including a smoother, quieter version for the Deluxe package. And a twin-carb performance version for police use. The Model B quickly became a popular choice for use as a police car thanks to the four-speed gearbox behind the beefed up engine.

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This model proved immensely popular with the public and helped cement Petoskey Motors as a solid car company.

[BobLoblaw]

1940 also saw the launch of the luxury branch of Petoskey Motors: Ventnor
Looking to get into the premium market the first vehicle produced was the Ventnor Premium:

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This beautiful hand-crafted automobile was heralded as the pinnacle of luxury. Movement was provided by a 571 CID V-12 mated to a three-speed manual.

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Unfortunately there were a few problems:
The V-12 proved so powerful that it was difficult to drive without spinning the wheels.

The extremely high price also made sales difficult since the nation had not yet recovered from the Great Depression.

Production capacity was also limited as the nation was preparing for war...

[Vri404]

Have a note, Upload your images to an image hosting site, such as Imgur, or Photobucket. It means you don't have to double or even triple post, as they are off-site images.

[BobLoblaw]

Petoskey goes to war:

The year is 1942, the United States is now embroiled in a war with the Axis powers following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the previous December. Knowing that the country is in need, Petoskey Motors has switched the majority of its factory production to build vehicles for the military. Thus the HD series is born:

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Pickup trucks, utility vehicles, and transport vehicles are Petoskey Motors contribution to the war effort. Powering these vehicles is a 360 CID V8:

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Modified from a limited production of Model B sedans, the 360 has been designed for military applications.
While performing well overseas, Petoskey Motors has hit a different stride on the home front. With very little factory production dedicated to consumer vehicles, profits have begun to decline. With luck things will improve when the war is over.

[BobLoblaw]

1945, the war is over.

Petoskey Motors has now begun the process of retooling its factories to produce automobiles again. With American G.I.s coming home, there is a change in the atmosphere. A growing desire for excitement. Petoskey Motors devotes the limited production capacity it has towards building a sportier car for these returning war heroes: The Type A Speedster

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The first car made by Petoskey to feature rear amber indicator lights. The Speedster also featured a new 2.2l SOHC engine.
To help alleviate the financial situation Petoskey Motors was in, an idea emerged to start putting surplus mil-spec V8s in the car as well. Thus the Speedster Plus was born. Ultimately the Type A Speedster met with limited success. While they were still able to stay afloat thanks to the Speedster and civilian versions of the HD line, the late 1940s was definately a low point for Petoskey Motors.

[BobLoblaw]

Budget shortfalls and indecision among management complicated Petoskey Motors' transition to the post-war economy. However, in 1951 they were able to scrape together the resources to develop and produce a new vehicle.

The Petoskey Indian

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This is the first production car by Petoskey Motors to feature an automatic transmission with the Deluxe package.
The base powerplant is an upgraded 261 featuring a new 2 barrel carbureter.

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Despite this being the basic engine option, many more Indians were manufactured using the Mil Spec 360. The end of the war left Petoskey motors with a vast surplus of engines and parts. Rather than let them go to waste by scrapping them, a new car was designed to utilize them. All engines remained unmodified with the exception of those placed in the deluxe version. Those featured additional quieting and tweaks to improve performance and smoothness.

[BobLoblaw]

Guess who's back in circulation:
The year 1955 saw some significant changes for Petoskey Motors. The first being the release of the first dedicated sports car, the Meteor. (I guess some higher ups forgot about the Type A Speedster ten years ago.)

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The Meteor featured a newly designed 261 featuring an aluminum head and a SOHC configuration.

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Despite this new design, the Indian retained the first style inline-six until the end of its production run in 1958.
The Meteor rapidly gained success as people were enamored with the style and performance. The situation for Petoskey Motors has definitely improved since the start of the decade. But a new hurdle was lurking over the horizon...

[BobLoblaw]

The Scapelli GT466 just arrived from overseas. This Italian sports car took off instantly proving to be a solid competitor against the Meteor.

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Power came from Scapellis 2.5 liter "Medici" engine.

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Despite having slightly less power than the Meteor, the GT466 boasted superior times on the test track. However, the higher MSRP gives the Meteor an advantage in the market. Still, as a matter of pride, Petoskey Motors will have to think of something quick if they wish to stay ahead in the field.

