 David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 67
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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11-11-07 12:54 PM - Post#1293620
TARRYTOWN-on-HUDSON
The Chevrolet Motor Company plant in New York City was located in a rough area, and protection money had to be paid to the area’ criminals. Thus on 28 June 1914 it was announced that Durant had purchased the old Maxwell-Briscoe Motor Company’s Plant at Tarrytown, New York State, to build Chevolets to supply the demand from the Atlantic Coast and also the export trade. The plant was located at Kingland Point, Tarrytown. The price paid was $267,000 and was acquired by the Chevrolet Motor Company of New York. It was located directly on the Hudson River and had been used as an automobile factory since the beginning of the automobile industry. The Tarrytown plant was possibly the first dedicated (instead of the Olds Detroit plant that only built gas engines in the first year) automobile factory in the world, built in 1899-1900 period by the Mobile Steamer Co which built production 1900 model light steam cars. When that company ceased operations, the plant remained idle for a while until the Maxwell-Briscoe Motor Company was organized to manufacture a small gasoline engine from the designs of Mr J.D. Maxwell. This new company took over control of the Kingsland Point plant and as business after a period of years outgrew the capacity, and as there was little scope for expansion, other plants were secured by a new Holding Company, the United States Motor Company in Beekman Avenue, Tarrytown and also Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and later a large new plant in New Castle, Indiana, as well as plants in Detroit and Hartford, Connecticut. The Kingland Point plant was closed after the United States Motors Company wentinto liquidation, and efforts had been made since then to dispose of it. The United States company as a result of the liquidation had turned its holdings back into the individual subsidiary companies, and that included Maxwell-Briscoe and and also Maxwell-Chalmers, which was rescued by Walter P. Chrysler after having been Buick General Manager, then re-organiser of Willys-Overland of Cleveland, Ohio and also their Canadian subsidiary based in Toronto, Ontario; the Maxwell-Chalmers company then became Chrysler Motor Corporation after marketing the car which bore Chrysler’s name. The Providence, RI Plant was sold to the Universal Winding Company, Providence in December 1913 and Maxwell-Briscoe decided to concentrate on manufacturing automobiles in the Detroit Plant instead, which meant that the Kingland Point Plant was surplus to requirements.
Durant stated that the 57th Street, New York City and the Tarrytown Plant were to be combined under the New York managaement to build Right-hand Drive Chevrolets. After various alterations the Plant was expected to start operations on 1 January 1915 with an output of 50 cars per day, whilst the New York City Plant could only manage twenty cars.The Plant stood on a site of ten acres between the tracks of the New York Central Railroad and the Hudson River, with buildings of 205,000 square ft. of floor space, of brick construction, four stories high. This information is extracted from The Horseless Age 8 July 1914 and also The Automobile 2 July 1914.
Actual deliveries of 490 models were delayed beyond 1 January 1915 until 1 June, and Tarrytown reported that 4,902 cars were built before 31 December that year.
The Beckman Avenue plant at Tarrytown was later purchased by Chevrolet in early 1915 which further helped to increase floor space and production. An article in The Automobile 28 June 1914 also stressed the importance of future export trade and the Right-hand Drive foreign markets.
Chevrolet vehicles could now be shipped by barge down the Hudson to the Port of New York, then off to export markets, or by rail. The idea was to combine the management of the two plants and all the Right-Hand Drive cars would be built there, including those for those Canadian Provinces that drove on the left, Newfoundland, only converting to driving on the right in 1947. This plant was allocated the Plant Code #2 after January 1917 along with New York City. However, the Oshawa Plant seems to have produced r.h.d. cars for the left-driving Provinces, and known 1916 Model 490 Advertisements in Canada do show that r.h.d. cars were available: the first r.h.d. Canadian 490s in the U.K. were 1919 Models.
Automotive Historian, Writer & Author
Avatar: sole surviving 1939 Chevrolet truck assembled in Southampton, England |
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my69
Contributor
Posts: 808
Age: 63
Loc: Ct,USA
Reg: 04-19-03
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11-11-07 05:20 PM - Post#1293757
In response to David Hayward
I toured that plant in 1978 and watched Novas being built with their sister GM cars,sadly that plant is a memory.This country is going to hell in a handbasket. 
53 210 4 door 235/PG
68 Impala SS Convertible 327/TH400 |
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Royer
Needs to Get Out More Member
Posts: 11411
Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michiga...
Reg: 09-25-01
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11-12-07 07:57 AM - Post#1294173
In response to my69
The last vehicles to be assembled by GM in the Tarrytown complex were the last of the front wheel drive "U vans" that had smc or fifreglass body panels (Chevy Lumina APV, Pontiac Montana, and Olds Sillouette I believe). These were 1996 models. The FWD GM vans were new for 1997, and were assembled elsewhere.
I believe that the Tarrytown complex, which I had toured as a fledgling GMI student in 1962, has now been torn down, but I'm not positive on that.
