Frontenac Motor Corporation facts for kids
Frontenac Motor Corporation was an American company that built special high-performance cars, mostly for racing. It was started in Detroit, Michigan, in December 1915. The company was a team effort, created by famous people like Louis Chevrolet, who was a well-known race car driver and car designer. Other founders included Joseph Boyer Jr., an Indy 500 winner, William Small, a car dealer, and Victor Heftler, who led a company called Zenith Carburetor.
Frontenac Motor Corporation focused on making cars that could compete in major racing events, especially the famous Indianapolis 500 race. Their goal was to build cars that were fast and strong enough to win big competitions.
Racing Success
Frontenac cars quickly became known for their speed on the racetrack. In 1920, Gaston Chevrolet, Louis Chevrolet's brother, won the 1920 Indianapolis 500 driving a Frontenac car. Sadly, Gaston passed away a few months later in a race in Los Angeles in November 1920. Even though he died, he had already earned enough points to win the championship for that year.
The success continued in 1921. Frontenac won the Indy 500 again, this time with Tommy Milton as the driver. These victories showed how well-built and fast Frontenac cars were.
The End of Frontenac
After their racing triumphs, Frontenac Motor Corporation tried to expand into making cars for everyday people. They made a deal with another car company called Stutz Motor Company to build passenger cars. However, this plan did not work out. The deal fell apart soon after it was made.
Because the passenger car deal failed, Frontenac Motors faced financial problems. In 1923, the company had to file for bankruptcy protection. This meant they could no longer continue making cars, and the Frontenac Motor Corporation closed down.
