Rickenbacker
Detroit Michigan.
Rickenbacker was a US automobile manufactured in Detroit, Michigan from 1922 till 1927.
Eddy Rickenbacker was a Flying Ace during World War I. He founded the Rickenbacker Motor Car company in 1921.
The Top Hat inside a ring was his flying squadron’s emblem and used that for his company, which was located at Cabot Street in Detroit. The emblems were located both on the front and the back of the cars.
Rickenbacker made sporting coupes. Four wheel inside brakes were introduced in 1923. Rickenbacker made an unsuccessful attempt to merge with the British Peerless around 1924. Early six cylinder engines were replaced in 1925 by an eight cylinder engine. The model was named Vertical Eight Super Fine which referred to the advanced proprietary engine and the high quality of the cars.
Although 1926 saw new models signed 6-70, 8-80 and 8-90, Rickenbacker cars were too expensive for the time and sales were poor.
After the death of lead designer Walter Flanders, the company began a freefall and closed in 1927. More than 11,000 cars had been built.
The manufacturing equipment was sold to Audi and transported to Germany. This transaction was reflected in Audi Zwickau and Dresden models, using six or eight cylinder Rickenbacker engines. Some Rickenbacker cars still survive.
