History channel documentary: The Cars that made America

Dear V-8 Buick fans with a taste for automotive history,

Starting Sunday, the History Channel is airing a new series on the iconic cars and visionaries that created them. Believe it or not, the executive producer is: Dale Earnhardt Jr. ! Here is a link to webpages that describe the show:

http://www.history.com/shows/the-cars-that-made-america

Here is the description from the History Channel website:

“The Cars That Made America” – a three consecutive night, six-hour special event presented and executive produced by Dale Earnhardt Jr. premieres Sunday, August 13 at 8PM ET/PT and concludes on Tuesday, August 15 at 8PM ET/PT. The special uncovers the stories of the visionaries who built America’s vehicle landscape and chronicles the epic journey of how the biggest names of the automobile industry became the legendary household brands that car enthusiasts have grown to love. Through gritty, character-driven reenactments and never-before-seen archival footage, the special showcases the career trajectories of seven iconic and revolutionary figures: Henry Ford, Walter Chrysler, the Dodge Brothers, William Durant, Lee Iacocca and John Delorean. “The Cars That Made America” is produced for HISTORY by Magilla Entertainment.​

It certainly looks worth catching the beginning and seeing if it is any good.

Cheers, Edouard

 

I don't see David Buick's name on the list but that doesn't shock me. I plan to set the DVR.

 

Saw the preview for this last week Edouard, thought it might be a good watch. I set the DVR also.

 

They mentioned David Dunbar Buick on the commercial that aired here. I'll be watching.

 

Yes hopefully Buick and RE Olds will be in it. They were really ahead of the others at the beginning.

 

Dear Brian, Tony, Briz, Dave, and V-8 Buick "historians,"

As you can learn from this documentary on Buick posted on this thread:

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?th...ocumentary-on-buick-posted-on-youtube.323098/

Buick is the very beginning of GM. William Durant took over from David Buick when Buick had troubles with his company's finances. It is Durant that started with Buick and eventually bought all the other core companies that represented GM through the years. So Buick should be definitely part of History channel documentary. Still if you want a well-presented history of Buick, check out that other documentary on YouTube.

Cheers, Edouard

 

Got it auto tuned, thanks!

 

Watching it as I look through V8Buick, very good.

 

Doing the exact same thing right now. That other car show they have a commercial for looks pretty good too.

 

Not to be picky, but I swear I saw Horace Dodge working on a quadrajet early in the broadcast. Will someone with a DVR check to see I'm not imagining things?

I understand that historical accuracy would entail that props be from the era; I also understand that not all historically accurate props can be obtained. That just jumped out to me...

 

Seems to be a lot of sensationalizing and artistic license to try to make it appeal to more than Car guys

 

You're not imagining things...I noticed that too. I called my dad to ask if he was watching the Dodge brothers invent the Quadrajet 60 years early. It seems like the timeline is off for a lot of the facts, but they are trying to condense a rich history into an easily accessible program. The guy playing Billy Durant seems a little heavy, too, since Durant seemed pretty fit from his pictures. The thing about these History Channel documentaries I always laugh at is that they always picture these captains of industry doing the "slow smile" over their minions and acreage. I wonder if the real guys ever did that.

 

I too saw the Q-jet , a kerosene lantern would have been a better "prop" SMH .
Chuck

 

Sure paints a different perspective of Henry Ford.

 

Bummer! I set up the DVR to record it, and for the first time ever, it didn't. I hope that it will be repeated.

 

John, the episodes do repeat this week. Just check the History Channel line up and you will see them.

 

Not to worry, it will be repeated at least a dozen times, even into next year!

I also enjoyed the Harley and the Davidsons history that was on a while ago, think it was
on the History channel too.

 

in one of the shops, I saw some tires that were probably 20 years old - in 1925?

 

My DVR didn't catch it either. I also liked the Harley and the Davidsons show. It put a different perspective on a few things I didn't know.

 

Ya, there are plenty of "props" that are not period correct, but the documentary is about the men really, not the cars and parts so much.. so I can overlook a few mistakes.

I understood Henry Ford was a jerk, just never knew how much.. and the discussion of Alfred P Sloan is interesting. I had no idea he was such an important player at GM, beyond his time at Buick.

Good show so far, looking forward to tonight's episode dealing with post war period, what they call the "golden age" of the American auto industry.

JW