Royer
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David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 67
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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11-12-07 10:42 AM - Post#1294279
In response to Royer
After Tarrytown, U body production moved to Doravlle, GA: Chevy Lumina, Olds Silhouette, Pontiac TransSport, Opel Sintra, Vauxhall Sintra. . Fisher Body Corp, Tarrytown Plant, opened in 1925, sharing a 3 story building with Chevrolet. Plant Code #T. Changed to GMAD in December 1968 and was merged into the GMAD Assembly Plant. [One of 22 GMAD assembly plants in the US]. Last truck built April ?; last car February 3, 1989; last APV Van June 28, 1996. Plant was demolished for redevelopment industrial park.
Automotive Historian, Writer & Author
Avatar: sole surviving 1939 Chevrolet truck assembled in Southampton, England |
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galvo978
Newbie
Posts: 3
Loc: Hudson Valley
Reg: 11-24-07
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01-24-08 08:00 PM - Post#1350479
In response to Royer
I was born in Tarrytown and live and work in the area. The Tarrytown plant has been torn down. The site is prime riverfront property and convenient for New York City commuters. The train station is adjacent to the property and a trip into Manhattan is only about 35 minutes. Developers are now building an upscale townhome community and marina.
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David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 67
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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01-25-08 01:10 AM - Post#1350622
In response to galvo978
Welcome to Chevytalk!
I wonder what the Bloomfield, NJ Boxing Plant, later assembly plant (post-war) site is now?
Automotive Historian, Writer & Author
Avatar: sole surviving 1939 Chevrolet truck assembled in Southampton, England |
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galvo978
Newbie
Posts: 3
Loc: Hudson Valley
Reg: 11-24-07
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01-25-08 04:54 PM - Post#1351135
In response to David Hayward
Hello in the UK. I am new to the site and have recently bought a rather rough 1957 Nomad project.
I was looking through the older year forums because I also located a 1948 Fleetline fastback coupe for sale. I wanted to learn a little. This site is very helpful.
I am not familiar with the NJ site. I'll see what I can find out just out of curiosity. If you are interested Google maps has a relatively clear satellite image of the property after it was cleared the image is dated 2004. MSN maps has a more recent satellite image that shows the first phase of the new development completed. The old employee parking lot is just to the north of the new buildings. If you want to see it just search for Beekman Avenue. Tarrytown New York on either site. The site is on the Hudson at the western end of Beekman. You can't miss it from the sky. It's a huge barren site. I still don't know where all the rubble was taken to.
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cisgww
Member
Posts: 7
Loc: Southern Minnesota
Reg: 10-17-05
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04-20-11 12:29 PM - Post#2079420
In response to David Hayward
TARRYTOWN-on-HUDSON
Durant stated that the 57th Street, New York City and the Tarrytown Plant were to be combined under the New York managaement to build Right-hand Drive Chevrolets. ... An article in The Automobile 28 June 1914 also stressed the importance of future export trade and the Right-hand Drive foreign markets.
Chevrolet vehicles could now be shipped by barge down the Hudson to the Port of New York, then off to export markets, or by rail. The idea was to combine the management of the two plants and all the Right-Hand Drive cars would be built there...
Any idea how long they produced RHD and for what export market?
I am trying to determine whether the 37 RHD cabriolet that I shipped here from New Zealand came from US or from Canada, (I assume as a crate-knock-down).
Other parties have told me that NZ imported/assembled no cabriolets, and there is suspicion it came to New Zealand via Argentina.
Thanks in advance.
1937 (2)GA Master Deluxe 4 doors, one with dual front sidemounts.
1937 GC half-ton pickup
1937 Cabriolet, RHD from New Zealand
1972 Olds 442 convertible, 455, AT, many options.
All are drivers! |
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David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 67
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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04-20-11 02:02 PM - Post#2079463
In response to cisgww
Hi again! Your car was so far as I can see exported from Oshawa Plant judging by other known 1937 cars in NZ.
Rhd cars were built at Tarrytown for the domestic market until 1916 and then for export until 1964.
Automotive Historian, Writer & Author
Avatar: sole surviving 1939 Chevrolet truck assembled in Southampton, England |
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cisgww
Member
Posts: 7
Loc: Southern Minnesota
Reg: 10-17-05
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04-20-11 02:22 PM - Post#2079475
In response to David Hayward
Hi again! Your car was so far as I can see exported from Oshawa Plant judging by other known 1937 cars in NZ.
Rhd cars were built at Tarrytown for the domestic market until 1916 and then for export until 1964.
What if it was originally sent to Argentina instead of New Zealand? What plant would have built and exported it?
1937 (2)GA Master Deluxe 4 doors, one with dual front sidemounts.
1937 GC half-ton pickup
1937 Cabriolet, RHD from New Zealand
1972 Olds 442 convertible, 455, AT, many options.
All are drivers! |
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David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 67
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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04-20-11 11:50 PM - Post#2079680
In response to cisgww
General Motors Bloomfield Boxing Plant in New York. GM Argentina used code XC, whereas Petone and Upper Hutt, NZ used XH.
Automotive Historian, Writer & Author
Avatar: sole surviving 1939 Chevrolet truck assembled in Southampton, England |
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