A. E. Barit
Encyclopedia
A.E. Barit (August 30, 1890 – July 14, 1974) was an American industrialist who served as the President and CEO of the Hudson Motor Car Company
from 1936 to 1954 when Hudson merged with Nash Motors to form American Motors Corporation. Barit served on the Board of AMC following the merger of the two automakers.
in 1936.
Using lines of credit arranged for Chapin prior to his death, Barit helped to steer Hudson back towards profitability in the late 1930s. Sales of Hudson rebounded through the economic recession of 1938. The company also survived a negative financial year in 1941, recouping its loss through World War II
production contracts. In 1945, Barit successfully fought off a below market rate tender offer
for Hudson Motors by the Fisher family—founders of General Motors Fisher Body
division.
The conservative Barit gave the go-ahead for Hudson's step-down body design—a revolutionary design that catapulted the firm to the forefront of automotive body engineering in the postwar market. When combined with the firm's Twin-H straight-6
, Hudson's corporate sponsored race teams, headed by Marshall Teague
, dominated the NASCAR
circuit from 1951 through 1954.
In the early 1950s, instead of reshaping Hudson's aging step-down design, or investing in V8 engine
technology, Barit instead guided the company toward developing a compact car that Hudson could market. Instead of relying on engineering and styling to duplicate the previous success of the step-down design, Barit imposed his own requirements for chair high seating, and allowed others outside of Hudson to influence the design, which emerged as the antithesis of the low-slung step-down bodies.
Named the Hudson Jet
, the car failed to attract buyers, and the expense of its development (and failure) combined with Hudson's lack of resources to update their senior line of cars spelled the end for the company, which was subsequently acquired through a friendly merger by Nash Motors
in 1954, creating American Motors.
Barit served on the Board of AMC until 1956 when he resigned in protest over the likelihood that Hudson would be phased out of production. Barit felt that his trust in AMC had been betrayed. George W. Romney
, AMC's President, felt that Hudson and Nash were no longer relevant players in the automotive market and retired both names at the end of the 1957 model year production.
According to his son, Robert Barit, the last car that A.E. Barit owned was a Hudson, and after it was retired, he refused to own any other make of automobile.
A.E. Barit died at his home in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
on July 14, 1974.
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
from 1936 to 1954 when Hudson merged with Nash Motors to form American Motors Corporation. Barit served on the Board of AMC following the merger of the two automakers.
Overview
Barit began his career with Hudson in 1910 with the firm's purchasing department, less than six months after the production of the company's first automobile. Barit was named President and CEO of Hudson following the death of the corporation's founding President and CEO Roy D. ChapinRoy D. Chapin
Roy Dikeman Chapin was an American industrialist and automaker. He also served as the United States Secretary of Commerce from August 8, 1932, to March 3, 1933, in the last months of the administration of President Herbert Hoover.Chapin was born in 1880 in Lansing, Michigan, and attended the...
in 1936.
Using lines of credit arranged for Chapin prior to his death, Barit helped to steer Hudson back towards profitability in the late 1930s. Sales of Hudson rebounded through the economic recession of 1938. The company also survived a negative financial year in 1941, recouping its loss through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
production contracts. In 1945, Barit successfully fought off a below market rate tender offer
Tender offer
Tender offer is a corporate finance term denoting a type of takeover bid. The tender offer is a public, open offer or invitation by a prospective acquirer to all stockholders of a publicly traded corporation to tender their stock for sale at a specified price during a specified time, subject to...
for Hudson Motors by the Fisher family—founders of General Motors Fisher Body
Fisher Body
Fisher Body is an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan; it is now an operating division of General Motors Company...
division.
The conservative Barit gave the go-ahead for Hudson's step-down body design—a revolutionary design that catapulted the firm to the forefront of automotive body engineering in the postwar market. When combined with the firm's Twin-H straight-6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
, Hudson's corporate sponsored race teams, headed by Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course....
, dominated the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
circuit from 1951 through 1954.
In the early 1950s, instead of reshaping Hudson's aging step-down design, or investing in V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
technology, Barit instead guided the company toward developing a compact car that Hudson could market. Instead of relying on engineering and styling to duplicate the previous success of the step-down design, Barit imposed his own requirements for chair high seating, and allowed others outside of Hudson to influence the design, which emerged as the antithesis of the low-slung step-down bodies.
Named the Hudson Jet
Hudson Jet
The Hudson Jet was a compact automobile produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan during the 1953 and 1954 model years. The Jet was Hudson's response to the popular Nash Rambler, and Hudson, with its limited financial resources, chose to pursue a compact instead of refurbishing...
, the car failed to attract buyers, and the expense of its development (and failure) combined with Hudson's lack of resources to update their senior line of cars spelled the end for the company, which was subsequently acquired through a friendly merger by Nash Motors
Nash Motors
Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors CorporationNash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. From 1938 to 1954, Nash was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation...
in 1954, creating American Motors.
Barit served on the Board of AMC until 1956 when he resigned in protest over the likelihood that Hudson would be phased out of production. Barit felt that his trust in AMC had been betrayed. George W. Romney
George W. Romney
George Wilcken Romney was an American businessman and Republican Party politician. He was chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962, the 43rd Governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, and the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1969 to 1973...
, AMC's President, felt that Hudson and Nash were no longer relevant players in the automotive market and retired both names at the end of the 1957 model year production.
According to his son, Robert Barit, the last car that A.E. Barit owned was a Hudson, and after it was retired, he refused to own any other make of automobile.
A.E. Barit died at his home in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,555 at the 2010 census. Bordering on Detroit with frontage on southern Lake Saint Clair, it is the westernmost of the noted Grosse Pointe suburbs, with the oldest overall housing stock of the five cities...
on July 14, 1974.
External links
Sources
- Business: Happy Days. Editors. Time Magazine, April 5, 1948.
- Social Security Death IndexSocial Security Death IndexThe Social Security Death Index is a database of death records created from the United States Social Security Administration's Death Master File Extract. Most persons who have died since 1962 who had a Social Security Number and whose death has been reported to the Social Security Administration...
, Barit, Abraham E.