The General Motors Centennial

[Centurion]

(Please transfer this topic to a more appropriate forum if there's a better place for it.)

The Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Buick Divisions have all celebrated their respective centennials during the last decade. These were unforgettable events with highly visible participation and support by General Motors itself.

In 2003, we saw Ford Motor Co. celebrate its centennial with a grand gathering in Dearborn.

But we've heard nothing regarding General Motors' plans to celebrate its own centennial next year, and GM enthusiasts have been hoping for some indication that the company will plan an appropriate event.

The Buick Club of America will return to Buick's hometown of Flint, Michigan during July 16 - 20, 2008, and meet organizers and Flint boosters have taken the initiative to plan several events in celebration of the General Motors Centennial. Whether General Motors itself announces an "official" centennial event, Flint -- the "birthplace" of General Motors -- is an appropriate venue for part of the celebration.

In addition to daily tours to the General Motors Heritage Center, the Motor Cities Heritage Committee is sponsoring a "GM 100" cruise/show in downtown Flint (for all General Motors products) on Friday evening, July 18.

On Sunday, July 20, a General Motors 100th Anniversary parade is tentatively scheduled for 1:00 PM in downtown Flint.

Other events in the planning stages are a "Historic Places of Flint" tour, events at the Dort-Durant building, tours of the Mott - Applewood Estate, tours of GM homes, etc. The Sloan Museum and its Buick Gallery and Research Center will, of course, be open to the public throughout the week.

As more information becomes available, I will add to this topic. And I hope that any news of other GM Centennial events will also be posted in this topic or elsewhere in the C&G forums.

[Joshua Davidson]

Hi All,

I'm new here, but know for a fact that GM will be celebrating its Centennial in 2008. The celebration will be understated -- it's not a brand milestone after all -- but will include an interesting and meaningful look at GM's first century, and more importantly a look ahead at GM's SECOND CENTURY.

The actual date of the Centennial is Sept. 16, 2008, which marks the centennial date of incorporation:

[from speedace.com] GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY was incorporated on September 16 1908 in Hudson County , New Jersey , U.S.A. as a holding company for Buick, then controlled by William C. Durant, and acquired Oldsmobile later that year. The next year, Durant brought in Cadillac, Elmore, and Oakland.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION was incorporated in Delaware on October 13, 1916, with an increased capital of $100 million. Chevrolet joined General Motors Corporation in May 1918: Chevrolet Motor Company sold its assets to General Motors Corporation for about $32 million worth of G.M. stock and also sold its Scripps-Booth stock to G.M. for the balance in G.M. stock.

Edited November 20, 2007 by Joshua Davidson

[Camino LS6]

Welcome to C&G, Joshua!

Thanks for posting this.

[I hope GMRULES again]

I am already planning on attending the Olds club of America summer meet in Dearborn next July but I can't remember the date / weekend exactly. I would like to be in Flint for this too. It will be interesting to see what GM has planned.

[Camino LS6]

C&G meet, anyone?

[Oracle of Delphi]

Welcome to C&G Joshua! WOW who would have thunk it, GM and Bob Lutz the same age!

"GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION was incorporated in Delaware on October 13, 1916" Of course it was, as it should be!

Edited November 20, 2007 by Pontiac Custom-S

[Camino LS6]

Bob doesn't look too thrilled with the graffiti you left in his office, PCS.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Bob doesn't look too thrilled with the graffiti you left in his office, PCS.

Oh dad doesn't mind! I did tell you I was his illegitimate love child, didn't I? He's a handsome older man, I'm a handsome younger man. He speaks many languages, I speak many languages. He's from Europe, I'm from Europe. Coincidence? I think not!

[ZL-1]

Oh dad doesn't mind! I did tell you I was his illegitimate love child, didn't I? He's a handsome older man, I'm a handsome younger man. He speaks many languages, I speak many languages. He's from Europe, I'm from Europe. Coincidence? I think not!

And I thought he was adopting me...

[I hope GMRULES again]

I'm thinking he called you up to his office to ask you why you were spending most of your day surfing C&G and not doing much work?

[I hope GMRULES again]

C&G meet, anyone?