[BobLoblaw]

To round out the year Petoskey Motors brought back the Ventnor sub brand. This time the focus will be towards producing high-end vehicles more readily available to the consumers.
Ventnor entered the market with the Sovereign. Petoskeys return to the luxury market:

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Also available was a convertible model.

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Both vehicles were driven by Petoskey Motors' newest engine: The 432 V8.

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The Sovereign proved immensely popular and sales were booming. Petoskey Motors found itself making a major comeback.

[BobLoblaw]

1956 marked the last model year for the Petoskey Indian equipped with the Mil Spec 360. The two remaining model years used the 261 OHV as the only engine option. Without any major changes sales of the Indian declined to the point that Petoskey Motors announced that 1958 would be the final model year. When 1958 rolled around Petoskey unveiled the replacement for the Indian for the 1959 model year: The Rapier!

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The Rapier was advertised as the car of the future. Being the first automobile by Petoskey Motors to feature side-mounted indicator lights. The galvanized steel monocoque chassis and aluminum panels were advertised as ushering in a new car for the space age. Finally the powertrain included a single-carb variant of the 261 SOHC inline-six found in the Meteor coupled to a four-speed manual transmission. This model did not feature an automatic transmission.

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Despite slick advertising efforts the Rapier did not sell as well as initially hoped. Despite not being stellar, sales of the Rapier were decent enough to see Petoskey Motors leaving the 1950's with its head held high.

[Vri404]

Have a note, Upload your images to an image hosting site, such as Imgur, or Photobucket. It means you don't have to double or even triple post, as they are off-site images.

Repeating myself, as you seem to have ignored what I said.

[BobLoblaw]

The 1950's saw a significant resurgence for Petoskey Motors. When they entered the decade, they were on the verge of bankruptcy. As they were leaving sales were strong, profits were up, and the future looked bright. But there was one last hurrah before the close of the decade. Engineers toiled to bring a new face to the Meteor, specifically to beat the Scapelli GT466. In 1959 the Phase II Meteor was ready.

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Visibly the Phase II looked similar to the Phase I, the main differences being added vents to the hood and new wheels. However, under that said hood, the Meteor tells a different story:

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A new 301 CID aluminum head SOHC V8 producing 307 horsepower sits under the hood. Twice the displacement and 1/3rd more power than the Medici engine. Revised suspension design also enabled the Meteor to post a better track time than the GT466. That coupled with the lower MSRP has given the Meteor the clear advantage in the competition. With the success of the Meteor, Petoskey Motors has ended the 1950's with a bang.

[Oskiinus]

Ace Tudor - 10 hp?! I want to see it's top speed and acceleration. I expect for something like 100 km/h and 30 seconds to 100 or better, because this car is pretty light.
Model B - keep in mind that 145 hp is pretty much in 1940
Ventnor - 409 hp?! That was extremely much even in 60's. Lamborghini Miura in P400SV variant I guess had somewhere near 390 hp. I don't want to know how it would be to drive car from early 40s that has so much power...
1942 HD - not bad truck
Type A Speedster - my favourite car so far, looks pretty futuristic from it's times (as I saw it for first time, I would tell it's from 50s or 60s)
Indian - also pretty cool car
Meteor - as above
GT466 - looks weird to me due to wheelbase, rear and spoiler
Ventnor Sovereign - so far my favourite vehicle, looks extremely great!
Rapier - MUCH GREEN VERY WOW
Meteor Phase II - Nice improvement, and finally power is acceptable in it's times (however my V12 cruiser called Haight Grandeur had somewhere near 270 HP)

Anyway, I would not use SOHC engines (I use pushrods, and my first company's car with DOHC is from 1970) in that times, I would turn more into carburettors.
Good start bro!

[BobLoblaw]

Petoskey enters the sixties:
In 1960 Petoskey Motors introduced a new model largely for the foreign market, the Cortino. Petoskey's first model to feature an inline 4 engine since 1945.

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This model was designed to use the new unleaded fuel which unfortunately was not largely available at the time. In 1962 (shown) A new engine was released featuring the use of leaded fuel. The car was available in multiple trim packages uncluding base sedan, sport coupe, a luxury themed SE, and a station wagon. In 1966 the RTX was released featuring a specially modified 432 V8 for the BRC 1966 competition. While performance was lacking, the vehicle proved to be extremely safe and reliable, a proud selling point for Petoskey cars.