Cadillac Vs. Lasalle

[Jon S]

General Motors authorized the introduction of four companion marques priced and designed to fill the gaps. Cadillac would introduce the LaSalle to fill the gap between Buick and Cadillac. Buick would introduce the Marquette to handle the higher end of the gap between Buick and Oldsmobile. Oldsmobile would introduce the Viking, which took the lower half of the spread between Oldsmobile and Buick. Finally, Oakland would introduce the lower-end Pontiac marque. This is often referred to as General Motors Companion Make Program. The final structure worked out to the following order:

    Cadillac
    LaSalle
    Buick
    Marquette
    Oldsmobile
    Viking
    Oakland
    Pontiac
    Chevrolet

What is interesting, the only "companion" car label to survive was the Pontiac.  Unfortunately, Pontiac and Oldsmobile are now history. 

In the early/mid 1960's it could be said that GM introduced a line of mid-size "Companion models," such as the Chevrolet Chevelle, Pontiac Tempest, Oldsmobile F-85, Buick Regal.  These were transformed into the SS, GTO, 442, and GS Muscle Cars.

The 1953 Corvette is unique and as I understand it, the 1964 Riviera was originally slated to be a Cadillac until Cadillac rejected it and Buick picked it up.

[D.Yaros]

Have never heard of/seen a Marquette.  Will have to look into that.  When/Where they made?

[Jon S]

Dave -

Found this on the WEB ". . . GM decided to re-introduce the Marquette name as a lower-priced Buick.  Alfred Sloan, GM president, and stylist Harley Earl (see other Feature on this website, "Why the Y-Job") were not totally out of their minds:  the Pontiac, first built by Oakland in 1926, and the LaSalle, first built by Cadillac in 1927, were both very successful "derivative" lower-priced model lines under their own names.  Buick's Marquette, this time built in Flint, was poised to fill in the less-expensive market niche of the model line.  Intended to compete against the DeSoto, in reality the Marquette ended up cutting into Oldsmobile sales.

. . .  The first 1930 model Marquette, nicknamed "Baby Buick," rolled off the line in June of 1929 (and it appears that many were registered as 1929-model cars).  These cars came to the public priced at an affordable $990 -- some $200 below the least expensive Buick.  But few people if any had predicted the sudden economic disaster, and now the public was in no mood to spend money on new cars, let alone new marques.
Santiago Tan Model 30-34 owned by Michael Lebovic Toronto, Ontario, Canada     In all, 35,007 U.S. Marquettes were built, along with an additional 3,418 cars produced in Canada at plants in Oshawa, Ontario and Regina Saskatchewan.  A total production run of nearly 40,000 cars is fairly impressive for a new marque, considering that it was  introduced at the worst of times.  Nevertheless, GM's business fell by 33% from 1929 to 1930, according to Alfred Sloan's memoirs."

[D.Yaros]

Jon,

Thanks for looking for  & sharing this info.  I did a little looking myself.  Learned the Marquette was a 1-year wonder, even though it sold quite well.

Here are some links -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquette_(automobile)
http://www.marquetteregistry.com/
http://www.prewarbuick.com/features/marquettes_day_in_the_sun

[Artistic Precision]

Thanks for the history lesson Jon. I appreciate it. It's like a trip back in time researching these cars. It's been a fun experience so far.

[C.R. Patton II]

Hello Adam

You are an integral component to the future of our hobby. Thank you.

[Artistic Precision]

Hey C.R. Thank You.