'Rickenbacker' was a US
automobile manufactured in
Detroit,
Michigan from
1922 till
1927.
The company was established by
Eddie Rickenbacker (
1890 -
1973), a legendary American fighter pilot. He used his
World War I flying squadron emblem depicting a tophat inside a ring. The emblems were located both on the front and the back of the cars.
Rickenbacker made sporting
coupés. 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.
Before the company closed down in
1928, more than 11,000 cars had been built.
The manufacturing equipment were 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.
See also
List of automobile manufacturers