Walter Chrysler

Bought a Locomobile automobile for $5,000, three years' salary. Took it completely apart. Put it back together. Took it apart again. He did this over and over. He wanted to understand every bolt.

Hired by Buick as works manager. Within four years he was president of Buick and a vice president of General Motors. He tripled Buick's output. Then quit over disagreements with GM founder Billy Durant.

Founded the Chrysler Corporation from the remains of Maxwell Motor Company. Introduced the Chrysler Six, a car with a high-compression engine that outperformed competitors at half the price.

Bought Dodge Brothers and launched the Plymouth and DeSoto brands in the same year. Chrysler became the second-largest automaker in America, behind only GM. He'd gone from railroad mechanic to auto titan in 16 years.

The Chrysler Building opened in New York. At 1,046 feet, it was briefly the tallest building in the world. Walter paid for it himself. The stainless steel crown is still one of the most recognized silhouettes in Manhattan.

Died at his estate in Great Neck, Long Island, at 65. He'd retired five years earlier. The company he built lasted 73 years as an independent automaker before merging with Daimler-Benz in 1998.