Sounds good.

[AxelTheRed]

Welcome to C&G Joshua! WOW who would have thunk it, GM and Bob Lutz the same age!

"GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION was incorporated in Delaware on October 13, 1916" Of course it was, as it should be!

Ah, but birthed and originally headquartered in Flint.

From what I've read, Deleware was only used becaue state law let the company sell more stock than their actual assets were worth.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing what the town will do next year.

Edited November 21, 2007 by AxelTheRed

[Oracle of Delphi]

From what I've read, Deleware was only used becaue state law let the company sell more stock than their actual assets were worth.

You heard wrong there young Jedi, it was moved to Delaware because essentially it was a Division of the DuPont company which controlled the majority of the GM stock. DuPont is headquartered in Wilmington.

Edited November 21, 2007 by Pontiac Custom-S

[Brougham-Holiday]

Has anyone found out if there will be anything for GM's 100th?

[balthazar]

In 1914, Pierre du Pont purchased 2000 shares of GM common stock as a personal investment. At the time, there were 165,000 shares on the market. This represented a 1% stake in the company.

By the tail end of 1917, DuPont as a corporation purchased $25M of GM stock on the open market. I do not have handy how much the corporation of GM in 1916 may or may not have added to their available shares, nor otherwise to what degree their outstanding shares totaled in this period, but at the beginning of 1918, DuPont's investment in GM only equated to 23.8% of the Corp.

GM was FAR from 'essentially a division of DuPont' at the point in time they utilized the advantages of Delaware's corporation laws. du Pont, the man, was actively involved with GM for some years, including being president from '20-23, and DuPont the corporation was also involved as a financial supporter and stock owner, but GM was no one's puppet (well... let's say: Durant aside, shalll we?).

[daves87rs]

I just hope that there will be lots of stuff to do....

[loki]

that'd be awesome if they released some failed, yet interesting concepts and showed of a few things due out before 2010, don't have to be cars, but even technology, an engine or something.

[Joshua Davidson]

You heard wrong there young Jedi, it was moved to Delaware because essentially it was a Division of the DuPont company which controlled the majority of the GM stock. DuPont is headquartered in Wilmington.

That is nonsense. GM was never a "division" of DuPont. DuPont was heavily involved as an investor and in management. But the administration of the two corporations was never significantly intermingled. Du Pont never controlled as much as 35% of GM stock (though that was enough to have management control). Pierre du Pont was very careful to not try and ominate GM, though of course he had to take emergency control from 1920 to 1923.

GM benefited enormously from Pierre du Pont's administration, but he was by then retired from Du Pont Corporation, as was John Raskob and the other Du Pont men that came to GM. They brought the latest management techniques to GM, but did not forse them upon GM. It was Sloan who developed the GM system that became much more influential in the conduct of large enterprise than the Du Pont system ever did.

[Oracle of Delphi]

That is nonsense. GM was never a "division" of DuPont. DuPont was heavily involved as an investor and in management. But the administration of the two corporations was never significantly intermingled. Du Pont never controlled as much as 35% of GM stock (though that was enough to have management control). Pierre du Pont was very careful to not try and ominate GM, though of course he had to take emergency control from 1920 to 1923.

GM benefited enormously from Pierre du Pont's administration, but he was by then retired from Du Pont Corporation, as was John Raskob and the other Du Pont men that came to GM. They brought the latest management techniques to GM, but did not forse them upon GM. It was Sloan who developed the GM system that became much more influential in the conduct of large enterprise than the Du Pont system ever did.

Do you know what the word essentially means? DuPont essentially ran it as a division, with 35% of the stock, they were in control. Also what does the word forse mean?

[gm4life]

They better do something!

[Joshua Davidson]

Do you know what the word essentially means? DuPont essentially ran it as a division, with 35% of the stock, they were in control. Also what does the word forse mean?

That's a misspelling. I meant "force." Sorry if that confused you.

[Centurion]

Evidently, General Motors will be making an announcement as early as this Thursday regarding its Centennial celebration.

Read the Detroit Free Press article about GM's Centennial that appeared today:

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID...ESS01/712300532