The Cars that Made America

About The Cars that Made America

The Cars that Made America is a captivating documentary miniseries that aired in 2017, offering a closer look at the history of the automobile industry in America. It tells the dramatic tales of how leading engineers, through innovation and fierce rivalry, created a revolution in transportation that shaped the world as we know it. The series gives audiences a deep dive into the inception, development, and impact of the auto industry, exploring the stories behind the biggest names like Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, and more.

Making / Production

Produced by the History Channel, The Cars That Made America employed a combination of historical footage, archival photographs, and cinematic reenactments to bring the seismic events of the automotive industry to life. Intensive research and careful recreation of the era added authenticity to the series, immersing viewers into the industrial revolution in America.

Actors

• Daniel J. Amerman as Henry Ford - He brilliantly portrayed the role of Henry Ford, effectively channeling his ingenuity, ambition, and relentless drive to bring automobiles to the masses.
• Tim Getman as Walter Chrysler - Getman's portrayal of Chrysler captured the determination of a man who started his career as a railroad roundhouse sweeper but later revolutionized the American auto industry.
• Eric Rolland as Louis Chevrolet - Rolland embodied the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of Louis Chevrolet, the Swiss race car driver who co-founded Chevrolet Motor Car Company.

Trivia / Interesting Facts about it

• The miniseries is narrated by American actor and Emmy award-winning producer, Keith David.
• The series uses dramatized scenes, interviews with biographers, and historical footage to recreate the rise of the automotive industry in America.

Awards

Although The Cars that Made America hasn't won any specific awards, it is highly acclaimed for its detailed historical account of how the auto industry revolutionized America and changed transportation across the globe.

Quotes

• "The automobile will change everything." - Narrator, Keith David
• "A car for the great multitude... constructed of the best material that money can buy." - Henry Ford (Daniel J. Amerman)

Music, Soundtrack

• The gritty and mesmerizing music throughout the series sets the period and the intensity of the automotive revolution. Musician Brian H. Kim beautifully scored the series.
• Bruce Hanifan and Lance Morrison composed the sweeping theme song, capturing the grandeur of this historical era.